With the beginning of summer also comes the beginning of storm season. These strong summer storms, which can sometimes even bring tornados, often cause significant damage to the homes in their path. If a strong storm hits your home, it may result in damage to your roof, windows, siding, and other parts of your house.
When a storm damages your home, you want to repair the damage as quickly as possible.
Working with Your Insurer
After a severe storm causes damage to your home, you need to begin working with your insurer immediately to access your benefits and repair the damage. Contact your agent as soon as possible after the storm ends to begin the claims process. At this time, your agent may ask several questions about the storm and the damage to your home, so be prepared to provide these details when they are requested.
Your insurance policy likely requires you to make an effort to prevent additional damage to your home after the storm has passed, so you may need to make some temporary repairs before you hire a contractor. As you make these repairs, maintain careful records, and keep all of your receipts for reimbursement at a later date.
The damage from most summer storms will be covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy. With the exception of policies written for properties in coastal areas, most homeowners insurance policies cover damage caused by wind. However, flood damage is unlikely to be covered unless you have a policy that provides benefits specifically for floods.
Finding the Right Contractor
Even if your homeowner’s insurance provider is covering the cost of your home repairs, it is still up to you to find the contractor who will complete the work. To ensure that your work is completed properly and as cost-effectively as possible, finding the right contractor is essential. Unfortunately, this is not always an easy task.
Immediately following a damaging storm, you may be contacted by one or more “storm chasers.” These disreputable contractors watch for damaging storms and use them as an opportunity to prey on unsuspecting homeowners who want to repair their homes quickly and affordably. Storm chasers often promise to repair the damage on your home for free, even offering to pay your deductible. They ask you to sign some paperwork, and then they cash in on the benefits from your homeowner’s insurance policy. Unfortunately, the work they complete is often cheap and fails much sooner than it should, forcing you to pay for more expensive repairs in the future.
In order to prevent problems and ensure that your repairs are done right the first time, it is important to compare the different contractors in your area carefully. Read reviews of various contractors online, and ask every contractor you are considering to review the damage and provide you with a written estimate. Remember that the lowest estimate is not necessarily the best choice. Be sure you are working with a contractor who has a solid reputation for providing high-quality services.
Prepare Before the Storm
If you live in the New Holstein area, you are always at risk of encountering a damaging summer storm. To ensure that you have all of the resources you need to recover after one of these storms, it is important to prepare in advance by purchasing an appropriate homeowners insurance policy. Erica Boll Insurance serves clients throughout New Holstein and the surrounding area. Contact us today to learn more about the policies we offer.
