During storm season, job requests involving homeowners’ insurance are bound to increase. To ensure the success of your business, mastering the roofing insurance claims process is essential. This knowledge will help you build smoother relationships with insurance companies, reduce delays, serve your customers more effectively, and get paid quickly.

AccuLynx has the right tools and storm season tips to streamline your entire process, from managing claims documentation to tracking payments.

How do roofing insurance claims work?

Navigating the roofing insurance claims process can be difficult for both homeowners and professional roofers. This process can be broken down into these basic steps.

Step 1: Inspection by the adjuster

Once the homeowner reports the damage to their insurance company, an adjuster will be scheduled to assess the roof, focusing on all damaged areas. During this time, the homeowner will begin interviewing local roofing companies and start getting quotes to repair the damage. As a roofing business:

Do:

• Advertise your roofing company as specializing in working with insurance companies. This helps homeowners distinguish your business from other local retail roofing companies.
• Have your sales team canvassing after a storm. This proactive approach positions your roofing company as the first to offer assistance, ensuring homeowners consider your services before reaching out to other contractors. With AccuLynx’s sales tools, your team can efficiently track leads, manage follow-ups, and provide quick estimates when homeowners need help most.

Don’t:

• Let your company become disorganized. Disorganization is the fastest way to cause problems for your company during high volume times. With so much new business, the corresponding paperwork, schedules, and material orders are too important to misplace.

Step 2: Inspection by your roofing company

Once the adjuster has assessed the damage, it’s time for your roofing company to conduct its own thorough inspection. This ensures that nothing is overlooked and provides a detailed assessment to compare with the adjuster’s findings. During this inspection, carefully examine the roof for any signs of damage, document all issues, and provide a comprehensive estimate for the repairs. This helps homeowners feel confident in your expertise and ensures that the insurance claim accurately reflects the work needed.

Do:

• Document the damage. Utilize AccuLynx’s tools to capture high-quality photos and videos of the damaged areas of the roof. By annotating these images with detailed notes and observations, you can provide insurance companies with comprehensive documentation that clearly outlines the scope of work needed.
• Order an aerial measurement report. Trusted third-party aerial measurement providers like EagleView and GAF can help you deliver the most accurate damage reports, as well as material and labor estimates, to the homeowner and the insurance company.
• Ask to be present during the inspection. Ensure a team member is present during the adjuster’s inspection to answer any questions and verify that no damage is overlooked.
• Provide a comprehensive estimate to the homeowner and insurance provider by using an insurance-specific template in AccuLynx. This ensures your sales team includes all necessary deliverables, such as photos and aerial measurement reports. With AccuLynx, you can maintain accurate and accessible documentation, which is essential for smooth communication with insurance companies.

Don’t:

• Pressure the homeowner. Avoid pushing the homeowner to sign a contract immediately. This can create distrust and may lead the homeowner to seek other opinions.
• Undermine the adjuster’s findings. While it’s important to conduct your own inspection, do not openly criticize the adjuster’s assessment. This could create unnecessary conflict and complicate the claims process for the homeowner.
• Forget to educate the homeowner. The insurance claims process can be confusing, especially if the policy includes exclusions or special deductibles, like a hurricane deductible. Take time to communicate each step of the process to the homeowner and explain what they expect to happen next.

Step 3: Wait for the claim to be reviewed

Next, the damage assessment, also known as the claim, will be reviewed by the insurance company. During this time, the insurance company will evaluate the report of the damage provided by the adjuster to determine how much should be paid to the homeowner for repairs. This process can take a significant amount of time and is often the reason why insurance restoration projects get delayed.

Do:

• Provide documentation. Use AccuLynx to store and send all the necessary documents the insurance adjusters need. This will help you stay organized and ensure that everything is sent to all parties in a timely manner, helping to prevent delays and keep the project on track.

Don’t:

• Delay your responses. If the insurance company requests additional information or documentation about the damage, or if they have questions about the details you provided, respond promptly. Failing to do so can slow down the entire process and lead to further delays. Always be prepared to back up your assessment with solid evidence to keep the claim moving forward efficiently.

Step 4: Finalizing the claim

Once the claim is reviewed and processed, the insurance company will finalize the total amount of damages. At this point, the insurance company will send a check for that amount to the homeowner. This check is intended to cover the costs, either of repairing the roof to its original condition or of replacing the roof completely, according to the terms of the policy. When the claim is finalized and the check is received, the insurance company’s involvement in the process comes to an end.

Now, you and the homeowner can agree on a formal scope of work and draw up a contract for the repairs or replacement. In many cases, this agreement will exactly cover the damages mentioned in the assessment; in other cases, the homeowner may want you to do additional repair work besides what is covered by the insurance check.

How to master the roof insurance claim process using AccuLynx

Navigating the roofing insurance claims process can be challenging, but with the right tools, you can streamline operations and maximize profitability. AccuLynx offers powerful solutions that make managing claims easier and more efficient, ensuring your business succeeds during storm season. Here are some do’s and don’ts to help you make the most of AccuLynx while mastering roofing insurance claims.

Do:

• Leverage AccuLynx to set clear expectations. With AccuLynx, you can assign tasks, track progress, and ensure everyone knows their responsibilities. Use the platform to establish insurance claim checklists, communicate job details, and provide access to essential documents, so your team can operate smoothly.
• Use AccuLynx project management tools to plan ahead. AccuLynx helps you set up standardized processes for different insurance carriers, manage supplier relationships, and schedule crews effectively. By using AccuLynx to plan and organize before the storm season begins, you’ll be better prepared to handle the rush.
• Maximize your profitability with AccuLynx reporting. AccuLynx provides real-time data and insights into your operations, helping you monitor profitability and adjust strategies as needed.

Don’t:

• Don’t overlook communication. Effective communication is crucial, and AccuLynx makes it easy to keep everyone connected. Use the software to share updates, track interactions, and ensure proper documentation, so your team stays aligned throughout the claims process.
• Don’t wait until the last minute. Avoid the mistake of scrambling during storm season by utilizing AccuLynx in advance. Implement efficient workflows and train your employees during slower periods, so you’re ready when the storms hit.
• Don’t let chaos show. Stress can lead to mistakes, but AccuLynx helps you manage multiple projects. By using AccuLynx to organize tasks and monitor progress, you can ensure your team remains calm and professional, delivering top-notch customer service even in the busiest times.

Simplify your roofing insurance claims with AccuLynx

Save time and make roofing insurance claims a breeze with AccuLynx, the all-in-one CRM and storm damage software. Schedule a demo today to see how AccuLynx can transform your insurance restoration business.