Process
The adjuster appointment is an evidence meeting
This appointment decides most of what happens next, and it usually lasts under an hour. Almost all of the value is in the preparation.
What the adjuster is doing
They are establishing three things: that damage exists, that it was caused by the peril reported on the date reported, and what it will cost to put right under the terms of your policy. They write a line-item scope in estimating software, and that scope becomes the basis of the settlement.
They are not deciding whether you deserve a new roof. They are applying a policy to observable facts, which is why observable facts are the thing to have ready.
How to prepare
Have the documentation printed and on the table
Photographs by slope, the date of loss, and the recorded storm data for your ZIP code. Paper is easier to hand over than a phone.
Know your own roof
Roughly how old it is, whether it has been replaced or repaired before, and what you have noticed and when. Vague answers make a file harder to support.
Have your contractor there if they can be
Not to argue, but so that the two people who have been on the roof are looking at the same thing at the same time. Disagreements resolved on the roof do not become disputes on paper.
Note interior damage too
Stains, wet insulation, and anything in the attic. Resulting damage is part of the loss.
Write down what was said
Who attended, what was inspected, what was agreed to be looked at further, and the date. Memory is not a record.
What to ask before they leave
- Which slopes did you inspect, and did you get on all of them?
- What did you find, and what are you not including?
- Is this being written as actual cash value or replacement cost?
- What is the deductible being applied, and is it the wind and hail one?
- When will I receive the scope, and how do I ask about something that is missing?
Missing line items are ordinary and they are fixed by a supplement, not by an argument. Ice and water shield, drip edge, ridge vent, steep or high charges and disposal are the ones most often absent from a first scope, usually because the adjuster could not see them from where they stood.
Things that do not help
- Telling the adjuster what the neighbours received. Every claim is its own file.
- Presenting damage that is not storm damage as though it were. It is visible to somebody who does this all day, and it damages your credibility on the parts of the claim that are genuine.
- Refusing to let them inspect. They cannot write a scope for damage they have not seen.
- Treating it as a negotiation. The scope is a technical document; correcting it is a technical conversation.
Want documentation ready before the adjuster arrives?
Request a free inspectionCan my contractor meet the adjuster without me?
Usually, with your authorization. It is still your claim and you should get a full account of what happened afterwards.
What if the adjuster and my roofer disagree?
That is normal and it is resolved with evidence: photographs, measurements, and specifics about which slope and which detail. If it cannot be resolved, your policy will set out an appraisal or dispute process.
Can I ask for a different adjuster?
You can ask the carrier for a re-inspection, and after a large storm a second look by a different adjuster is not unusual. Ask in writing and say specifically what you believe was not inspected.
All work is performed by licensed and insured local roofing professionals.