STORM DAMAGE INSURANCE CLAIMS

After a storm, look at the exterior of your property and take pictures of any damage in clear view. There will likely be areas that you cannot see but a more in depth inspection of the property will be done at a later time. Keep copies of all pictures that you take.

If you believe your residence or business has been damaged by severe weather, call the insurance company that holds your homeowner’s policy. You can locate the telephone number online, on your policy or on a recent billing statement. You will contact the company directly, as opposed to your insurance agent, as the insurance company will want to speak directly with the policy holder. When contacting the company, specifically ask for the claims department to file a claim for wind and hail damage. When you have reached the correct department, they will ask you for specific information which will include the date the damage occurred.

Your insurance company will assign an adjuster to your claim. An insurance adjuster is an individual that will inspect the property damage to determine how much the insurance company should pay for the loss. The adjuster assignment process may take forty-eight (48) hours or more depending on the extent of the storm. Large storms with wide swaths of damage can result in a large number of claims that may slow the process.

The insurance adjuster assigned to your case will contact you to set a date and time for the property inspection and damage assessment. The adjuster will also provide you with a claim number. It is important to note the following when you speak with the adjuster:

• Claim number
• Date and time of the inspection
• Adjuster’s name and telephone number

Call or email Axis Contracting in advance of your appointment with the adjuster. Provide Axis Contracting with the claim number, date and time of inspection and the adjuster’s name and telephone number. An Axis Contracting representative will meet with the adjuster at the designated time to review the property and determine the scope of the damages.

Axis Contracting representatives are trained to identify hail damage and know how to address necessary repairs. The insurance company has a duty to restore your home or business to its pre-storm condition. Axis Contracting will work with assist you in taking all steps to ensure that this is accomplished.

Axis Contracting will speak with your insurance adjuster to outline the full scope of damages to your property.

After your adjuster has inspected the property, the insurance company will provide you with a claims estimate. You should receive the estimate from the company within approximately seven (7) to ten (10) business days. You should not begin any work on your property until you receive this information as it will outline the work that has been approved. Once you receive the estimate, contact your Axis Contracting representative. Axis Contracting will schedule an appointment with you to review the document and get your project scheduled.

During your meeting with Axis Contracting, you will be provided with information pertaining to estimated dates of start and completion of your project, timeframe for payments and steps you will need to take to prepare for the building process. Your Axis Contracting representative will take the time necessary to answer any questions you have about the project. The project will be built according to the specifications discussed at the meeting.

When the repairs to your residence or business are completed, your Axis Contracting representative will do a final walk through of the job site to ensure that everything is complete. You will be provided with a Certificate of Completion to sign which will be submitted to you insurance to advise them that the work is done. Some insurance companies require this document to release the final funds for payment.