Kansas City Roof Storm Damage
Insurance Claims Experts

Mother Nature isn’t very nice at times.

And sometimes, she is especially cruel to your home. If your home has suffered roof damage from a storm, it is imperative that the damage is repaired as quickly as possible.

Your roof is your home’s first line of defense against the elements and a delay could cause further damage–you could find yourself dealing with dripping water, mold growing in the walls, ceiling and attic and even roof cave-ins–but as importantly, most insurance policies limit the amount of time you have to make a claim after a storm. It pays to act quickly. If you wait too long, you might not be able to make a claim.

We Are Your Insurance Claim Experts

If you aren’t sure of how to handle the insurance claim, one of the best things that you can do is to bring in a high quality roofing contractor—like RainScape Roofing–who has your interests in mind. (Be wary of the roofing companies that pop up after a large storm or natural disaster.)

It isn’t a good idea to meet with the insurance adjuster alone anyway and an experienced roofing contractor knows the local codes and laws about storm damage. The contractor can help the adjuster understand exactly how extensive the storm damage is and what it will take to fix it. Homeowners have been known to hurt their chances of getting paid as much as they should because they (and their adjuster) didn’t know the ins and outs and technicalities of roof repair.

Roof Storm Damage Insurance Claim – How Does It Work?

The claims process varies from company to company, from carrier to carrier. However, it is important to keep in mind that your insurance company may at first attempt to deny your claim in order to maintain as much profitability as possible. Your best defense whenever this happens is persistence and a thorough understanding of your insurance policy.

In Kansas City, this is what should do to prepare to make your insurance claim for your new roof:

1. Assess all of the damage done by the storm. Take notes—especially note the date of storm and any visible damage. It’s a good idea to take pictures of the damage.
2. Meet with a roofing contractor to get estimates. Roofing contractors have specialized roofing software that can help assess and estimate roof repair and roofing replacement costs. They can note things you may not see, less visible damage. Then ask for the contractor to help you deal with the insurance adjuster. When the adjuster comes for the full roof inspection, it is very important that the roofing contractor is present during the inspection. They can help make sure the adjuster sees everything that needs to be repaired or replaced.
3. Your insurance company may try to deny your claim. They want to be as profitable as possible. Your best defense is persistence and a thorough understanding of your policy. Don’t take no for an answer. If your home has storm damage it can decrease its value and cause future damage if not repaired. Insist on meeting with another adjuster.
4. Once your claim is approved, get your contractor busy immediately.
   Although the process can be intimidating and sometimes rather tedious, filing an insurance claim is a fairly straightforward process. With a proper research and a quality roofing contractor on your side, you can have the claims process behind you and the repairs finished in no time.

Note: Disaster claims made after a tornado or hurricane are the most stressful types of claims. You are under extreme personal stress and the insurance company is probably overwhelmed since many people are suffering similar losses. Service can take more time.

These additional tips can help you through the process:

• Hire a quality roofing contractor—such as RainScape Roofing- professionals at dealing with insurance companies, not the cheapest one you can find.
• Most policies give you up to two years to file a claim but you must know what your policy requires. And why would you wait? Even if you had that long! The sooner you file the claim, the faster the damage is repaired.
• Understand your policy as thoroughly as possible.
• Avoid contractors who have no experience with insurance claims or, worse, contractors who suddenly go into business because of a storm.
• Storm damage claims should not increase your rates.
  Roof storm damage is not always visible to the naked eye. That is why partnering with a reputable roofing contractor who understands both the construction issues and the insurance claims process is a benefit. If your roofing contractor finds damage, let them guide you through the insurance claim process. The contractor will understand the scope of work required to fix the damage and help you get things fixed—both with the insurance company and repairing the roof– the right way, the first time.

What You Need to Know About Your Homeowner’s Insurance BEFORE You Need It

What you don’t know about your insurance policy can hurt you.
Your policy has many provisions that are spelled out in an addendum attached to the insurance policy declaration page. Take the time to digest it thoroughly when you buy the policy. Knowing what your responsibilities are will help the claims process go quickly and smoothly should you ever need to make a claim.

