Roof replacement is a vital part of upkeep in your home. Without a solid roof, your home and your stuff could suffer serious damage.
However, with the average roof costing between $5,000-$10,000, it’s not necessarily something most people can pay for at a moment’s notice.
The good thing is that most of the time, roofs give you plenty of warning signs that they are on their way out. But sometimes they don’t, such as when they are damaged by a storm or something else.
If that’s the case, then you need to know how to get your insurance to pay for a roof replacement. Let’s look at how to do it.
Can You Make a Claim?
Because of the expense, insurance companies tend to balk at paying for roof replacement. But if the reason your roof needs replacing is covered by your policy, you’re entitled to the benefit. After all, that’s what you’re paying for.
Thus, you need to figure out if you’re eligible to make a claim to get your insurance to pay for a roof replacement. This will depend on your specific policy. Time to dust off your policy and read the fine print.
Virtually no insurance company will pay for a roof that needs to be replaced because it wore out. Additionally, some companies will only pay a prorated amount, especially on older roofs.
For example, say your roof is estimated to last 30 years. It sustains damage at 20 years old. The insurance company may only pay a third of the replacement cost to cover the 10 years of lost use.
Most companies will pay for damage caused by storms, acts of God, fire, vandalism, etc. Basically, anything that causes outside damage to the roof that is not a result of normal wear and tear or lack of proper maintenance.
Document Damage
When damage occurs, you need to document it right away. Your insurance company will want to see proof that something outside of your control happened to your roof.
For this reason, you should have a licensed roofer inspect your roof as soon as possible after a severe storm, etc. Even if you can’t see visible damage, a professional knows what to look for. Their report will be invaluable for getting your insurance company to pay the claim.
Here’s an important tip. One of the ways that insurance companies may try to avoid paying a claim is by saying you failed to maintain the roof properly. In other words, proper maintenance would have kept the roof strong enough to sustain the storm, or whatever, without damage.
To counteract this, it’s a good idea to take dated photographs of your roof on occasion to show the state it is in. This is particularly important right after a round of maintenance and will help you get your insurance to pay for a roof replacement.
Choose the Right Roofer In Annapolis
Be careful when choosing your roofing company. Some companies will offer you help or advice to get your insurance to pay for a roof replacement. But there’s a catch, you are locked into hiring them once your insurance company approves the claim.
Don’t ever choose a roofer that requires you to sign a contingency contract before they’ll offer a roofing estimate. Most companies offer the roof inspection and estimate for free.
Once your claim has been approved and you’re ready to hire, you should have full control over which company you decide to go with and it.
If your roof has been damaged and your policy covers the cost, there is no reason that you shouldn’t get the help you’re entitled to. Be sure to contact us today by calling 443-214-2533 today!
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