Is there any benefit to having a seperate roofing professional take a look at wind damage from a recent storm before calling insurance? Will his determination improve my chances with insurance?
Is there any benefit to having a seperate roofing professional take a look at wind damage from a recent storm before calling insurance? Will his determination improve my chances with insurance?
byu/FinestOfSprees inInsurance
Posted by FinestOfSprees
5 Comments
Consider that the roofer may include items the insurance company is not going to pay for. Roofer may advise replace X, but the insurance company will only want to repair X.
How old is your roof?
Post photos here before you do anything else.
Depends on what you mean by improving your chances. If you mean your chances of getting a fair settlement for the damage actually incurred due to a covered loss, then no. If you mean improve your chances of getting things covered that were not damaged or not covered by your policy, then also no. But you also get extra conflict, expenses, and stress to go along with it.
Edit to be slightly less snarky and maybe more helpful: sign absolutely nothing with anyone until you know what the insurance is paying.
It’s really the written report that matters here, not just whether the roofer agrees there’s damage. Insurers commonly dispute whether damage came from the specific storm or from pre-existing wear. A licensed roofer’s written assessment that ties damage patterns to the storm date gives you a concrete record for the adjuster to work against.
Disclaimer: This is general information only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. There may be facts not disclosed here that could materially change the analysis. For advice specific to your situation, consult an attorney licensed in your state.
The biggest reason why it might be beneficial is to figure out what it would actually cost to fix your roof. If the damage is within or even somewhat above your deductible, it’s probably a good idea to pay it out of pocket instead of making a claim.
Other than that, it’s likely just added expense.