If your roof has been damaged, the steps you take for filing your insurance claim are key to a successful and stress-free repair process! Here at AGU Roofing, we’ve seen the best outcomes and the worst, and we want to share what we’ve learned about navigating the world of insurance claims here in Florida.
Let’s talk about what you should know about filing an insurance claim for your roof here in Central Florida.
One of the biggest changes that Florida property owners need to know is that the window for filing a claim was shortened in 2022. Previously, homeowners had 2 years to report damages to their insurance provider, but the new statute shortened the timeline to one year. The new policy means that the clock starts ticking the day that your roof incurred damage. For example, if a tree branch fell on your roof during a hurricane, the claim would need to be filed within one year of when the hurricane made landfall, even if you only found out about the damage after the evacuation order was lifted and you returned home.
Additionally, the new statute indicates that supplemental claims must be filed within 18 months after the date of damage (as opposed to within 3 years as previously stipulated.) This means that if your roof needs extra repair work than initially anticipated, you’ll have a year and a half to file the additional claim.
All of this is to say that Florida homeowners are encouraged to start the process as quickly as possible in the wake of any kind of roof damage.
Even though time is of the essence, you do want to take the time to decide whether filing an insurance claim is your best course of action. For instance, if the cost of the repairs is minimal, then covering the costs of the damages yourself is beneficial, as it will prevent an increase in your insurance premium. Granted, premiums in Florida are expected to decrease across the board this year. But that might not be the case for you if you open an insurance claim.
How can you know whether the cost of repairs will necessitate an insurance claim? That leads us to our next tip:
In the wake of a disaster or incident of damage in your home, your first reaction is probably to take a look for yourself. And to be sure, documenting the damages as soon as possible is an important first step in making your claim. But, we would actually recommend that you call in a professional roofer to help with the documentation and initial assessment instead of doing it yourself. And there are a couple of different reasons why.
For one thing, it’s a safety issue. We’re trained professionals and know how to keep ourselves safe when assessing structural damage.
The second reason is technical. We know exactly what insurance companies are looking for when they receive your claim, and can make sure to take pictures and documentation that has the highest chance of claim approval.
It’s always recommended that you arrange for the roofing company who did the initial damage assessment to be present for the insurance adjuster inspection. That’s because it can be a huge benefit to you to have us on site to make sure the adjuster doesn’t miss anything and to advocate on your behalf.
Now, if you’ve been a homeowner in Central Florida over the last few years, you’ve probably heard about the challenges that the insurance landscape has been facing. As various insurance companies have gone out of business, the remaining providers have done their best to keep up with demand from property owners scrambling to find coverage. You might find that this can make scheduling trickier. But even so, don’t compromise on this; you want to find a time when both your roofing company and your insurance adjuster will be present!
In some circumstances, your insurance provider will require you to make immediate repairs that will prevent further damage. This would be the case, for instance, if a hurricane removed part of your roof, exposing the roof structure underneath. This will need to be fixed even if the claim is still in process so that additional damage doesn’t interfere with the expected repairs.
One mistake that we often see as roofers here in Central Florida is homeowners who automatically accept the settlement offer. And we get why this is so common! Property owners often don’t realize that they can negotiate the offer. Or, they may feel the pressure to move forward as quickly as possible to put this whole ordeal behind them.
But, we would always recommend that you allow your trusted contractor to look over the offer before you accept it. We’ll be able to offer feedback and help you make a decision that is in your best interest.
Florida weather is harsh on homes, and it’s why navigating the insurance claim process here can be so stressful. But, one of the best things you can do is schedule a yearly roof inspection. For one thing, an annual inspection will uncover potential vulnerabilities that could lead to more expensive and dangerous problems when storms hit. But, these yearly check-ups can also uncover damage from previous storms that you hadn’t noticed at the time. Given what we’ve covered with the tight insurance claim timelines, staying up to date on inspections can make all the difference.
Although our local office is right here in Minneola, our service area extends throughout Central Florida. We’re here to help with roof maintenance, repairs, and insurance claims for property owners in Orlando, Sanford, St. Cloud or anywhere you’re located in Lake, Orange, and Seminole County.
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Except the best in service, work and products when you choose AGU Roofing & Solar.
We won’t sacrifice anything for our integrity. We’ll always be transparent with you about the costs, the process and the expected outcome.
Our roofing contractors always show up on time and clean up after themselves. Professionalism is very important to gaining your trust, and we know that.
Ultimately we want success, just like any other business. We know we aren’t successful unless our customers are happy, so that is our number one goal.