Your Storm Damage Repair & Insurance Claim Specialists
Omaha Storm Damage Care Package:
Dr. Exteriors can offer a COMPLETE Omaha storm restoration and home hail damage repair package (at the discretion of your insurance company) without you having to deal with your insurance company. We take care of all of the red tape and obtain permits, etc. All work will be performed in accordance with all state and local laws. Let us help you make things easier.
We have successfully completed hundreds of Omaha storm restoration and home hail damage repairs and we have the know-how needed to work on your behalf. At Dr. Exteriors, we have extensive experience in working with insurance companies to replace your storm damaged roof, siding, windows, gutters and more. Plus, we can handle any type of storm restoration or home hail damage repair in Omaha. Contact us today in the Omaha area for a free estimate!
Storm Damage: FAQ
No! Your insurance company has created their own price list and will only pay their actual costs for storm damage repair. Think of it this way – what reward will the insurance company give you for finding the lowest price for them? Will they lower your premium? Your insurance company will pay a reputable contractor a “fair market price.”
Possibly; your insurance company will only pay supplements on items that you can prove they overlooked.
Here are some examples of what you may pay for storm damage repair:
* Example 1
The insurance company has allowed you $5,000 to replace your roof. Your deductible is $500, so you get a check for $4,500. If you choose a contractor to replace your roof for $4,500, you are legally required to pay the insurance company back the $500 you did not use.
Example 2
The insurance company has allowed you $5,000 to replace your roof for storm damage repair. Your deductible is $500, and your total withheld recoverable depreciation is $2,000, so you will get a check for $2,500. If you choose a contractor to replace your roof for $3,500, you will only receive $500 of the recoverable depreciation, because “The amount of recoverable depreciation will be based on the lesser of the adjuster’s estimate or the actual costs incurred on damaged areas only,” or “If you have replacement cost coverage, you may be entitled to the withheld recoverable depreciation after repairs have been completed, provided the cost of the repairs exceed the amount of your deductible and your initial claim payment.”
Example 3
The cost of a roof is $5,000. You pay the deductible (the first $500). Your insurance company pays $4,500. The cost of a roof is $6,000. You pay the deductible (the first $500). Your insurance company pays $5500.00. The cost of a roof is $7,000. You pay the deductible (the first $500). Your insurance company pays $6,500.
All you pay for storm damage repair is the deductible amount, regardless of the price – so why not get the best? You are only saving the insurance company money and costing yourself quality when you get several estimates. By letting a professional team like Doctor Exteriors negotiate with the insurance company, you can count on us to make sure that you get everything necessary for a quality restoration and storm damage repair. Besides, what reward will the insurance company give you for finding the lowest price for them? Will they lower your premium? Your insurance company will pay a reputable contractor a “fair market price based upon the already established pricing for your area”. You should concentrate on choosing a reputable contractor who will use superior quality materials rather than focusing on the price. All you are required to pay is your deductible in most cases, so it is impossible for you to overpay.
Only choose a storm damage repair contractor who is willing to help you with the claims process. The cost for repairs for your home is then determined by the insurance company and the contractor. This keeps you from overpaying!
Beware of storm damage repair contractors that are giving lowball prices and then proceed to switch and bait. Also, beware of contractors that cannot produce an insurance certificate. Make sure to look out for contractors that ask you to sign a document that has a price more than what your insurance company has paid you – unless your insurance company has agreed to pay the total price, or you and your contractor have agreed on a fair price after negotiations with the insurance company have failed.
Hail damage can’t be seen very easily most of the time. You will usually never see actual holes or indentations. But hail will drastically shorten the life of your roof. If you have damaged siding, vehicles, or have noticed neighbors getting work done, you can be 99% sure that you will need a new roof and may have other storm damage as well.
Hail can damage your roof without any visible signs from the ground. Hail normally has to be the size of a golf ball before it will break through your roof or cause bruising. Sometimes these damages do not show up quickly or are easily overlooked. The integrity of the shingle may be damaged, so do not take a chance on it.
If hail is driven by high winds or if it lasts longer than a few minutes, even small-sized hail can cause your roof to suffer severe damage and cause the loss of their protective granules, which will GREATLY reduce the life of your roof. Loss of granule layers on the shingle can cause the glass-based center of the shingles to be exposed to the sun’s UV rays. This will cause SERIOUS deterioration of the shingle in a short period of time. Have your Omaha home inspected, just to be safe.
