Roofing repair / replacement estimate question. Who locally do you trust.

[Irving]

That begs the question are you a"roofing guy" or a knowledgeable sort with enough information to be dangerous. I can set something up with you but have no need of a timetable as I said it is an evaluation of need rather than an actual need of immediate repair.

As Snowman said, I used to be a property adjuster, and now I make my living exclusivity doing roof inspections. I work as a third party contractor, hired by insurance companies, to evaluate the roof for damage, and further to determine if any present damage was caused by hail, wind, lightning, raccoon, or any other covered cause of loss, or if the damage is a result of wear and tear, aging, mechanical damage, manufacture defect, improper installation, etc.

I am paid to inspect the roof and document my findings, it makes no difference to me of the roof is damaged or not.

I've worked claims for USAA, usually as a direct inspection, which just means that no adjuster is present.

I can come to your horse and walk you through an inspection. I prefer to have you up on the roof as well, just so you can see everything I see; that of course depends on if the roof is walkable and your comfort level with being on the roof. Of course I can't charge you for the inspection.

[Irving]

I'd like to add that no one but USAA can tell you how USAA would handle a claim. Also, no insurance company will send a contractor to you without first confirming the presence of covered damage, as that can be misconstrued as a confirmation of coverage.

[USMC88-93]

I'd like to add that no one but USAA can tell you how USAA would handle a claim. Also, no insurance company will send a contractor to you without first confirming the presence of covered damage, as that can be misconstrued as a confirmation of coverage.

I understand that completely, but just like auto repair places can be preferred repair centers for specific companies I had presumed that USAA could at minimum provide me with a preferred list of vendors they use on their claims without actually submitting a claim so that I could contact a few of those on my dime for an evaluation. I am not looking to have that evaluation done on USAA's dime.

Their online tool to have someone visit you from a variety of trades only allows you to enter your contact info and "someone will contact you" to schedule a visit. So even their online tool that they directed me to is worthless for that purpose of shopping around. I will set something up with you when I have the opportunity to do so.

If I were to cold call roofers with the "Do you work with USAA" line I am sure most would say yes.

[Dave_L]

I had presumed that USAA could at minimum provide me with a preferred list of vendors they use on their claims without actually submitting a claim so that I could contact a few of those on my dime for an evaluation.

This is where your agent should help out. Once you call claims, they're logging it all and probably creating a claim number. You should be able to talk to your agent and discuss all the options without recourse until you know for sure you want to file it.

[Irving]

This is where your agent should help out. Once you call claims, they're logging it all and probably creating a claim number. You should be able to talk to your agent and discuss all the options without recourse until you know for sure you want to file it.

Correct. The stance of the claims department is that they only address claims, so if something isn't filed, they'll tell you to file a claim. The lack of recommendations you ran into seems pretty standard for the industry. I can explain more but don't want to clutter up your thread. Just let me know when you're available and I'll see what I can do to work you into my schedule.

[Fentonite]

I'd like to add that no one but USAA can tell you how USAA would handle a claim...

Good point. I asked USAA to evaluate some hail damage on my roof. They sent out a third-party inspector, who said there was zero hail damage, and only wear and tear. This was just plain silly, so I then asked USAA for a re-inspection, and requested specifically that they send out an actual USAA staff adjuster (USAA employee, not third party). It took the USAA adjuster about three minutes to find more than enough hail damage to justify total roof replacement (yet to be done). He was way more thorough.

No disrespect toward Irving at all - I know there are good and bad apples in every profession, and I suspect that Irving is one of the good ones. The third-party inspector that came to my house, however, almost seemed intent on getting my claim denied, and if I would've stopped there, it would've been. Kinda like medicine - nothing wrong with getting a second opinion.

I don't know about other insurance compaines, but USAA has always seemed pretty motivated to take care of their customers. If you end up filing a claim and the initial inspection doesn't seem right, you are well within your rights to ask for a re-inspection with a staff adjuster. FWIW.

[Irving]

^^^^This is all correct, especially the last paragraph.

[Great-Kazoo]

This is where your agent should help out. Once you call claims, they're logging it all and probably creating a claim number. You should be able to talk to your agent and discuss all the options without recourse until you know for sure you want to file it.

Agree.
For any Ins Claim, i'm on the phone to my agent. Why? one reason, they would tell me if X was going to be something it was worth filing a claim for. Cost of average repairs - deductible etc.


As for Irv , i'd have no problem with him doing a once over, he knows what to look for & at. Does that get me a +1 in feed back?

[buffalobo]

As Snowman said, I used to be a property adjuster, and now I make my living exclusivity doing roof inspections. I work as a third party contractor, hired by insurance companies, to evaluate the roof for damage, and further to determine if any present damage was caused by hail, wind, lightning, raccoon, or any other covered cause of loss, or if the damage is a result of wear and tear, aging, mechanical damage, manufacture defect, improper installation, etc.

I am paid to inspect the roof and document my findings, it makes no difference to me of the roof is damaged or not.

I've worked claims for USAA, usually as a direct inspection, which just means that no adjuster is present.

I can come to your horse and walk you through an inspection. I prefer to have you up on the roof as well, just so you can see everything I see; that of course depends on if the roof is walkable and your comfort level with being on the roof. Of course I can't charge you for the inspection.

Make sure to inspect that horses teeth too.



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[USMC88-93]

So I should have absolutely no issue with "creating" a claim to have someone look as a representative of my insurance? Wont this ding my insurance rates or is it just the filing of the claim at the end and not the initial request of the process that the insurance uses to jack future rates and insurability up?