Reasons Why You Should Show Your Contractor Your Insurance Estimate
Believe it or not, most roofers are on your side. We want what’s best for the homeowner when faced with roof challenges. We also like to take a second look at your roof to ensure the insurance adjuster has caught everything in their original estimate.
Reasons to Show your Estimate to your Contractor
1. Adjustors, unfortunately, are not roofers.
So they may need to be aware of all the crucial repairs your roof may need. Your roofing contractor can look through the materials provided in the estimate to make sure you are given all the items needed for your roof installation.
2. It’ll save you from inadvertently committing fraud
If you have a Replacement Cost Value policy (the insurance company will pay to replace your roof), showing your paperwork can save you from insurance fraud. When the work estimate is less than the insurance company agreed to, you don’t get to pocket the leftovers.
To receive your recoverable depreciation, the items in the claim must be included in the contractor’s scope of work so you don’t inadvertently commit insurance fraud.
That’s why an RCV policy requires proof of completion before they send you a check for the recoverable depreciation. If you ask for the check but don’t get the work done, your insurance company won’t make your life easy.
Credit:https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/show-roofing-contractor-insurance-estimate
3. Insurance estimates are ALWAYS low.
The contractor will return to the adjuster for a “supplemental” and provide proof of the additional charges.
There’s no need to shop around for a lower price. Instead, pick the contractor you think will do the best job and go with him. The insurance company is going to pay the claim. And if the contractor charges less than the insurance adjuster’s estimate, the money goes back to the insurance company, not you, so to you, it’s not going to make any difference.
4. Insurance companies tell you to
You should always read the fine print when you get your insurance paperwork. In the fine print, most insurance companies literally have a statement telling you to share the claim paperwork with your contractor.
Some examples of this are:
Travelers: “Therefore, you and/or the contractor should review this estimate carefully and let us know immediately if you have any questions before beginning any work.”
Liberty Mutual Insurance: “We encourage you to work with the contractor of your choice in completing the repairs to your home. If you or your contractor have any questions or concerns about this estimate, please contact me at the above number.”
Erie Insurance: “Please show the contractor a copy of our estimate so that they may call us should they have any questions.”
If your own insurance company tells you to, then it’s safe to say that you should share your paperwork.