- What is replacement cost value?
- What is actual cash value?
- What is recoverable depreciation?
- What is non-recoverable depreciation?
- Will my insurance adjuster be a cat-adjuster or an in-home adjuster?
- What difference will a cat-adjuster make for me?
- What is full scope of insurance proceeds?
- Why is it a felony to profit from an insurance loss?
- Will the adjuster give me enough money for a quality restoration?
- What can I do if my adjuster didn’t or doesn’t give me enough money for a quality job?
- If any of these questions are hard to understand or answer, then let a professional storm damage repair contractor help you.
We can answer all of your questions and help you get everything you deserve.
An evaluation should be made by a TRAINED HAIL DAMAGE INSPECTOR. They can verify the extent of your home’s storm damage and outline next steps for repair or replacement. Many roofers do not know how to properly inspect for hail damage. A trained storm damage inspector has taken the same extensive training courses that your adjuster has taken (the adjuster must take these courses to be certified).
Most people can inspect their own siding by checking their exterior walls closely, preferably when the sun is a little lower in the sky (morning or evening). This will make it easier to see the denting. Old aluminum siding will show the damage more than wood or vinyl, unless the vinyl actually has holes in it.
Does my insurance company know if I had large hail in my neighborhood? Most insurance companies subscribe to different tracking and hail reporting services. These services can track the hail size and the exact location it fell. If you had damaging hail, they already know it. If you had hail in your neighborhood, CALL US! We want to be present when the adjuster comes out to do his/her inspection. It is your legal right to have someone represent you during the inspection. Your adjuster cannot enter your property without your permission. Insist on a FIRM appointment so that we can schedule the meeting also. If we are/were not present during the inspection, you probably will not/did not receive a full claim. Let US work for you in getting what you deserve. You only have a limited time to make a claim!
THE INSPECTION
The adjuster will look at your property during working hours, so you probably won’t be home when the adjustment is taking place, which means you have no input in the matter. We ask that you allow us to represent you during the inspection. The adjuster will inspect your roof and the exterior of your home for visible signs of damage only. For the roof, he will measure out a “Test Square” (10? x 10?) on different sections of your roof. If they can find a sufficient amount of bruises or breaks for each “Test Square”, the insurance company will pay you for a new roof.
It is possible that your roof was the only one on the block that wasn’t damaged. However, you are entitled to a re-inspection by another adjuster within the same firm. So if you’re not completely satisfied with the results of your claim, don’t settle. Ask for another inspection. Let us work for you and help you get what you deserve.
Most discrepancies occur when the adjuster has not assessed the same amount of damage as the storm damage contractor – whether it is for the roof, gutters, siding or other exterior/interior damage. So if you have interior damage or other hard to see damages that can be easily overlooked, chances are the adjuster will probably miss it. This is another reason that you need us to represent you during the inspection. You are entitled to have your contractor of choice represent you during the adjustment process to expedite the settlement of your claim. To save you time off from work and the headache of the entire procedure, we ask that you allow us to represent you during the inspection process. We will work with your adjuster to determine the extent of the damage, clarify pricing and offer a repair price agreeable to the insurance company. All you pay in most cases is your deductible. Let us work for you in getting a fair and amicable settlement for your storm damage repair in the Omaha region.
In most cases, about a week after the adjuster has estimated your property, you will receive your first check. This is most commonly called the ACV (Actual Cost Value). This check should represent the actual cost to repair or replace the damaged property, MINUS DEPRECIATION. This is commonly called the RCV (Replacement Cost Value). The age and condition of the property is taken into account when calculating this depreciation. When the work is completed, the insurance company will issue a check for the RECOVERABLE depreciation amount only if the total expenses are equal to, or greater than, the total settlement.
MANY PEOPLE NEVER GET THE DEPRECIATION AMOUNT BACK BECAUSE THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS OR THE CONTRACTOR THEY CHOSE DIDN’T UNDERSTAND THE PROPER PROCEDURES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, YOU HAVE TO PAY THE DIFFERENCE. THIS COULD COST YOU POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.