What Do I Do If Hail Hit My House?
Tonight at roughly 7 p.m. a hail storm hit Lexington, Batesburg-Leesville, Chapin, Irmo and Columbia. Based on what part of Lexington and Richland county you live in, the storm lasted from 30 seconds to 25+ minutes and ranged in size from that of a blueberry to a couple inches. This information is based on reports from homeowners in the area.
The questions we are being asked, just like all the other times hail has hit, is "what do I do?" "Should I call the insurance company first or a roofing company?" " How do I know if I have damage or not?"
The answer to these questions is, call a local roofing company, but not just a random company. Call one who has Haag Certified residential roofing inspectors working for them. Haag is the entity that sets the guidelines for determining what is and what isn't hail and storm damage. It is the same certification your insurance adjuster will have if he is called to your property. You can call your agent first, but all he/she is going to do is tell you to have someone local look at it and determine if there is any damage.
Lastly, beware of Storm Chasers. They are in the area like a disease, infecting neighborhoods all over the Midlands of S.C. Please do your homework when choosing who to look at your property. Choosing the wrong shingle may be a little bit of a hassle, but choosing the wrong roofing contractor can lead to lawsuits and leaks in your kitchen or kid's bedroom.
Here are two articles for you to read on dealing with storms and choosing contractors.
Things to Look for When Buying a New Roof.
Would you like your questions answered by someone who lives in Lexington county and has been roofing houses here since the 1980's, then click here or call 803-955-0374.
Roy Bauer
Bauer Roofing
Haag Certified Residential Roofing Inspector
Were You Hit By a Hail Storm? Beware of The Storm Chasers
Beware of the Storm Chasers!
Many of us have had the door-knockers; while some are legitimate, others are not.
Most door-knockers will ask to get up on your roof and inspect. Before you let them, ask some questions.
Is it a local company? Many storm chasers will rent a suite or use temporary office space, so they can say they are local. We recommend working with a contractor who has been in business locally for at least five years and has a place of business. Beware of the contractor who has a website with many different offices throughout the nation --only a few are actually local 365 days a year. Most come in only for the storm and then they are gone. Check the Better Business Bureau for length of time a company has been in business locally under one name. Click Here to Be Taken To Our BBB Profile.
Contractor’s License: Be careful here. Who holds the license --does it match the company name?? Many storm chasers (because they don’t have a SC license) will use another SC contractor license.
Most Important: Do NOT sign anything with someone who knocks on your door out of the blue and tells you that you have hail damage. You could find yourself locked into a contract and not even realize it.
Notify Your Insurance Company. (Do NOT let the Contractor file a claim for you)
1.) Call your agent or the 800-number for your insurance company or submit a claim online.
2.) Generally the insurance company will call you to set an appointment for an adjuster to look at your house once you file your claim.
3.) We can meet your adjuster at your home. Just call or email our office to schedule a time (803-955-0374 or estimates@bauerroofs.com). This speeds up the settlement time and prevents voicemail tag between the adjuster and Bauer Roofing’s estimator. We can also meet you at your home after the adjuster has been out and you have received your paperwork.
4.) Our estimator will work with the adjuster to go through the settlement.
5.) Once it’s settled, our estimator will go through the estimate with you and the information will be forwarded to your insurance company. After that, your insurance company will cut you a partial check.
8.) The check amount depends on the dollar amount of the job. Please keep in mind that the insurance company will deduct the depreciation and the deductible. Once the work is complete, you will get the depreciation back.
9.) Occasionally, if you have a current mortgage on your home, the insurance check will be made out to both you and the mortgage company. Do NOT sign this check. Send it to your mortgage company via certified mail. They will endorse it and send it with more paperwork for you to complete.
10.) Every mortgage company has different requirements. Please read their requirements to see what the necessary forms are.
12.) Our office staff is available to help you complete the required paperwork and answer any questions you may have.
If you would like a Certified Storm Inspector from Bauer Roofing to evaluate your roof, please click here to schedule a free estimate, or call us at 803-955-0374.
Roy Bauer -- Bauer Roofing
Haag Certified Roof Inspector
