Hail or storm damage: how a roof insurance claim works

What to do in the first days

A storm is stressful. Take these steps in order, and take them one at a time.

1. Stay safe. Walk around the outside first. Look for loose power lines, gas leaks and structural damage. Do not go inside if you smell gas. Do not climb onto a wet or damaged roof.
2. Take photos and video. Record the roof, gutters, siding, windows, ceilings and anything inside that got wet. Do it before you clean up. Make a list of the damage.
3. Tell your insurer. Call your agent or insurer as soon as you can. Ask about the forms you need, your deadlines and your deductible. Write down the claim number.
4. Stop more damage. Your policy expects you to protect the home. Cover holes with a tarp, board broken windows and remove standing water. Make only temporary repairs.
5. Keep every receipt. Save receipts for tarps, materials and labor. Insurers often pay back reasonable temporary repairs when the loss is covered.
6. Keep the damaged items. Do not throw anything away until the adjuster has seen it.
7. Keep notes. Write down the date, the name and what was said in each call with your insurer or adjuster.

Do not make permanent repairs before the adjuster inspects. Ask your insurer first.

Get the roof inspected

Hail damage is often hard to see from the ground. A roofer can inspect the roof and give you a written estimate. You can find roofers that list roof inspections near you and call them direct.

Get more than one written bid. A good bid lists the materials and the price line by line. Compare the bids with the adjuster’s report before you settle the claim.

If the repair costs little more than your deductible, think before you file. Claims can affect your premium and whether your insurer renews the policy.

How a claim moves

Notice. You report the damage. The insurer opens the claim and tells you what it needs.

Adjuster visit. The insurer sends an adjuster at no cost to you. The adjuster may work for the insurer or be an independent contractor. Try to be home for the visit and point out all the damage. Your roofer can meet the adjuster with you.

Estimate. The insurer writes an estimate of what the policy covers. Read it line by line. If it misses damage, tell your insurer and send your roofer’s estimate and photos.

Payment. The first check is often an advance, not the final payment. If you have a mortgage, the check usually names you and your lender. You may get more if you find more damage later.

Do not feel rushed to agree. If you still disagree, check your policy for an appraisal clause. You can also hire an attorney or a licensed public adjuster, who charges a fee. Not all states allow public adjusters.

Insurance terms you will meet

Two points catch many people. First, some policies pay an older roof at actual cash value, even if the rest of the home has replacement cost. Second, you may have to finish the work and send the invoice to collect held-back depreciation. Ask your insurer how and by when.

What a roofer can and cannot do

A roofer can inspect the roof, write an estimate, meet the adjuster with you and do the repair. Your insurer may want to see the estimate before work starts.

A roofer is not your insurer, and usually not your adjuster. Some states limit what a roofer can say or do about a claim. For example, the Texas Department of Insurance says a Texas roofer may not act as your public adjuster and also do the work.

You make the first call to your insurer, not the roofer. Before you hire anyone, check the roofer’s license and insurance with your state or county.

Storm-chaser warning signs

After a big storm, some contractors go door to door to make quick money. Watch for these signs:

• An offer to pay or waive your deductible, or to “work it into the bid.” In Texas, the state insurance department says this is illegal. Insurers there can ask for proof that you paid it.
• Pressure to sign today for a discount. Take time to get other bids.
• A contract with blank spaces, or a request to sign before you get an estimate.
• A request for full payment up front, or for cash, wire transfer, gift card, payment app or crypto. Pay by check or credit card, and pay the last amount only when the work is done.
• A request to sign over your insurance check.
• An assignment of benefits (AOB). This form lets a contractor “stand in your shoes” on the claim. You do not need to sign one to get repairs. File the claim with your insurer yourself.
• A “contingency” or authorization form before the adjuster visits. It may give the roofer the job, or the right to talk to your insurer for you. Read the fine print before you sign anything.

Rules on AOBs differ by state. For example, Florida’s Department of Financial Services says Florida law bars AOBs on property policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2023.

If you think you see a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general.

Rules differ by state and by policy

Deadlines, deductibles and contractor rules change from state to state and policy to policy. Your policy is your guide to what it covers. Your state insurance department has consumer staff who can help if you have trouble with a claim.

This guide is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Read your own policy. Ask your insurer or your state insurance department about your deadlines and your rights.

When you are ready, find roofers that list storm and hail damage repair. The Roofing List checks that each phone works, the website is live and the website says the company does roofing, siding or gutter work. We do not check licenses, insurance, quality or prices. You call the roofer direct, and we charge no lead fees.