Roof Inspection for Hail Damage

Houses damaged by hail are not uncommon in the US, especially in the Midwestern states and exceptionally in Minnesota. Are insurance companies always happy to pay compensation in such cases? Of course, not. The results of the roof inspection for hail damage, which has been carried out in your home, often result in failure to get compensated. The point is not even that the real damage is not great. It's just that very often the homeowners themselves do not know what to do when an insurance adjuster visits them to inspect the roof for hail damage. We will tell you in more detail about this procedure and why it is needed.

Who Carries Out Roof Inspection for Hail Damage

Roof inspection for hail damage is an inspection of your house, or rather its roof, undertaken to confirm the fact of the damage caused by the rainstorm and determine its extent. Who can carry out roof inspection for hail damage after a storm rage?

1. You as a homeowner. Before contacting the insurance company, you must make sure that you have a reason to do it. Let's consider an example. If a storm raged in your area the day before, being accompanied by hail, and you felt the blows of hailstones on your roof, you should definitely inspect it as soon as the weather conditions permit. It is worth doing the same if the next morning after the hailstorm you see the roof fragments, broken tiles or pieces of slate within the house area. This clearly shows that not everything is OK with the roof. If you miss this moment and do not inspect the roof, the damage will likely lead to much more serious consequences. The broken integrity of the roof will allow moisture to get under the covering. In the best case, the roof or its metal installation elements will begin to rust. In the worst case, the house will start leaking, dampness will increase, mold will appear, and the walls and ceiling will require expensive repairs. Therefore, it is better to try to inspect the roof yourself in order to timely eliminate the damage caused by the hail.
2. Rescue services. If the hail storm has been so severe that the roof has been seriously damaged and the life and health of your family are in danger, it is better to call 911. Rescuers can inspect the roof, identify the damage caused and tell you how serious the situation is. In this case, do not forget to ask the rescuers for an inspection report, which will list all the cases of damage. You will need it when applying for insurance claim settlement.
3. Repair crews. After you and 911 representatives have already inspected the roof for hail damage, you can safely call in an insurance company representative and servicemen who will repair the roof. In case your homeowners insurance policy covers hail damage, the repairmen have two tasks at once. First, they have to do an independent roof inspection, determine the range of repairs and make an estimate, so that you could understand how much it will cost you to repair the roof. In addition, you can ask the servicemen for documents for the insurance company, according to which you can claim enough compensation to repair and restore the roof after the hail.
4. The next hail damage roof inspection is made by an insurance adjuster. This is a representative of the insurance company, whose task is to make sure that the roof has got damaged and the damage has been caused by hail. In addition, the insurance adjuster decides whether the scale of damage is serious enough to pay out compensation. The problem is that American insurers are reluctant to compensate for hail damage, and in case the roof has been subject to light cosmetic repairs, they may refuse to meet your application.
5. Finally, one more specialist who can carry the roof inspection is a hail damage public adjuster. This is a private professional who handles the preparation of claims for the insurance company, whose responsibilities also include damage assessment and advice on dealing with insurance companies provided to homeowners.

How to Get Prepared for Roof Inspection by Insurance Adjuster

One of the main mistakes homeowners make when contacting an insurance company is trying to repair the roof damage caused by hail prior to an insurance adjuster's visit. By doing this, you are digging a deep hole for yourself. The fact is that upon arrival at your house, the insurance adjuster must inspect the roof for hail damage. What will happen if you have already eliminated all the visible damage before the inspection? Of course, he/she will decide that there is no reason to pay you compensation. Therefore, it will be much better if you immediately inform the insurance company about the occurrence of the insured event and set a date for the roof inspection by an insurance adjuster. Until then, do not touch anything on the roof or near the house, photograph any visible signs of hail damage or take a video. This will allow you to provide irrefutable proof that your home has been really damaged.

Is It Necessary to Apply to a Public Adjuster for Roof Inspection for Hail Damage?

Many people think that it is enough if an insurance adjuster carries out the roof inspection for hail damage. But, in some disputable situations (and by the way, hail damage is a case in point), an independent examination will be needed. Therefore, if you seriously count on getting compensation from the insurance company, which would be enough to cover all the costs of roof repairs, it is better to use the services of a public adjuster and give him/her the opportunity to carry out a proper roof inspection for hail damage. You will see that this is an effective measure.