How do insurance claims work?

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Understanding the Hail Damage Repair Process in Texas

Many homeowners feel overwhelmed when facing hail damage and dealing with insurance claims. Here's a breakdown of the process and how I can help:

Free Inspection and Claim Assistance:

• If you suspect hail damage, I offer a free inspection to assess the extent of the damage and suggest the best course of action.
• If we decide to file a claim, I'll assist you in contacting your insurance company and guide you through the process.

Insurance Adjuster Visit and Scope of Work:

• The insurance company will send an adjuster to inspect your property and create an estimate of repair. This report outlines the approved repairs and their estimated costs.
• Important: I have no control over the estimate at this point as it is done in a computer program called XACTIMATE. 
• Your insurance company expects me to write a supplement because they know if they are paying for the repairs. It is a automatically a conflict of interest if they write a scope of repairs. So they write you an estimate to get the ball rolling. I come in and I rewrite that as a supplement. That supplement is an actual scope of work and your insurance company is responsible for paying for the cost incurred for those repairs. 
• As the contractor of record, it's my responsibility to properly repair your property and bring the system up to current building codes. Insurance doesn't like to pay for building code compliance but most people have what's called law and ordinance coverage on their policies, typically it's 10% of your homes insured value so you may have $45,000 or more for those code upgrades to be performed. We write for the code upgrades for the entire roofing system which means that everything between your ceiling and the top of your chimney is brought up to code. Often times we see an increase of $40,000 on our jobs because we don’t settle for anything less than meeting the minimal standard, the building code. Some people feel like their rates will go up or it's not fair to the insurance company, I just remind them this is why they have been paying their premiums for the last 10 to 15 years. The insurance company knows they will be replacing that roof eventually and 60 to 80% of your insurance premium is preparing for that new roof every 10, 15, or 20 years down the line. If your contractor does not bring the system up to code, they are liable because the attorney generals office of the state of Texas has determined that building construction projects that do not meet code are a construction defect and you can begin proceedings against your contractor immediately without any statute of limitation's from what I read ( Disclaimer: Im not interpreting policy or law). 

Settlement Checks and Project Completion:

• You'll receive two checks from your insurance company:
  • Actual Cash Value (ACV) check: This covers the depreciated value of the repairs, minus your deductible. 
  • Depreciation check: This is released after I invoice you and your insurance company and covers the remaining cost.
• We only start work after materials arrive at your home, and I collect your deductible and the ACV check.
• Upon completion, I submit a certificate of completion to your insurance company.
• They verify the work, and within 5-10 days, issue the depreciation check.
• I use this check to settle any remaining costs based on the approved scope of work.

Why the Two-Check System?

• In the past, some contractors engaged in unethical practices like promising waiving of deductibles then would disappear with your ACV check money, or billing for unapproved work.
• The two-check system prevents both contractors and homeowners from committing insurance fraud. It also ensures transparency and fair prices.

My Commitment to Quality and Integrity:

• We are committed to building the best roof possible with the allocated insurance funds.
• I manage your project efficiently and prioritize clear communication throughout.
• Honesty, integrity, and hard work are my core values.

Ready to Discuss Your Roof Repair?

If you have hail damage, I'm happy to offer a free consultation and answer any questions you may have. Contact me today!

You can book an appointment through Calendly by clicking the link below…

https://calendly.com/mattpritchett74/free-roofing-inspection