Storms can be devastating for homeowners who are caught off-guard by hail or storm damage. Unfortunately, storm damage is not uncommon in Indianapolis. In 2019, over 18,000 Indiana properties filed hail loss claims.
We understand that your home is one of your most significant investments, and you want to take excellent care of it. Taking care of your home includes being prepared to take action in the event of hail or storm damage to your home.
Don’t let a thunderstorm, wind storm, or tornado take you by surprise. Here are the steps you should follow when you experience damage to your Indianapolis home.
1. Check for Roof and Siding Damage
After a storm passes, it is critical to check your roof and siding for damage from hail, wind, snow, ice, and other harsh weather conditions.
Here are some things you can look for when evaluating the state of your home:
Yard Debris
Evaluate the state of your yard to find any missing shingles or broken siding panels.
Structural Damage
Powerful thunderstorms, tornados, and wind storms are strong enough to blow trees or other objects on top of your house.
If you notice or suspect any structural damage to your home, call a professional immediately.
Broken Siding
The storm may have damaged your siding. Take a lap around your home to look for visible siding damage.
Damaged Roofing
It is common for vigorous wind storms to blow shingles off your roof, and for impact from hail storms to cause significant damage to your roof.
Look for missing shingles and metal fascia, and evaluate the state of exhaust pipes and the outer edges of your home.
Perform your roofing evaluation from the ground to stay safe. Call an experienced roofer if you suspect a need to climb on the roof.
2. Find a Trusted Contractor
It is critical to quickly and thoroughly perform damage repair before it creates further problems for your home.
If you notice hail or storm damage to your home or suspect unseen damage, call a contractor. A trained professional will be able to spot the things you may not notice, like:
- Small cracks and other damage you cannot see from the ground
- Leaks, loose roof tiles, and missing shingles on the roof
- Cracked, damaged or broken siding
- Paint damage
After your evaluation, your contractor will make a thorough list of all the storm damage that occurred to share with your insurance agent.
3. Call Your Insurance Agent
After working with your contractor to determine the storm damage, call your insurance agent promptly. Follow these tips when working with your insurance agent:
Review Your Policy
Ensure that your policy includes wind and hail damage. If it does not, you may want to consider investing in a separate wind insurance policy to cover future damage.
Determine Your Deductible
Before you file a claim, keep in mind that doing so may raise your insurance rates. Decide if the amount your insurance will pay exceeds your deductible by enough money to make financial sense, or if you would rather pay for the damage out of pocket.
Also, keep in mind that many homes have percent-based deductibles for wind and hail damage. Talk with your insurance agent to determine how much coverage you should consider and how much it will cost.
File Your Claim Promptly
If you plan to file a hail or storm damage claim, file promptly. Your insurance agent can inform you of the time limit for any claims, but most standard policies require filing a claim within one year of the hail damage.
Keep receipts for any work done to submit with your claim. Many policies will reimburse you for these expenses.
Damage Repair You Can Rely On
Our team at JD Hostetter is well-equipped to help you at every step as you work through repairing your home after hail or storm damage.
We’ll assist you by:
- Completing a thorough inspection of your home’s roof, gutters, doors, siding, and locating hail, wind, ice, and other storm damage
- Creating a clear list of issues that we discover to share with your insurance agent
- Recommending a repair plan and providing a free estimate without hidden costs or fees
- Helping you through the process of making an insurance claim
Contact JD Hostetter for Your Home’s Hail and Storm Repair Needs
Learn more about what our experienced team at JD Hostetter can do to put your mind at ease in the event of hail or storm damage.
