5 Things Every Public Adjuster Should Know About Roof Claims.

How do roof claims work? What makes them tricky? And where do most public adjusters fail? We aim to answer these questions and more in today’s blog post.

This week’s blog post is brought to you by Black Diamond Housing Services, The Farber Law Firm, and Noble Tax Strategies.

 Roofs claims, similar to most insurance claims, require you to:

👉 Know when you can and should file a roof claim.

👉 Understand the details of the insurance policy.

👉 Educate your clients about the importance of mitigation.

Wherever you go to inspect roof damage for the first time, keep in mind that the claim should be valuable to you, the client, and the roofer. 

Do not waste everyone’s time by trying to file a claim without coverage or where you cannot find proof.

Then, when you find a claim worth fighting for, you should focus on the things below.

Should the Insurance Company Cover Old Roof Replacement?

We created this week’s video and blog post because homeowners often, and sometimes public adjusters, think that insurance companies should cover old roof replacements.

Insurance companies do not design policies to cover normal wear and tear of a roof due to aging.

If a roof is old and has reached the end of its useful life, the agency will consider it a maintenance issue rather than an insurable event.

And do you know who is responsible for roof maintenance? The homeowner.

This is partly happening because when roofers go door-knocking, they tell the clients that the roof is damaged.

But you don’t know when it was damaged. It could be due to negligence or simply an old roof. And the insurance company will not cover either of these.

However, if roofers went door-knocking immediately after a storm and found roof damage, then you would have a very high chance of getting the claim paid. 

Because the damage was accidental and sudden!

You Do Not Have a Claim Unless You Can Prove Sudden and Accidental Damage

A significant factor in ensuring that the property owner receives the full compensation they are entitled to is proving the damage was sudden and accidental.

For example, if a tree falls on a house during a storm or a water pipe suddenly bursts and causes damage, these events would be considered sudden and accidental.

Don’t waste your or the client’s time and give them false hope when you know it is likely the roof is simply old.

And now I hear you saying: “ But what if I don’t know the roof is old? ”

The lack of expertise in various areas is exactly why public adjusters should work with experts, such as engineers, contractors, or other professionals, to evaluate the extent of the damage and determine the cause. 

This can be especially important in cases where the insurance company is disputing the claim.

You cannot be an expert in everything. 

As a public adjuster, you are an expert in handling claims, collecting documents, and creating effective arguments.

Be aware you will need help from other professionals to support your arguments if you want a roof claim to be successful.

Every Policy Has a Deductible, Public Adjusters Should Understand What It Is!

When filing an insurance claim, a public adjuster should understand what is the insurance policy deductible. 

A deductible is an amount the policyholder is responsible for paying before the insurance company starts covering the cost of a claim.

When policies have a high deductible, the policyholder may need to pay a significant portion of the claim out of pocket, and you will receive a smaller commission.

A low deductible, on the other hand, can result in the insurance company covering most or all of the cost, plus a higher commission for you.

As a public adjuster, it is crucial to thoroughly review the insurance policy to understand the specific terms of the deductible. 

This includes understanding whether the deductible is a flat amount or a percentage of the claim, as well as any exclusions or exceptions that may apply.

By understanding the insurance policy deductible, public adjusters can better advocate for their clients and ensure they receive the maximum compensation they are entitled to.

You Need Mitigation of the Damages In Your Claim

Mitigation is the process of taking steps to minimize the damage to the property and prevent further damage from occurring.

What’s important to understand is that mitigation is listed under duties after a loss.

Your client must mitigate the damages, otherwise, the insurance company does not have to pay anything.

So naturally, one of the most important aspects of a public adjuster’s job is to prove that their client has mitigated the damages to their property.

Mitigation can be as simple as putting a tarp on your roof or making a repair, even just calling a roofer out if you don’t have the money to repair can be beneficial.

Proving your client mitigated the damages would be difficult if it weren’t for one, simple tool.

Their phone.

Spend as much time as possible educating your clients to take pictures of their mitigation efforts. 

Pictures and videos are the best proof you can provide to the insurance company.

How to Make the Most out of the Claim Process

In our next meetup in Dallas in March, you will hear a lot about the value of open and professional communication and documentation.

Document everything, be honest with your clients and the insurance companies, and try to provide as much information as possible.

That is what we teach you in our video courses and coaching sessions. 

Ultimately, we give you the tools to pick the claims worth your time and how to present a claim that won’t get easily denied.