Since you’re living in “hail alley” in Denver, damage to your property due to this meteorological phenomenon kind of just comes with the territory. That being said, it doesn’t make the damage any less frustrating when you have to deal with it. Repairing places around your home, like your roof, can be a financial burden if you’re not appropriately prepared to handle the responsibility. There is a real need for hail preparedness, considering that parts of Colorado receive the “highest frequency of large hail in North America and most of the world.” Getting covered by an insurance company seems like a great idea, but will they cover damage created by hail? Here’s what you need to know about hail coverage in Colorado.
Make sure you read the fine print.
It’s no surprise that hail can do a lot of damage when you consider that it’s falling out of the sky at the size of a baseball or larger. The insurance agencies in Colorado understand that hail is a definite and impending risk, so you can get Homeowner’s Insurance to cover it. According to the Better Business Bureau, some insurance companies even offer “separate roof deductibles due to frequent hail storms.”
However, it’s important to note that no two insurance companies are alike, so the extent that they’ll cover this damage varies widely. Make sure you read the fine print and take the time to really compare companies before coming to a decision. If you get into a bind with a claim being processed, you can always contact the Colorado Department of Insurance, and they’ll be able to help you according to your policy.
Confer with the roof doctors.
Just like it’s important to go to the doctor for a yearly checkup, it’s similarly important to have professionals make regular visits to assess the state of your roof. All you need to do is make a quick Internet search for “roofing companies Denver” and you’ll find some great candidates.
Having professionals look at your roof before the hail season starts is a great idea, even if you don’t think you have damage, because their report will show any work that needs to be done. If nothing needs to be addressed, that’s even better. This is all just a safety net in case hail or other bad weather does damage your roof, because you’ll be able to easily prove to your insurance company that the damage wasn’t preexisting. This improves your chance of getting the cost covered. Before going through the hiring process for a roofer, if you live in Larimer County, double-check that the people you want to hire are in fact licensed; you might run into some legal trouble if your workers don’t have the proper paperwork.
The right questions to ask
How exactly are you supposed to know if a particular insurance policy is what you’re looking for? A big part of finding the right fit is not being afraid to ask questions. There are a lot of different topics to bring up.
For example, you’ll want to ask how many times will the policy pay for a replacement roof before you’re no longer offered coverage? What is the situation with the deductible? Is it a flat rate, or a percentage, or a combination of the two? If I rent my home or leave for a long period of time, will everything still be appropriately covered? When you meet or call the insurance agent, have your list of questions prewritten. You can never ask too many. Arm yourself with the knowledge you need so that you never find yourself in a tight spot financially on account of hail damage.