Questions about Roof Replacement with Insurance claim

[Viral Patel]

Hello All,

Hope you are doing well. My house in houston had roof damage due to hail and strom damage. I have already identify the roofer and he helped me with the whole process of getting claim approved. I am replacing roof for first time with insurance, am out of state so have few questions, concerns. I will like to get educated so reaching out to BP community for some honest opnions/answers.

1. What are way I can make sure that roofer can't cheat and do good work?

2. Can roofer give some kickbacks (like install gutters all around the house)

3. What are top questions to ask to roofer after receving the assessment? (Adjuster told me the claim is approved over phone)

4. How to make sure he will install type of shingle he mention in repor?

5. Will my insurance increase on other houses after this claim?

I know few questions can be asked before the proess.

Thanks

Sam

[Chris Merchant]

As for #1 & 4: If you have a local handyman you generally use, ask him to go and be your eyes and liaison between you and the roofer, even if you need to pay the handyman for his time of doing this (I wouldn't expect him to do it for free).  But he will most likely have some basic knowledge and if you tell him what shingles you want he can verify that they correct ones are used or better yet have the handyman pick up and deliver the or at least order the shingles to be used.  Make it clear to the roofer that payment will not be made until you know that the work has been completed and acceptable, I know that some insurance jobs I have worked on in the past the insurance company would release payment in phases to us as we completed work to be done.  That generally helps the contractor do the work that is supposed to be done.

As for #2:  You may want to check with the adjuster to see if gutters were a part of the claim.  Sometimes if when they inspect the damage they will write gutters into the claim on their own, or the contractor if he/she met the adjuster or submitted an estimate they may have already put gutters on the estimate.  You can't ever expect any sort of kickback if and when they happen consider it a bonus.

Is the insurance company issuing the check to you or directly to the contractor?  If they are issuing it to you it gives you a bit more control over the project because you hold the funds, and as stated earlier if you have the insurance check you can order or have your handyman order the shingles and get them delivered to the job site and than you just pay that out of the check from the insurance.  Some contractors do not like this but you do have the right to do it as long as you be sure to order the correct amount of shingles (I'd even order a little extra).

Another option is if you trust the tenant you can ask them to please notify you when the contractor has finished the job so you know they are no longer on the property.  Sell it to them that you need to know for liability reasons when the contractor is finished and vacated the property.

One important thing to be sure the contractor does is cleans up any debris including but not limited to used nails.  Last thing you want is for your tenant or one of their children to be out in the yard and step on a used old rusty nail.  During roof replacement nails fly around and land everywhere around the house, responsible roofing contractors will ensure usually by using a large magnet that all nails and metal debris is cleaned up, so you could ask if they use magnets to remove any nails or other metal from the property at the completion of the job.