Damage Caused by Weather
When a hail storm hits, there can be lots of confusion. Don’t get fooled into believing the hype. Here are the top 5 myths that we hear about insurance claims due to hail damage.
1. You are scamming your insurance company.
Regardless of what you think or what a contractor tells you, a representative of your insurance company called an adjuster makes the final determination of whether your home has been damaged by hail. They will also determine whether they are paying for part, whole, or none of the replacement of your roof.
2. Your insurance premium will go up if you make a claim.
This is actually a true and false situation. Storm damage is an act of nature. By rule your insurance premium should not go up if you make a claim for damage that is deemed an act of nature. However, homeowner insurance premiums are determined by geographic area. If there is a large number of claims in your area, your premium will probably be going up anyway. So are you going to pay for your neighbors roof and not get one yourself?
3. I don’t see hail damage on my roof so I don’t have it.
Some hail damage is obvious, some not so much. When hailstones hits an asphalt shingle it knocks off the protective gravel that shields the tar of your roof shingles from the sun’s UV damaging rays. In many cases, when this initally happens, it is difficult to see the damage. But as time, weather, and UV rays deteriorate the area where the hail hit your shingles, the damage becomes very obvious. Unfortunately this may take several years and will put you past the time you can make an insurance claim for the damage, which is generally 1 year from the storm date.
4. My insurance company came out and said I don’t have damage, so I don’t have damage.
Understand that your insurance company is not always your friend. Insurance companies, with a few exceptions, are public traded companies that have investors. Most homeowners are fooled
You Can Deny Insurance Companies are Tricky
into thinking their insurance companies work for them. In actuality, insurance companies work for their investors. It is in their best interest to deny claims. Less paid out claims equals more profits equals happier investors. You get the picture.
5. I don’t need a contractor, I can make my claim myself.
Famous last works for sure. You don’t need a contractor until you need a contractor because your insurance company only bought half your roof or denied your claim all together. The problem is, it becomes much more difficult to work with your insurance company after your claim has been adjusted the first time. It is in your best interest to work with an experienced restoration contractor from the very beginning of the process.
If you suspect that you have hail damage to your home call the Experts at Innovative Home Concepts, Inc. We have been helping Mchenry County homeowners restore their homes after damaging storms for over 10 years.
What makes Innovative different than all other roofing contractors out there trying to profit from the Mchenry county insurance restoration business is our experience and expertise. Innovative knows the ins and outs of insurance restoration so you will have the best chance of getting your claim approved. If your claim has been denied or only partially bought, we know how to work with your insurance company to get the work done.
And best of all, we handle everything for you. From filing your claim the right way to final clean up after the project is complete, Innovative makes the process as painless and easy as possible.
Concerned about quality? You should be! Innovative Home Concepts has been voted the best roofing and siding contractor in Mchenry county 4 of the last 5 years.
So what are you waiting for, call us today! (815)356-9020
