Hail, Wind & Storm Damage Insurance Claims
If your home has storm damage, it’s imperative to act fast. Hail, wind and heavy rain can wreak havoc on your roof and when left unattended serious problems are sure to follow. Let us help!
Our Storm Damage Insurance Claims
Restoration Process
Authentic Restoration has extensive knowledge of the insurance restoration industry. For every 10 insurance claims, we agree to work with our Customers on, 9 or more will get approved.This may sound like an unreasonably high success rate. However, since every insurance claims process starts with an extremely thorough inspection, this shouldn’t be surprising. We don’t work with a Customer hoping to get approved but rather, we expect to get approval.
Learn More: Storm Damage Insurance Claims Questions, Answers, & Resources
All our insurance related jobs start with a detailed inspection from one of our experienced personnel to evaluate the condition of the roof and determine if there is adequate storm-related damage to justify filing a claim. At Authentic, we believe a high-quality inspection (or evaluation, whichever word you prefer) is the most important element of any project, insurance or cash bid. An entire page of the website is dedicated to our inspection process, that’s how important we feel this step of the process is.
Storm Damages Revealed
Should our inspection reveal there is storm related damage, we review the extent of the damages with the Customer and discuss options. In the event our Customer wishes to file a claim and would like to have Authentic assist with the process, a contract is signed. Our contract is written to protect the interests of both parties. It is explicitly clear that in the event the claim is not approved, the Customer is released of any obligation to purchase anything from Authentic Restoration and the contract is void.
At the same time, should the claim be approved, Authentic will be allowed to perform the work for the amount specified by the insurance scope of loss; Of course, the deductible must be paid by the Customer along with any upgrades or additional out of scope work requested. All our contracts are accompanied by an addendum that informs the Customer of their 3-day right of rescission. We don’t practice high-pressure sales tactics nor do we want anyone to feel trapped if they change their mind within the first 72 hours following the execution of the contract.
If you’re in a situation and you need a roofing contractor in Birmingham, Alabama area, we can help!
Xactimate – Estimate Program
Assuming the Insurance Adjuster doesn’t show up the next day for the adjuster meeting, we prepare a very detailed estimate for the required repairs we believe are needed and justified. The vast majority of insurance companies utilize an estimate-program called Xactimate™. Xactimate™ maintains a price list for different markets that it updates monthly. Most States have 8 to 12 markets, some even more. We utilize Xactimate™ to create our estimates and download the exact same local price database used by the insurance companies.
It is important to note, when our estimate disagrees with the insurance scope of loss, it is due to a disagreement over the repair line items required but not the actual pricing itself. Our Customers should not be surprised when our estimate is higher than their scope of loss. We simply review the scope of loss and supplement for the differences with the insurance company. Utilizing the same estimating program most often simplifies this whole process as we are both using the same “song sheet”.
In most cases, our Representative is present to assist the Customer when the claim is called in. In the event we are not, the Customer should always inform the insurance Representative they are working with Authentic Restoration and wish for our Representative to be present when the Adjuster visits to perform their inspection. Most of the time, the Adjuster will call prior to their visit to schedule the date and time. We ask our Customers to record that date and time and also request the Adjuster’s contact information. We then request that our Customers contact us promptly to pass all that information along.
Waiting For Approval or Denial
It is important to understand we are not going to show up and browbeat the adjuster or attempt to intimidate them into approving the claim. Adjusters typically have a jam packed schedule and have subsequent appointments already set following our Customers inspection. We attempt to assist them by promptly identifying all the damaged areas we found in the inspection we previously found. We also deliver the estimate we created and review our plan for repairs with the assigned Adjuster.
In the event the Adjuster denies the claim, we would like to hear their point of view in order to understand their decision. In the event we disagree with their opinion, we will advise our Customer who may wish to request a second inspection.
Assuming everything goes well, the claim is approved. In most cases, the Customer receives a front end check within a 10 to 14 days following the Adjuster Meeting. That check will often be written to both the Customer and their mortgage company. We assist the Customer with the documentation usually required by the mortgage company for them to release the funds.
We also review the insurance scope of loss with the Customer and compare it with our own estimate. More importantly, we point out any essential items that may have been omitted from the scope of loss and discuss options with the Homeowner. In most cases, this involves filing a supplement with the insurance companies requesting the omitted items be approved.
Choosing A New Roof
We bring along numerous materials samples for the Customer to choose from. Once the Customer makes their roofing shingle choice, and other materials when applicable, we discuss a mutually agreeable date for performing the work.
We follow up with the Customer again to ensure the original agreed upon schedule is still acceptable for them. We make every attempt to have the materials delivered the morning of the job to minimally inconvenience our Customers. Our Representative will spend a significant amount of time on the job making sure the work crews understand the work to be done in exacting detail.
Our Representative will also be there following completion of the job to make sure everything was done correctly, nothing was damaged in the process and to ensure a thorough and proper cleanup was performed. Assuming the Customer is available, our Representative will invite them to participate in a walk around to point out all the work done and answer any questions that may arise.
In some cases, there are additional trades such as interior repairs that must be performed following the roof replacement. Our Representative will continue to work with our Customer to coordinate and manage these projects through completion. Once complete, Authentic submits all the appropriate certificates of completion and invoices to the insurance company in order that the recoverable depreciation is paid to the Customer.
Learn More About Our Roofing Services
Restoring Your Property
Restoring your property does not to be a painful process that results in stress, lost time at work or having to manage your own construction project. Authentic Restoration provides an alternative that achieves the results you are looking for at a price you’ll be pleased with. Should you have damage that qualifies as a valid insurance claim, we will complete the work for the insurance proceeds plus the deductible. You know going in what your out of pocket expense will be, with no nasty surprises at the end!
Traditionally, storm damage claims and the subsequent construction/repairs require that you meet with the Insurance Adjuster, schedule meetings with General Contractors to get multiple bids and submit documentation to the insurance company. Should you uncover additional damage(s) along the way, you would then have to submit supplemental requests to your insurance company or come out of pocket to cover the additional expense. When your project is complete, you would then get to file more paperwork in order to get paid for your recoverable depreciation.
There’s a Better Way!
If you choose to work with Authentic Restoration to restore your property to like-new condition, you get far more than a crew of subcontractors. We provide a complete turnkey service that saves you time, money and stress!
What the insurance company wants you to do!
YOU work with the insurance company to make sure they assess the damage you incurred properly. YOU get multiple bids to repair the damages. If the bids are too low the insurance company will want you to refund them the difference. If the bids are too high then you pay the difference. Unless you have an itemized bid the insurance company will tell you to keep shopping for someone that can do the work for the price that they set.
- Confirm that the original adjuster used the correct pricing and did not miss anything.
- Obtain sub-contractors and verify insurance and licensing.
- Obtain building permits.
- Schedule inspections.
Your insurance company wants you to handle your claim. They benefit from your inexperience while you just become frustrated with your claim.
Insurance Claim Delays Deliver Massive Profits To Industry By Shorting Customers
What YOU want to do!
WE work with your insurance company on an “open claim” basis. WE use our expertise to prepare a Xactimate estimate and review it with your insurance company for approval. Confirm that all pricing and items are correct in your insurance company’s estimate.
- Obtain permits.
- Schedule the proper inspections.
- Order materials.
- Schedule crews.
- Supervise your job.
- Submit for any supplements if the need arises.
Once all the work is completed we invoice the insurance company for the depreciation.
You save precious time and energy knowing that your home is being taken care of by the experts at Authentic Restoration!
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