During the month of July alone, I fielded hundreds of phone calls pertaining to Hurricane Beryl’s rude shingle stripping and wind driven rain leaks. Why does this article start with those two terms just like that? Well for some, it really was just a pain in the rear, but for most homeowners their first phone call after the storm was off the charts disappointing.
This article is going to be short and sweet. Insurance carriers are not giving Houstonians money for roof damage. And if you called your insurance before you called a roofing professional, then you likely made a claim the was an instant losing effort.
It doesn’t matter if you had over 50 shingles missing? If you had three or four leaks, the carrier probably doesn’t care. There’s a very high chance you or someone you know received the message that the repairs would never surpass the deductible, and you were going to have to pay out of pocket to patch things up. You can always higher someone to represent you, but those cases drag out forever.
There are countless outcomes when it comes to insurance policies and storm damage. The truth is that the hail storms during March and May produced more damage to your roof than the hurricane. But everyone panicked and immediately called and made a claim on their roof instead of speaking to a roofing professional first.
In the future, always call a roofing professional before calling your insurance. Try not to act on your own and just make a claim, see what happens. Come up with a game plan with your contractor, let them speak the right language to the adjusters, prove that you have damage, and most importantly document why your roof needs to be replaced, not just repaired. Replace means you may get something. Repair stands for you’re out of luck and on your own for this one.
So, what happens when Jake and Mayhem don’t see “enough damage” on your roof? Well, if you’re an already struggling family scratching your head over fund for a new lid on top of your number one asset, then you can only afford the repairs. Make sure to get a couple of quotes first. People are paying door knockers $2000 for a $500 repair. Don’t fall for that.
The insurance landscape is ever-changing and the results are not in our favor Houston. As for the leaks, they are not the end of the world. Some of them actually need less than ten minutes of work to fix. The point here is don’t overpay for one of two leaks to be repaired. Make sure you’re getting a warranty with your repairs, like a one- or two-year workmanship guarantee. Some companies will repair and perform a complimentary maintenance package on all your pipe jack vents, flashings, etc. Those are the keepers. Let their customer service shine. The more reports you receive and the more attention your roof gets means you’ve found a quality agency that highly likely treats customers better than the typical money grabbing door knocker.
Article By Roofing Specialist
Lance Edwards
