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I agree, education is the problem here. There is nothing wrong with going out and getting business. You will only hear the opposite from the lazy guys that do odd jobs here and there. Most contractors have no business knowledge, hence the 94% failure rate of start up contracting businesses within the first 10 years.
Hail damage is also not a scam and stating that is asinine. People are afraid of what they don't understand. Sorry, but this is the same as saying accidental fire damage repair is a scam. This is why you have been paying premiums for all these years in case your home is damaged by a covered peril like ice, wind, water, and fire.
YES! Storm chasers are a problem and yes it's the homeowner's job to do their HOMEWORK, Check to see when they received a business license, check with the Better Business Bureau (even though it's not a government entity and is basically extortion which is why fortune 500 companies will always have an A), and CHECK REFERENCES!! Just because they send you a post card or knock on your door doesn't mean they are crooks but this also doesn't make them legitimate.
There is a HUGE DIFFERENCE between a roofer (which is pretty much any guy with a hammer these days) and an insurance claims specialist. My company did a little over $1.2Million in hail damage restoration last year in Charlotte and we are projecting that again this year. My company also does A WHOLE LOT of non-insurance remodeling in Charlotte and has for some years. The difference between us and the "roofers" who don't understand insurance claims, policies, or procedures is simply adaptation and ingenuity.
A homeowner only has TWO RESPONSIBILITIES to their insurance company:
1) Pay your premiums on time every single month
2) Notify your insurance carrier of any POTENTIAL damage immediately.
To explain why this benefits you I will explain my knowledge of the standard HO3 policy. Only damage that is "Sudden and accidental" is may be covered by a policy. Damage that occurs over time, such as water damage as a DIRECT RESULT of hail damage, is NOT covered. So when you end up with small leaks that does $7 - $10,000 in damage (or any amount really) overtime, your insurance company is not going to cut you a check because they like you as a person, or as a client or because you have never filed a claim. If you are a homeowner and do not know your rights or the proper steps to take during an insurance claim, you are at a MAJOR disadvantage. The insurance company is your ADVESARY EVEN THOUGH YOUR AGENT DOES LOVE YOU BECAUSE YOU PAY HIS BILLS. Folks, you don't pay the adjuster's bills who comes to inspect. The insurance company that has the option of paying you or not paying you does. Sounds a lot more basic now doesn't it? That's because it IS!
When you file a claim with the insurance company whom you love and has always "treated you so good" you will realize the difference between an auto accident and a property claim.
They weren't nice to you for paying for you damaged car, giving you a rental, and giving you a few bucks that you spent on your last vacation. They were CLOSING THE CLAIM as fast as possible and getting your signature so IF you realize the next day or 5 years down the line that the "fender bender" you had where your insurance carrier took such good care of you, has caused some debilitating disease, you have ABSOLUTELY NO RECOURSE once the ink is dry. That's why they gave you a few bucks for your troubles. Now this situation is more like a property claim.
OBVIOUSLY, insurance companies can't and won't deny every claim. I have claims everyday that go smoothly, but boy is there a large percentage of "bad faith" cases. You probably know what I'm talking about if you had an "independent engineer" or a "roofing consultant" inspect your roof and tell you there is no damage when every contractor that has stormed through you neighborhood says you do and all your neighbors got new roofs. Yes the contractor is biased.... It's how he makes a living. But do you think MAYBE the insurance company is a little biased too? After all, they have the most to lose.
-Justen Newton
Last edited by SunnyKayak; 03-30-2011 at 08:27 PM..
Reason: company info
It might be helpful to know what happened to me. I signed the contract for a new roof which included removing the old shingles. After they removed everything down to the wood it then became apparent that the wood due to being made from planks and many bowing from age was not flat enough for a new roof so I then had to fork out about 25 hundred MORE for new wood also. I dont think any insurance company will pay for that in a hail damage claim because it is something you often see in older homes. The roofer didnt scam me but once my entire roof was exposed to weather I couldnt just stop the work and hunt for another roofer . I was at a big disadvantage
Can someone tell me why hail damage to a shingle is a big deal? It's a small bruise with slight granule loss...It doesn't penetrate the shingle, and doesn't prevent the roof from sheeting water away, so..WHAT's The Loss?
When you have large enough or hard enough (it varies both ways) hail hit an asphalt shingle it causes irreversible damage. According to HAAG, which is the standard for hail, granule loss alone does NOT mean a shingle is damaged. The damage is from the "small bruise" to the fiberglass mat which is the middle (of 5 layers) and the "backbone" if you will, of the shingle.
Hail damage is almost never an IMMEDIATE threat. The granules it knocked off and the bruise in the fiberglass that are now subject to mother nature, will slowly deteriorate. HAAG just released a study (against what most insurance companies claim) proving that hail damage causes water leaks over time.
Some people have the idea that if their roof isn't leaking, it isn't damaged. This can come back to bite you... Each state has a filing period for insurance claims and after that you have no recourse. So, if the worst damage is discovered after your cutoff period you get to incur the costs.
Mold would be the best example here. The time period for your roof claim passes then you discover mold. Well, the fun part is here...
Not only will your insurance company not pay for the CAUSE OF THE MOLD soley because you have never filed a claim or you have been a customer for 30 years, but in most cases (99.9% but I try not to speak in absolutes) they WILL DENY your claim for mold because it is neither "sudden and accidental" damage nor "direct damage."
These are two very small phrases in virtually every standard HO3 policy.
Why we are on the topic folks let me point out a couple other major issues in NC. If part of your roof is damaged or part of your siding is damaged, your insurance carrier IS NOT required to "match" the rest of your home!! Yep folks, insurance companies interpret "direct damage" as ONLY the pieces affected. Ever seen a checker board looking roof?
If anyone needs assistance in this area or just wants to ask a question, feel free to PM me.
-Justen
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