Hail damage can be extensive, and the cost to repair it is surprisingly prohibitive. However, hail damage protection is available under a home insurance policy or a business insurance policy.
An ordinary home or business insurance policy covers your rooftop and price replacing it if the damage results from an accident like a fire outbreak or natural disasters. Issues like wear and tear, old roofs, etc. Are not covered in a typical insurance policy.
Hailstones never fail to cause damage. The smaller ones are usually one-inch in diameter small, and the larger ones are often as large as six inches in diameter. Depending on the weather condition, they can be larger or smaller in size.
Over 80% of property damage incidents are as a result of hail. Hail damage is one of the most common claims on a homeowner’s insurance policy. Luckily for homeowners, hail damage is covered under the homeowner’s insurance policy called “dwelling protection.” This protection will cover all expenses in fixing the damage caused by hail.
Covered properties can include the roof, windows, damaged porch, and several additional items in and around a home affected by the disaster. However, the amount of protection given differs from State to State. The State you live in can influence the amount of protection you get under the homeowner’s insurance policy.
The amount paid to cover all damages caused by hail depends on the deductibles chosen when a homeowner’s insurance policy is first acquired.
Since hail damage is a common occurrence due to regular changes in the atmosphere, homeowners are privileged to have their most valuable assets covered in the insurance policy. In most homeowner’s insurance policies, hail damage is included not just for your home, but often for additional items on your property as well.
Here’s how it works, you file a claim, pay your policy deductible, then your insurer pays for all damages incurred from hail. A deductible is the amount of money you have to pay before any insurance company pays for damages due to a valid claim. You can’t place an insurance claim if you don’t pay your deductible.
However, if you are filing an insurance claim against your homeowner’s insurance policy, be sure that the amount of money the insurance company would pay out for damages is less than your deductibles, so your rates don’t increase. It wouldn’t make sense financially. However, during major catastrophic events, this is impossible.
The vital thing to do is to make sure you have filed a complete claim covering every item missing or damaged. The actual payout the insurance company pays you for hail damage depends on the kind of policy you choose when you purchase your policy. Sometimes, people don’t include hail damage to protection under their homeowner’s insurance policy. Especially if they live areas with little or no hail disasters.
Spotting damage caused by hail can be pretty apparent regarding your cars, outdoor furniture, etc. The dings on your car would certainly be evident. However, spotting hail damage on your roof can prove challenging. Many insurance companies would pay you for damages to the roof of your home if it were a result of hail.
However, there has to be a strict inspection of your rooftop to ensure it is not just regular wear and tear. They go as far as requesting the opinion of a professional roofing contractor. But, if you decide to check yourself before placing a claim, here are some things you should be aware of during your inspection.
If your house suffered damage due to hail, don’t just stand there trying to fix things yourself; call your insurance company immediately. You can take pictures of the affected areas, like your porch, windows, etc.
The images can help to confirm the actual size of the hailstone that caused all the damages. You should do this for your vehicle(s) as well. Maybe you were on the road when the hail began, and it obviously damaged your car, call your auto insurance company immediately.
You want to file quickly because most insurance companies only allow for a limited amount of time to place a claim after you’ve incurred damages from hail.If you waste any time, you might end up forgetting and somehow end up fixing it yourself. If that’s the case, then why get an insurance policy?
Sadly, there is a high volume of hail damage claims. Therefore, insurance policies have put up a limit to the type of hail damages they cover.
They are very strict with inspecting the damage before sending out reinforcements. If you have a few missing shingles and no leakage on your rooftop, chances are your claims won’t be met. However, most of this depends on the type of homeowner’s insurance company you pick for yourself when purchasing it.
You can always go for hire ones as need be.But be rest assured that leakage on your roof and other severe damages would be taken care of if they are due to hailstones. There’s always a strict inspection of the damage, to prevent someone from trying to take advantage of the situation or commit insurance fraud.
If you live in an area where hailstones are prone to happen at least twice a year, you should take measures to protect your house from going down in shambles because of hail damages. Below are a few steps to take to keep your home safe from hail.
Home inspections: Because of the strict inspection that comes with a hail damage claim, it is essential to make routine checks, fix broken pipes, and repair worn-out roofs. At least 2o% of the time, if your rooftop is in good shape, there won’t be any damages from hailstones.
Minimize your number of claims: Believe it or not, the number of insurance claims you have in a year might affect you financially, especially if you’re not up to the task. Although the damages of those claims may not necessarily be your fault, if it’s something you can afford and fix yourself, then by all means, please do so to prevent your insurance rates from increasing.
Documentation: Keep the necessary receipts of your last claim to eliminate any possible mistakes on behalf of the insurance company. Take before and after pictures of hail storm damages, especially if the storms are becoming more frequent.
Storm proof your roof: This doesn’t mean replacing old with better asphalt shingles, because frankly, they don’t do the trick anymore. Fix in quality resistant shingles to protect against both severe and minimal damages. It also helps to reduce the number of claims you place every year; that way, your rates don’t increase further.
Get a premium insurance policy: If you live in a hail prone area, it would be better to get a higher level homeowner’s insurance policy. So your rates don’t speak so much due to several claims.
Build a basement: If you don’t have a cellar at home, you should make one for yourself. Hail is dangerous to our properties; however, it can also damage the body. It’s crucial to get a basement ready when the storm season starts not just against hailstone, but other natural disasters like a hurricane.
Have reliable insurance: Depending on your home location, always check your homeowner’s insurance policy to make sure it can cover damages incurred due to hail damage. Having a significant insurance policy can save you a lot of money. You can visit your insurance company or call from the safety of your home to see that.
Using a garage: For your cars, having or building a garage is quite essential, that way, you don’t have to park your car in the open and leave it bare to be affected by hailstones. It would also help you from procuring so many claims.
When it comes to hailstones, it can cause quite a lot to your home, your cars, and even you as a person. It can be frustrating to deal with that situation. It is always better to be safe than sorry; you must get the necessary insurance policies.
Speak extensively with your insurance agent to help decide which insurance policy would be beneficial to you. If the rates do not fit your budget, there are always alternative options.
Hopefully, if you’re unlucky enough to incur hail damage, you’d have the right insurance policy to back you up.Hopefully, this information is useful to you. If you happen to have the unfortunate experience of suffering roof damage due to hail or other reasons, Sellers Roofing Company – New Brighton has got you covered. Contact us today to protect your home or your business.
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