Wind Damage – Page 4

Roofer vs. Insurance Restoration Specialist

March 15, 2018 By Modern Remodeling

When your roof suffers damage from a severe storm, whether it be wind, hail or debris, the logical step is to call a roofer for repairs. That’s because most people have never heard of an insurance restoration specialist, like Modern. Unlike most roofers, Modern exclusively handles insurance claims (over 500 a year). We don’t go out and give estimates for retail roofs, just like most roofers never work directly with the insurance company like we do.

To put it simply, all insurance restoration specialist are roofers but not all roofers are insurance restoration specialist.

Why Does it Matter?

You wouldn’t want a general surgeon performing your open heart surgery, right? It’s kind of like that. Specialties exist for a reason. A local roofer might do fantastic job installing your new roof but they’ll fall flat negotiating with your insurance adjuster to get code items properly paid for or even all your slopes. The final approved estimate for repairs will be short because of this… Ultimately, you’ll have to come out-of-pocket more to make up the difference.

How Can You Tell the Difference?

This is where a little bit of research will go a long way. In situations where there has been a significant weather event (March 2nd wind storm), all roofers will claim to be insurance experts. Follow these steps to spot the difference between a regular local roofer and an insurance specialist.

Check out their website…. is it mostly focused on remodeling and retail work? That’s a red flag.
Ask them if they prefer to attend the adjuster meeting. What software do they write their estimates in? An insurance specialist uses the same software as your insurance company and always work with the adjuster.
Can they explain your RCV, ACV and recoverable depreciation? These are crucial to the process and if they don’t know what they mean or can’t fully explain how it works to you….You are working with the wrong professional.

If you are repairing your roof or siding through insurance, be sure to use an insurance expert like Modern Remodeling. You can call us at 410-569-1732 or contact us directly with any questions or concerns.

Why Your Insurance Adjuster Meeting is Critical

March 13, 2018 By Modern Remodeling

After you file an insurance claim, the very next step in the process is to have an adjuster meeting. In our opinion, this is the most critical step in the entire process of repairing your home.

What Happens at the Adjuster Meeting?

Your insurance company will send a representative, called an adjuster, to inspect the damage to your home. The adjuster works for the insurance company either internally or as a third party hire. The adjuster’s job is to verify insurance claims and determine a fair amount for settlement. The adjuster will ideally (but not always) thoroughly inspect your home and either approve or deny your claim. If they approve your claim or part of it, they will write an Xactimate estimate for repair which outlines the scope of work and price for repairs.

Why is this Meeting So Important?

Adjusters often try to convince property owners to accept less money than their claim is worth. After all, they work for the insurance company. Insurance wants to pay for as little as possible to protect their bottom line. This leaves homeowners with insufficient funds to properly repair their homes. Some ways adjusters do this is by paying for only part of your roof or siding, not including things like county code upgrades, or flat out rejecting the claim all together. The adjuster meeting is when these decisions are made, which is why it’s so important.

How to Ensure Your Repair Estimate is Fair

Although, you can make adjustments to the estimate your insurance adjuster provides, it’s a long and sometimes contentious process to do so. The most efficient way to ensure your repair estimate is fair is to agree on everything at the adjuster meeting. Modern exclusively specializes in insurance claim work and we attend over 500 adjuster meetings a year. Unlike the adjuster, we work for the homeowner and act in their interest. Our project managers attend training year-round to be better educated in hail and wind damage. We’re able to point out damage the adjuster might’ve missed or remind them of local code enforcement. Call or contact us to learn more about what we do at adjuster meetings or to have us look over your insurance estimate if you’ve already received it.