Hail damage is a very unfortunate, and often times dangerous situation. Broken windows.
Torn up lawns. Damaged yards. These are just a few of the many obstacles you may have to overcome after a hail storm.
The resulting damage can be catastrophic and costly.
Fortunately, these are all replaceable and fixable things in your life.
The following are steps to take after a damaging storm to get things back on track.
Check What You Can
The first step is identify the extent of the damage. Start by checking your roof.
If you are able, use a ladder to climb up to your roof. Hail can cause considerable damage to roofs which can cause serious leaks.
If you have rain gutters, check them for small holes and dents.
If you have a vehicle that is parked outside, it needs to be thoroughly checked for cracks on the windshield.
If this is the case it is needs to be replaced immediately otherwise the damage will continue to worsen.
Call the Professionals
If there is substantial damage, you should call local damage assessment experts to take a look and give a quote.
Try to get as many specifics in regards to cost as possible as you’ll need to contact your insurance company with the quote.
You want to be sure to get the maximum amount as possible to fix your property as well as your assets.
Get Repairs
If you live in the middle of the country, where hail claims are more common, there should be several damage assessors in the area.
With a quick search online, or in the yellow pages, you should find what you need.
After your damage assessment is approved by your insurance company, you should start to hire the appropriate businesses to begin repairs.
But proper research is absolutely essential.
The last thing you want is to hire a company that performs low quality work.
Perhaps the most important item you want repaired is your roof. Damage done by hail can wreck havoc on your roof.
A damaged roof that goes untouched can cause costs to soar. Water can seep into your home following a thunderstorm which can cause significant damage to the interior.
A damaged roof will also fail to retain heat as well as before, so your heating bills could be much higher than before.
Getting your roof taken care of should be your first priority and any delays will prove to be costly in the long run.
Speak with Your Neighbors
If you are in need of hail damage repair, chances are your neighbors do too. So if it’s your first time experiencing this often daunting experience, talk with those around you.
They may be able to point you to a reputable damage assessor, claims agent, auto body shop or experienced roofing service.
And if you have gone through hail damage before then you can easily be able to help those who haven’t.
Hail damage is not something to take lightly. It needs to be immediately addressed otherwise issues could compound into bigger problems.
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Tony is an insurance estiimater that likes to share some things that he has learned in his experience with readers.
