4 Reasons to Share an Insurer’s Roofing Estimate With Your Roofing Company
Regardless of where in the world you live, your home’s roof goes through a lot. Whether your roof was damaged by severe weather or is showing typical signs of aging, you will want to enlist the help of trusted professionals to guide you through the roof replacement process. After contacting a roofing company to conduct a cost comparison analysis, your next step should be to secure a roofing estimate from an insurance company.
At this point in the roof replacement cost process, homeowners often ask the same question: Should I share the roofing estimate from my insurance company with my roofer? The answer is “Yes,” and here are four reasons why.
1. The roofing estimate will show how many of the repairs will be covered.
Without seeing the insurance estimate, your roofing company won’t know the scope of work required — or if you even have an insurance claim. A roofing estimate from your insurance company will help the roofer bill the insurance company for the correct amount. This will also establish a line of communication between your roofing company and insurer.
Most importantly, sharing your insurance estimate with your roofing company will save you money. If your roofer knows exactly what your insurance will cover and what it won’t, they can work around your budget and keep surprise costs at bay.
2. Your roofing company can be your biggest advocate.
As roofers, our main objective when partnering with a homeowner is to serve them — not to hurt them. When an insurance estimate is involved in roofing services, everything should be out in the open, whether you’re doing a full roof replacement or simple repair work.
When providing roof replacement services for homeowners, a roofing company will often check for additional damage missed by the insurance adjuster. Therefore, it’s essential to establish trust with your roofing company, who will serve as your voice with your insurance company.
3. Sharing your insurance estimate could prevent unintended insurance fraud.
Many homeowners have an RCV (replacement cost value) policy, which means their insurance company pays for the cost of repairs minus the deductible. However, homeowners with an RCV might be tempted to price-shop roofing companies or pay out-of-pocket to avoid a deductible. This is insurance fraud that can land both the roofer and homeowner in hot water.
By allowing your roofing company to see your insurer’s roofing estimate, the contractor can ensure that they bill your insurance company for the correct amount and avoid potential fraud charges.
4. Reviewing your insurance estimate helps your roofer get a quicker payout.
Your roofing company wants to get paid — and so do you. Sharing your insurance estimate with your roofer could result in a faster payout from sluggish insurers. Having the ability to review your claim allows the contractor to submit a final invoice that matches the claim line-by-line, resulting in a quicker payout. Suppose a homeowner or contractor submits an invoice that doesn’t precisely match the claim. In that case, the insurance company will ask for further information, adding weeks and sometimes months of wait time.
Having access to your insurance estimate also allows the contractor to secure more money from the insurer if needed to cover missing items or larger code
upgrade items.
Facing a
roof replacement or
repairs after a severe storm (or at any time) is already stressful enough. By being upfront with your roofing company about your insurance estimate, you are not only streamlining the roof replacement process but also avoiding unnecessary headaches. Protect your home, time and wallet by following the tips in this blog.
Have questions about
roofing services or need a roofing estimate?
Contact our team at Duluth Roofing to schedule a meeting and get the ball rolling on your project.
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