What to Do When Your Roof Claim is denied in Florida

If you have filed a roof claim in Florida and been denied by your insurance company, it can be frustrating and you might feel that you are running out of options. But don’t worry—it’s not the end of the road! There are several things you can do to appeal your claim denial and get your check from your insurance company as soon as possible. Here are some helpful tips on what to do when your roof claim is denied in Florida.

Always get an estimate

We’ve been on both sides of the fence. As a contractor, we know how frustrating it can be when homeowners have their roof claim denied. They’re only hoping for a little bit of assistance with getting repairs done. We understand that as contractors, it’s a tough world out there and customer service can sometimes take a backseat. After all, these are people who didn’t purchase our product, they purchased something else and you find them calling us with requests for help because they think we’re on their side of the fence- but the reality is we see both sides. The problem arises when homeowners don’t get estimates before repairing their roofs and have to deal with an unfortunate situation-their roof claims denied because they didn’t do enough research up front. Don’t let this happen to you! Get your estimate now so you know what your roof will cost BEFORE making repairs or ordering replacement materials. If your roof needs replacing, reach out to a local contractor right away-they’ll be able to give you quotes, show examples of work they’ve done in the past and answer any questions about material costs.  One way to save time, money and frustration? Ask around and get multiple bids from different companies so you have options and know exactly what you’re going to need upfront. Always double check with your insurance company before signing off on any contracts too-they may require special documentation or more information about the job at hand. It might seem like more trouble than it’s worth but getting those prerequisites taken care of from the start will save a lot of headaches down the line (and money!).

Know how you are being paid

Paid by the insurance company with you as an independent contractor. You will get paid by them once the claim has been settled. Your commission ranges from 15% to 20%.

Paid out of the settlement fund, if any exist. Commissions for roof claim denied are typically 10%.

Paid by your client, who puts money into an escrow account, which you can access only after you have fulfilled your contractual obligations, including paperwork and cleaning up debris. The money paid into escrow is yours until such time as you complete all responsibilities as determined by a signed contract and perform quality workmanship. The client can never use these funds or any of these funds for payment on their own home. Your commission usually ranges from 2% to 3%.

Get it in writing

If you’re filing a claim for damage caused by Hurricane Irma and your roof claim has been denied, you should contact your insurance agent. Make sure to get all the paperwork they provide, especially the reasons behind the denial. Contact your state’s Department of Financial Services (DFS) or insurance commissioner and discuss with them why they rejected the claim. Lastly, follow up with your state Attorney General’s office as they may have resources available that can help as well. Once you’ve done this, if you still feel like your roofing claim was unfairly rejected, talk to an attorney who specializes in homeowners’ insurance. They’ll be able to review the documents and make a determination on what steps are next. There is no cost to speak with an attorney, so it may be worth looking into.

The best thing you can do at this point is stay informed and documents everything. The first step will be figuring out whether the roofer you hired actually filed the roof claim denied behalf before their deadline expired. It’s not uncommon for subcontractors to submit these claims after work stops, leaving customers wondering where their money went when their claim was denied due to missed deadlines.

Don’t pay with cash

It can be devastating when your roof claim is denied. This usually happens when you’ve put the wrong plan or didn’t do enough research. You may feel that all hope is lost, but there are other ways you can make things right. Follow these steps and tips and you’ll get back on track in no time:

First, ask your insurer why they denied your claim. Oftentimes, this denial was due to a mistake on your part – like what plan you chose or how much information was included. Review the decision letter and make corrections accordingly if needed. Next, review the following points before roof claim denied:

-If you have coverage for hurricane damage, then contact your insurance company about an adjustment for wind damage. Many companies will honor claims for both types of damages if one or more are found during inspection.

-If you don’t have coverage for hurricane damage, contact your mortgage company or homeowner’s association and see if they cover wind damage (most won’t). In any case, they may cover some of the repairs as long as you can prove that it was caused by a covered peril under their policy.

-If neither option work out, consider hiring an attorney who specializes in construction law to help you file suit against your contractor.

Follow these tips to help prevent future damage

Although you may be feeling hopeless after your roof claim denied, there are a few things you can do:

1) Install storm shutters or shutter kits to help minimize the damages of a storm event.

2) Take advantage of 30-year and 15-year roofs.

3) Purchase wind mitigation devices for below-code buildings.

4) Store items off the ground if you live in an area with frequent floods.

5) Consider moving locations if flooding isn’t possible with these tips.

1. Turn off your air conditioner when a hurricane warning is issued and make sure it’s not damaged before turning it back on again.

2. Store items that could get wet such as pictures and electronics on higher shelves or inside closets.

3. If you have a pool, turn off the power to keep water from draining into electrical equipment like pumps or lights.

4. Bring outdoor furniture inside your home so that it doesn’t get ruined by rainwater seeping through cracks in the roof claim denied.

5. Cover windows with plywood sheets so they don’t shatter during strong winds–even those made of double panes will break during high winds because of the pressure differential between outside and inside forces pushing against them).