First things first: The most important thing you need to know is what ‘perils’ are covered in your policy, what you’ll be compensated for and how much the deductible will be.

If your policy contains a clause that requires you to advise the insurer any time there is a change in risk or liability, not notifying them of something that has changed puts you at risk of nullifying your insurance. That is the last thing you want to do so you need to know about that clause and what types of things you need to notify them about.

Every insurance policy also contains numerous clauses about limitations on things like cash in the home, landscaping, collectibles, sports equipment, etc. You need to know what those limitations are. If a tree falls on your roof in a windstorm, is removing the tree covered or just the roof? Just removing the tree can be expensive. Is that cost covered?

The best way to get your money’s worth (the maximum amount payable) if you ever have a claim is to have a strong understanding of the claims process and what you are rightfully entitled to based on your insurance contract.

Here is some basic information you should know about your policy regarding storm damage:
If a tree or something on your property is damaged or toppled during a storm, most insurance policies do not provide coverage for tree removal. The policy might cover the removal of part of the tree if it interferes with repairs to your house.
If you already have a problem (example: a leak in the roof but the repair is not yet completed) your insurance may not cover further damage if a storm comes. Failure to do something to prevent more damage (throw a tarp over the current problem) could jeopardize your claim. Be aware of your specific responsibilities spelled out in your insurance policy.

Sometimes, you may have water damage and the insurance company will not pay the entire claim. Most policies have “wear and tear” exclusions and basic maintenance clauses. So the insurance company will not cover repairing your roof because it is simply at the end of its life. (Your 20 year old roof was only supposed to last 15.) They may cover the cost of repairing the resulting water damage inside your home.

If you think you might need to file a claim, you probably should. For example: even though the hail damage on your roof appears to be cosmetic, you should still file a claim. As direct result of physical damage from an “act of God” the damage should (and probably will) be covered. And those dings will likely get worse over time when the wind and rain tries to wash your roof away. The insurance company knows the hail damage may manifest as leaks and will eventually cause damage to your home. They’d rather pay less now.

Getting to know your homeowner’s policy will always be your early defense against the unexpected.

What you know about your insurance policy can help you lots. And we at RainScape Roofing are insurance experts. Don’t hesitate to call us, we will handle the claim for your best benefit and end result.
We can help.

Dealing with Insurance Companies after a Storm

If your home has suffered storm damage, it’s essential to get repairs done as soon as possible. It’s important because delaying repairs can result in additional damage, and because most insurance policies limit the amount of time you have to make a claim. If you wait too long, not only could you find yourself dealing with dripping water, mold, and increasingly expensive repairs, you could forfeit your right to file a claim.

Homeowners often aren’t sure how to handle an insurance claim. They risk hurting their chances of getting paid the full amount they may be entitled to on a claim because they don’t understand all of the details and nuances of the needed repairs.

In a perfect world, an insurance adjuster would make a fair and reasonable settlement offer based on the damage to your home, and you would accept the offer and move forward with the needed restoration and repairs. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world.

That’s why homeowners are advised not to meet with an insurance adjuster alone. One of the best things a homeowner can do is hire a quality contractor. Having an experienced contractor there with you to meet with an adjuster can be a real benefit. A contractor who knows the codes and laws, who knows what it will take to make the proper repairs, and who will work with the insurance company can help assure the outcome works in the homeowner’s best interests–not just to the advantage of the insurance company.

Getting Your Roof Repair Work Done

When you choose someone to handle the repairs to your home when it’s suffered damages following a storm, you want to hire someone who will:

• Document damage to your home with photos or video, and compile a written list of damaged items before any clean-up is done.
• Read your homeowner’s policy and understands what’s covered before contacting the insurance company.
• If you need help figuring out the next best steps for your insurance claim, RainScape Roofing will be happy to help.

Most roofing companies replace a roof and that’s it. RainScape Roofing does so much more. We’re your one-stop-shop for storm damage repairs and we’ll assist with any insurance claims. Call us today to find out how we can help you.