Here in Northwest Arkansas thunderstorms are consistent every year. Some storms can cause significant damages to your property. We are a local NWA roofing company and deal with insurance claims on a daily basis. Here is a list of steps to help guide you through the process of making an insurance claim

Inspect your home for damages

After a big storm comes through the first thing you should do is an inspection of your property. Look for damages around your home. Things like fencing, windows, screens and outdoor décor need to be checked for damage. If you feel comfortable going on your roof look for areas that are missing shingle grit, or dents to vents and gutters.

It is a good idea to take photos or videos of any issues you find  to show to your insurance adjuster. Definitely take lots of photos before you clean up any debris or make temporary repairs. You should also keep a list of issues to discuss with your insurance inspector.

Check your Insurance coverage

Before you file a claim it is worth getting familiar with your insurance coverage. Most of the time you can log into your insurance company's website and download a copy of your policy. You should make note of your deductible and any limits of coverage you may have.

Keep in mind that many policies have different provision for hail claims as opposed to other types of claims. Arkansas has a lot of hail claims,  so insurance carriers often offer different coverages here than they do elsewhere. You will want to make sure there are no surprises instore before you make a claim.

File your claim

Now that you know you have damages and know your coverage, it is time to call in your claim. You can call your insurance agents office directly or file your claim on the company's website. The claims process is super simple and doesn't take long at all. You insurer will assign you a claim number and assign one of their adjusters to you claim.                                                                   

You can expect a call from your adjuster within a couple of days to schedule a time to come out and inspect your property.

Start Investigating Roofers

While you are waiting on your claim to process, you can begin calling contractors. It is a good idea to look for a local company that is reputable and established. There are plenty of reputable roofing companies in NWA. After storms, often times company's come in from surrounding areas. Its is harder to vet out of town companies, or to be sure they will be around if you have problems in the future.

Obviously we would suggest calling Robin Hood Roofing, But we are a little biased.                                                                                                                                              

Ask for references and proof of insurance, as well as their contractor's license. Don't just shop for a price. Look for someone you can trust. The roof is a very important part of your house, and you should work with someone who makes you feel confident in their ability to repair your home.                                                                       

You should get written estimates from the contractor for the total costs to repair your home.

Meet With Your Adjuster

Your insurance adjuster will come to your home or business and inspect the property. You should try to be there to meet with them if at all possible. You can also have a roofing contractor meet with your adjuster to represent you. Your adjuster will do a full inspection of your home and note down any problems. If you created a list during your initial inspection, make sure to go over it with you adjuster.

You should receive your claim paperwork by email or regular mail within a week of the inspection Your adjuster will have created a list of damages and an estimate for the cost to repair those damages. Go over the insurance estimate with your chosen contractor to make sure all items were included and pricing is fair.

Once your claim is approved you should receive a payment for the first portion of your claim. The first payment is typically 60-70% of the claim value. The second payment will be issued after repairs have been made.

Get your roof fixed

Once you have confirmed your claim is accurate you are ready to finally get things fixed. Get scheduled with your roofer to make the repairs. Once again it is good to take photos of the repairs as they go just in case there are any questions later on.

After the job is done, go over any concerns with your roofing company. Once you are happy, your roofer will collect the amount from the first insurance payment along with your deductible.

You or your roofing contractors can submit photos of the completed repairs along with invoices in order to collect the remaining balance for the insurance company.

More questions?

Hopefully these tips have been helpful to guide you through the process of making a claim on your property. If you have more questions feel free to contact us.

If you live in Northwest Arkansas and are looking for a great roofing company. Give us a call. We are here to help.