When a hail storm strikes the area, one of two things happens: you need an immediate repair or replacement of your roof or you have minor damage that will build up over time and eventually need to be repaired. Assuming you fall into the second category, chances are you’re not looking forward to filing that insurance claim right away.

If that’s you, you’re definitely not alone! Many home owners in Oklahoma are well aware that the first hail storm of the year is rarely the last. Who wants to file an insurance claim and go through roof repairs only to have to do it again in a couple months? Or worse—have another storm hit while you’re in the middle of fixing your roof from the last storm!

But what happens if you wait until summer when the big hail storms are over? Adjusters aren’t as available, roofers are booked, and you’re stuck waiting until fall to get your roof fixed. That puts you perilously close to winter before your roof is finally back in good condition.

Thankfully, that’s not your only option! Here are three easy steps to get you through spring storm season, making sure your roof is fixed well before winter:

1. Call a roofer as soon as you suspect damage.

Ideally, this will be a roofer that you already know, like and trust, but if you don’t personally know a roofer, ask someone that you do trust for a referral. Having a reputable roofer is the best way to protect yourself from unscrupulous companies. It’s best to call a roofer before you call your insurance for a couple of reasons.

As soon as you say “I think I have roof damage” to your insurance company, a claim is opened against your policy. This then counts as a filed claim, which you may not need yet.

Also, a roofer will tell you if there is NO damage, protecting you from filing unnecessary claims. A reputable roofer will also be able to detect various types of damage to your property and help to explain this to an adjuster if necessary. A trusted roofer will become your advocate and work with the insurance adjuster on your behalf.

2. Call your insurance company.

If your roof does need to be repaired, you’ll need to call your insurance company to open a claim. The insurance company will then assign an adjuster to your claim. Some adjusters may tell you that you don’t need to have a roofer at your property when the adjuster comes out to do their work.

It’s in your best interest to have your roofer present, though. Your roofer is your advocate. A good roofer will help the adjuster by doing things like getting on the roof to take photos and explaining other property damage to the adjuster.

Ultimately, you, your mortgage company and the insurance company all want your property to be well-maintained. A professional roofer will be happy to help with this process – saving everyone time and money in the long run.

3. Schedule!

Your paperwork is complete. Your claim is filed. Your roofer is hired. But you may be thinking, “I’m still not ready to fix my roof yet! What if there’s another storm?”

With us, you can schedule your repair for whatever date works best for you! Maybe you’re taking a vacation in July and that would be the best time to have a crew on your roof—schedule us for July. Storm season is over, you go on vacation, come home, and your roof is all taken care of!

This way, you don’t have to wait until July to schedule an appointment only to find out that we’re booked until October. If your plans change and you need to reschedule, just give us a call and we’ll work it out with you.

These three steps are simple, alleviate the pain that comes with roof damage, and will save you time and money.