All Forum Posts by: Victor S.

 YES replace the roof, about 250- 275  a sq depending on pitch. YES replace the furnace, 1800ish, ASSUMING is about 1k- 1500 sq ft house

 But again, this is where you're incorrect. A storm claim typically DOES count against your insurance. There isn't a special provision for "act of God" having no impact.

For instance, if lightning strikes your house and you file a claim, it still counts as a claim and your insurance price could increase or eligibility for coverage could be affected. 

A catastrophe is a special situation where there is widespread storm damage to multiple insureds - not your average thunderstorm or windy day.

This is all sorts of wrong.

My initial issue with Matthew's advice is that the property has only been owned for a month so unless the "wind damage" occurred during that time there is no covered loss here.  The likelihood of getting Progressive to cover a claim ON THE ROOF when they are issuing a flat cancel due to inspection ON THE ROOF is very low.

For the most part, insurance companies don't inspect homes before coverage is bound.  They're inspecting nearly every home now post-bind because of the difficult insurance environment and ability to get off a risk (flat cancel) within a certain period of time (depending on the state) just after the policy was issued.  Meaning, they can cancel within first 45 or 60 days without having to wait until the policy anniversary.

Separate from that, there isn't any special provision for storm damage not negatively impacting your insurance.  If a storm is deemed a catastrophe that is a different story.  Unless there was a severe storm with widespread damage in the past month of home ownership...not gonna fly.  

All that being said, there are a lot of roofing companies that do exactly what @Matthew Paul was suggesting.  Sometimes it's totally legit. Other times they go from house to house in a neighborhood and solicit homeowners to get projects replacing roofs.  Needless to say this practice eventually gets fought by insurance, prices go up, policies get less comprehensive, etc.  It's happening now all over the place.  It's a vicious cycle.

Whatever your opinions are on this practice the tricky part about this situation is that this is a new purchase and new insurance policy.  You're looking at a very small window for when damage could have occurred and therefore an actual covered loss.

When purchasing an insurance policy you will be asked when the roof was last replaced.  It's a significant rating factor.  You'll also have to disclose that your previous policy was cancelled and why.  If you replace the roof and can prove that you've done so you should be able to get a new policy with a new carrier.  Some will have issues with the work not being done by a licensed contractor.  There's no hard and fast rule and they may or may not ask specifically.