I was out of town recently for w*rk and when I returned home the DW commented on a large storm including some fairly large hail that passed through when I was gone. I didn't think much about it at the time. A few weeks later there was a phone call from a company advising that homes in the area suffered hail damage and that they would come out to do an inspection. We declined at the time. We later got a mailer, maybe from the same company as the phone call, maybe a different company, they claim a high rating on Angie's List, BBB etc. This time I thought what would it hurt to have it checked over, so an appointment was set up and the inspection was made early this week.
The inspection found some moderate hail damage and the company suggested we file an insurance claim. DW called our independent insurance agent to get some input. His general attitude was that these are "fly by night" companies and his suggestion was that we get a "second opinion" before filing a claim. DW said, OK, but you recommend a roofing company that you do not consider "fly by night". He recommened a company, the inspection by this company took place yesterday.
This latest inspector also said there was some hail damage but there appeared to also be some older hail damage. While he suggested we go ahead and file a claim, he seemed to be a bit skeptical about what an insurance adjuster would feel was an appropriate settlement due to the amount of damage and the age of the roof. He said that insurance companies are now pro-rating their coverage bassed upon the age of the roof. He said we could probably expect 5 more years out of the roof if we did nothing.
I expect that if we file the claim it is guaranteed that our yearly homeowner's premium will increase at the least, or they may even drop us. If it matters I have been paying homeowner's insurance for 40 years and I have never filed a claim in all that time. However, I have only been with this insurance company for about 5 years.
Does anyone have any experience with hail damage and dealing with the insurance company? I would appreciate your thoughts. I am debating whether I should even file the claim. Some pertinent details, the roof on the house 17 years old, they were supposed to be 30 year shingles. Insurance company in Encompass. The last quote that I saw was just shy of $12,000.00 to replace the roof.
The inspection found some moderate hail damage and the company suggested we file an insurance claim. DW called our independent insurance agent to get some input. His general attitude was that these are "fly by night" companies and his suggestion was that we get a "second opinion" before filing a claim. DW said, OK, but you recommend a roofing company that you do not consider "fly by night". He recommened a company, the inspection by this company took place yesterday.
This latest inspector also said there was some hail damage but there appeared to also be some older hail damage. While he suggested we go ahead and file a claim, he seemed to be a bit skeptical about what an insurance adjuster would feel was an appropriate settlement due to the amount of damage and the age of the roof. He said that insurance companies are now pro-rating their coverage bassed upon the age of the roof. He said we could probably expect 5 more years out of the roof if we did nothing.
I expect that if we file the claim it is guaranteed that our yearly homeowner's premium will increase at the least, or they may even drop us. If it matters I have been paying homeowner's insurance for 40 years and I have never filed a claim in all that time. However, I have only been with this insurance company for about 5 years.
Does anyone have any experience with hail damage and dealing with the insurance company? I would appreciate your thoughts. I am debating whether I should even file the claim. Some pertinent details, the roof on the house 17 years old, they were supposed to be 30 year shingles. Insurance company in Encompass. The last quote that I saw was just shy of $12,000.00 to replace the roof.