But what exactly does the storm restoration process look like for your home? Which professionals will you need to call after the storm? And how can you successfully navigate storm damage insurance claims in Fort Collins, CO?
We're here to provide clarity to these questions with our straightforward guide to storm restorations.
1. Inspect The Damage With A Trusted Contractor
First and foremost, you need to get a good idea of the total extent of your storm damage. Every part of your property—from your roof and siding to your windows and gutters—needs to be inspected and properly evaluated. And only a professional contractor can verify the damage in its entirety.
Once you've compared roofing and general contractors in Fort Collins and found a reputable option near you, schedule a property inspection. They will then systematically inspect the exterior and interior of your home for storm damage and document their findings. They'll look for common signs of damage, like:
- Broken, cracked, or missing roof shingles
- Dented, rusted, or loose flashing
- Water stains on your ceilings, walls, or exterior siding
- Cracks of light peeking through your roof in the attic space
- Sagging or dysfunctional gutters
- Chipped, dented, loose, or warped siding
- Broken or scratched windows
- Faded, discolored, or chipped exterior paint
2. Review Your Contractor's Findings
Following the inspection, you'll sit down with your contractor and discuss the property damage they discovered. They'll leverage their industry knowledge to break down their findings in-depth with you and identify which areas of damage (if any) were the result of a recent storm and answer all of your pressing questions.
Your contractor will also provide recommendations on how to best address your property damage. If you're working with the right contractor, then they may be a one-stop-shop for your property's entire storm restoration in Fort Collins, CO. At Ethos, for instance, our roofing contractors can not only restore your roof but can also provide many additional services to improve your home with:
- Exterior painting services
- Window replacements
- Siding services
- Stucco and stone repair
- And gutter repairs/replacements
3. File A Storm Damage Insurance Claim
If your contractor determines that your property damage has resulted from a recent storm, then you should file a claim with your insurance provider ASAP! The financial support of your insurance policy can make a significant difference during your property restorations.
If you're new to the insurance claim process, use your contractor as a resource. They'll be able to not only provide documentation to support your claim but can also offer expert insights on how to best strengthen your claim.
Once you file your claim, be sure to notify your insurer of your claim too. It can take days or weeks to get your claim approved, so it's best to get the ball rolling on the process as soon as you can.
4. Schedule The Adjuster's Inspection With Your Contractor
Did you know that Colorado is ranked second in the number of annual hail insurance claims across all U.S. states? It's true! According to a report from the Insurance Information Institute, Colorado residents filed nearly 70,000 hail loss claims in 2019.
With so many claims being submitted every year, you can practically guarantee that insurers will scrutinize all of the details of every claim. For that reason, it's a good idea to have your contractor present during your adjuster's inspection.
Your insurance provider will send out an insurance adjuster to verify the details of your claim. That adjuster will be the one to makes the final decisions on whether or not your storm damage will be covered.
By having your contractor present during the adjuster's inspection, you'll have an advocate on your side who understands the ins and outs of storm damage insurance claims in Fort Collins, CO. They'll be able to voice legitimate concerns with your adjuster's findings to help give your claim the best chance possible of being approved.
5. Restore Your Property
After your claim has been filed (and hopefully approved), your restorations can get underway. However, you'll first need to confirm the details of your property repairs, which include:
- The timeline of your storm damage restorations
- The replacement materials to be used
- And the full scope of all the restoration services
Once the details are confirmed and the contract has been signed, your storm damage repair contractor will get to work!
Assuming your storm damage insurance claim was approved, your insurer will cover the costs of your restorations. However, don't expect your insurer to pay your contractor directly.
Insurance payouts tend to function more as reimbursements. You'll be expected to pay your contractor directly for the restorations and your insurer will send you some checks to reimburse you for the restorations.
6. Seek Referrals For Additional Repairs
Not every contractor will be well-equipped to handle all of your property restorations. Various areas of your home, like your foundation or your attic's insulation, may require specialized contractors to be adequately repaired and restored.
Before the restorations get underway, be sure to ask your contractor for referrals (if needed). They'll likely have a few recommendations up their sleeve that could be reliable options for your remaining restorations.
Start The Process For Your Storm Restoration In Fort Collins, CO
Has your property sustained damage from a recent storm? Then you've come to the right place.
At Ethos, we have numerous highly experienced storm damage restoration contractors on staff who have restored countless homes throughout their careers. We'll advocate for you through your insurance claims process and we'll leverage our decades of experience to deliver exceptional property restorations for you.
Contact Ethos Roofing & Restoration today to take the first step for your storm restoration in Fort Collins, CO by scheduling your FREE property inspection.