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Posted by Joseph Meehan on June 3, 2008, 7:49 am
I suggest you contact your insurance company.
I had a similar situation and after the storm many homes had damage. I
did not say any on my home, but some homes even had window screens ripped
up. The storm chasers were out and I ignored all they had to say, but I did
call my insurance company. They sent out an inspector. The inspector
showed me where the damage was and offered several suggestions. I chose to
have the damage repaired and followed a couple of his suggestions to improve
my venting and I was able to leave some cosmetic damage (dents in gutters
and down spouts) an apply that to upgrading the new roof. I asked for
suggestions about local contractors and I had worked with one of the two
that were suggested and they did a very nice job.
> I have noticed that in the last three or so years that about 20 percent of
> the houses in my subdivision in northwest suburban Chicago have gotten new
> siding and roofs. The houses here are about 15 years old. Almost all have
> been done by the same company that scours the neighboorhood after storms
> looking for any type of damage.
>
> My wife said they stopped by our house the other day and wanted to know if
> we wanted our roof and siding replace because of hail and wind damage and
> that it would cost us nothing more than our deductible or something like
> that (my wife often does not get the whole story or ask a lot of
> questions) and that they would do most the talking with the insurance
> company. I said what damage. She showed me a piece of loose siding by the
> side of the garage on the top row. I said that has been like that for
> years and I intend to fix it someday - really. Then she showed me about 10
> shingles that were elevated ever so slightly which I said that I can fix
> that in about an hour with some roofing cement like I used to do on my
> first house back in more lean times.
>
> So my question is this legit in that these companies can get the insurance
> companies to pay for almost all costs with only what I would call very
> minor damage that a handy man would probably fix for $100 ?? Wouldn't the
> insurance companies at least want to pro rate the roof replacement based
> on the age of the roof?? Why in the world would they replace all the
> siding with such little damage. Or maybe there is more to it than that and
> the home owners are picking up a percentage of the repairs?
>
> As for me I don't like to mess with insurance companies as they always
> seem to have a way [individually or as a group] to get their money back
> particualry if you look like the type of client that is going to call them
> for every little thing. I basically want to be covered in case of a fire,
> car theft, or something like that.
>
> Thanks for any advice, input, experiences, or opinions.
>
> Steve
>
>
>
--
Joseph Meehan
Dia 's Muire duit
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