It can be hard to know when homeowners should call their insurance company. What about a fire in your home? Is there a storm headed your way? Knowing what to do in an emergency is important, and knowing who to call can make all the difference. In this blog post, we will discuss when you should call your insurance company and what you need to do in order to protect yourself and your property.
Severity
There are a few key things to keep in mind when trying to decide whether or not to call your insurance company. The first is the severity of the situation. If it's major hail damage, wind damage, or fallen trees due to a storm you should contact your insurance company as soon as possible to have a new roof installed. However, if it's something like wear and tear damage or minor water damage that doesn't affect drainage, it may not be necessary to call your insurance company right away. It is also important to keep in mind the lifetime of your roof -- For instance, asphalt shingles have a lower life expectancy than flat roofs made from metal tiles.
Cost
Another thing to consider is the cost of the damage to your roofing material or shingles. If the damage is significant and will be expensive to repair due to compromised roof support it's probably worth calling your insurance company. However, if the damage is minor and you can afford to pay for roofing materials and repair out of pocket, you may want to skip the insurance claim, especially if the damage is very minor. This is because it may be written down as a zero-pay claim on your record, these are claims that are submitted but are not paid. It is not good to have these on your insurance record.
Deductible
Next, you'll need to think about your deductible. A deductible is the amount of money you have to pay for a claim before your insurance company starts to help. If your deductible is high, it may not make sense to file a claim with your insurance company since you'll be responsible for paying most of the repairs yourself.
Policy Coverage
You should also check your policy coverage to see what is and is not covered before you make the call. For example, if you have an actual cash value insurance policy, it likely will cover all the damage to your roof because it factors in depreciation costs. If you're unsure about what your policy covers, give your insurance company a call and they will be happy to help clarify things for you.
Making the Call
Once you've decided to call your insurance company, there are a few things you'll need to do in order to make sure everything goes smoothly. First, have your insurance policy handy. You'll also need to give them a brief summary of what happened and explain the extent of the damages. It's helpful to have pictures or videos of the damages as well. The more information you can provide, the better.
After you've made the call, your insurance company will likely send an adjuster to assess the damages and give you an estimate of the cost of the roofing repair or replacement. They may also ask you for more information or documents. Be sure to follow their instructions and provide everything they ask for in a timely manner.
It's important to remember that you should always call your insurance company as soon as possible after an incident occurs. This will ensure that you are protected and that your claim is filed in a timely manner. It's also a good idea to have the contact information for your insurance company stored in your phone so you can easily access it in an emergency.
Calling your insurance company can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. By following these tips, you can be sure that you're taking the best possible course of action for your situation. And remember, if you're ever unsure about what to do, you can always give your local roofing company a call and they will be happy to assist you!
What You Need to Know
Now that we've gone over when you should call your insurance company, let's talk about what you need to do in order to protect yourself and your building. The first thing you should do is call your insurance agent or company as soon as possible. They will be able to walk you through the process and help you decide what to do next.
Next, you'll need to gather all of the necessary documentation. This may include pictures or videos of the damage, a police report (if applicable), and estimates from contractors. You should also make sure to keep all receipts related to the incident, as you will likely need to submit these when filing your claim.
Once you have all of the necessary documentation, you'll need to file a claim with your insurance company. They will then send an adjuster to assess the damage and determine how much you will receive. It's important to remember that you should never try to repair the damage yourself, as this could void your insurance policy. Always leave it to the professionals!
By following these steps, you can be sure that you're taking the best possible course of action after an incident occurs. If you've recently had some type of damage to your home, whether it's from a storm or another incident, don't hesitate to give your insurance company a call. They will be more than happy to help you through the process and get you the coverage you need.
We hope this article has been helpful in explaining when you should call your insurance company. If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to Charleston Roofing and Exteriors today, we will be happy to help!
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