Roof insurance claims, step by step

Photograph everything, immediately

Take far more pictures than feel necessary, including undamaged areas for comparison. Do it before the tarp goes on, not after.

Stop further damage, and keep the receipts

Policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent things getting worse, and they generally reimburse the cost of doing so. Tarps, emergency call-outs, a temporary patch. Keep every receipt.

Mind the deadline

Policies impose time limits on reporting damage, and they are shorter than people assume. Damage found late — hail in particular — is often denied simply because too long has passed.

Know what your policy actually pays

The two clauses that decide the cheque are the settlement basis and the deductible. Some policies also carry a separate, larger deductible for wind and hail.

Get an independent assessment first

A written contractor assessment before the adjuster visits gives you a scope to compare against. If the two disagree, ask for the contractor to be present at a re-inspection — it changes the conversation considerably.

Read anything before you sign it

Be wary of any contract signed in a hurry after a storm, particularly one that ties you to the contractor regardless of what the insurer decides.

In short

Document first, mitigate second, file third. In that order it usually goes smoothly; in any other order it usually does not.