Do you need help with your insurance claim but want to avoid the costly fees of an insurance adjuster? Are you struggling to find a contractor who understands insurance claim procedures and can advocate on your behalf?
At RoofSmart, we are committed to getting you the best coverage possible to help you fix your roof damage. In fact, the last 100 customers of ours who filed for coverage got an increase on their claim after we helped them negotiate with their insurance company.
In this article, you’ll learn how a roofing contractor who has experience working with insurance companies can help you with your claim process.
By the end, you’ll understand the benefits of choosing a roofing contractor who can support you through the insurance claims process. You’ll also know how to identify a roofing contractor who is qualified to help with insurance claims.
What can an experienced roofing contractor do for you during the insurance claim process?
Unfortunately, it seems like most roofing contractors in the Seattle area do not cater to insurance companies, meaning that they most likely don’t have the experience to help you with negotiations.
Our customers have shared with us time and time again that they did not receive help with their insurance claim from their previous roofing company, and we have not encountered a company that discusses their interactions with insurance companies.
Our customers usually say that they get an estimate or a quote from the roofing company to give to their insurance company for the claim. Beyond that, they’re on their own.
However, an experienced, qualified roofing contractor who has dealt with insurance claims previously can make this experience much easier and offer you support during the process.
Here’s what they can do for you:
1.) Provide detailed evidence and cost estimates for repairs
If you do not agree with the initial payment your insurance company offered you, then it’s probably time to hire a roofing contractor. They can inspect your roof and report their findings to the insurance company.
Your roofing contractor can document the damage and provide specific, detailed cost estimates. This will make things easy for your insurance company to assess damage to your roof.
They take pictures of all the damage they see during the inspection which can be sent over to your insurance company. To accompany the pictures, there is a description of each damaged area and the cost to repair that specific damage.
It is important that the pricing is broken down piece by piece. Most roofing contractors will just provide an estimated cost for the whole job. This does not work well for the insurance company because they don’t know how they came up with that number.
An experienced roofing contractor will know this and avoid it by providing specific cost information and plenty of photographic evidence. This process can be facilitated by using an online tool like Xactimate. Contractors use to make their proposals compatible with the insurance company’s forms.
If you do not have an experienced contractor, then you’ll likely have to hire a public adjuster to help you price the damage. Public adjusters know the ins and outs of policies and are much better equipped to help you with negotiations than your average roofer is. This is their specialty.
They will get a percentage if they succeed in getting a settlement (they do not get anything without a settlement).
2.) Participate in negotiations
In order to get the insurance coverage you want, you might have to negotiate with your insurance company for a while. If you feel confident in your knowledge of your insurance policy and assessment of the damage to your roof, then you can do this yourself.
But, you might be struggling to assess your roof’s damage, figure out how much it should cost, or justify your opinions to your insurance company. A roofing contractor who has experience with this process can help you by taking the lead in negotiations.
In Washington State, roofers and other contractors are legally allowed to participate in negotiations, so long as they are talking about the scope of work needed to repair the roof and the costs of that work.
The roofing contractor will accurately determine what it will take to repair your roof and know how to provide evidence and work with your insurance company.
Your insurance company will ask you to get quotes from multiple roofing contractors so that they can compare prices. But that really only caters to the needs of your insurance company because they’re looking for lower rates.
However, an experienced roofing contractor will encourage you to look for a roofer who is trustworthy, and competent. It is in your best interest to look for a roofing contractor who is actually qualified to work on your roof.
Finding someone who knows how to work with insurance claims and is willing to help you make a case for your repair needs during negotiations can be a game changer.
3.) Coordinate repair efforts so you don’t have to
If you have damage that spans beyond the roof, you might have to interview and hire contractors in many different fields to repair your home. Then, you have to coordinate the repair schedules.
However, if you find an experienced, trustworthy roofer, they might be able to do more than just roofing. Finding a roofer who can fix damage to other parts of your home saves you a lot of time and hassle. Otherwise, you’d have to try to hire other contractors and coordinate between them.
And, if you need work done that the roofer cannot do (like electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work), they likely have a network of trusted contractors that they can recommend to you.
How can I find a roofing contractor who is experienced in working with insurance?
Only a roofing contractor who has worked with insurance companies before during the claims process can help you to the same degree that a public adjuster can. Most homeowners in the Greater Seattle area hire a public adjuster because not many roofing contractors here can do the insurance work.
So, finding a roofing contractor who can help you with both the negotiation and repair process can be tricky. On top of making sure that they’re qualified roofers, you’ll want to ask about their knowledge of insurance claims for roof damage.
To learn more about their experience working with insurance companies, call up the roofing contractor and ask them. Here are some questions to ask:
- Do you use Xactimate or a similar tool that caters to the needs of an insurance company?
- Can you help me with the claim process? What do you envision your role being during the claim process?
Knowing what tools the roofing contractor uses to create their bids and how involved they plan on being in the insurance claim process is important. It will help you understand how much experience they have working with insurance companies and how much you can rely on them for help.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Roof Damage Insurance Claim
Navigating the complexities of roof damage insurance claims can be overwhelming, but the right roofing contractor can make all the difference. An experienced contractor doesn’t just repair your roof—they become your advocate, providing detailed documentation, supporting you during negotiations, and streamlining repair efforts.
At RoofSmart, we understand how stressful this process can be, and we’re here to help. From leveraging tools like Xactimate to coordinating with trusted repair professionals, our team is committed to securing the best outcome for your claim.
If you’re ready to take the next step, contact us today to schedule an inspection and discuss how we can assist with your insurance claim.
Topics:
