Hail Hit Moon Valley. Don't Get Taken Advantage Of.

Maybe not. Most hail damage can't be seen from the ground. You don't need a ladder to get a clue. Walk around your home and look for:

• Dents in your gutters and downspouts
• Dented fins on your A/C unit
• Holes in your window screens
• Dings on your patio cover

If you see any of these, your roof likely took hits too. A free inspection tells you for sure, before you call your insurance company.

Request a Free Inspection

Your insurance company decides what's covered. Start with your policy's declarations page, often in your insurer's app under Policy, then Declarations. Look for:

• Your deductible: the amount you pay before insurance pays anything.
• Replacement cost or actual cash value: this changes how much a claim pays for an older roof.

Will filing raise my premium?

It might. A claims-free discount may reset, and the claim stays on your record. Ask your agent how your insurer handles storm claims.

If I open a claim and change my mind, does it still count?

It can. Many insurers record a claim once it's opened, even with no payout. That's why the inspection comes first.

What if the damage is barely more than my deductible?

You'd only get the amount over your deductible, and still have a claim on your record. Get the estimate first, then decide.

Before anything else

Make your home safe, then photograph and video all the damage before any repairs, and keep every receipt. Most policies require prompt notice, so don't wait long to report a claim.

Talk to Adrienne Ritter, Local Insurance Agent

Act fast. Your window to cancel is short, and predatory contracts count on you missing it.

Red flags in a roofing contract

• Two contracts at once, one of them with an adjuster tied to the roofer.
• Signing away your rights, like an "assignment of benefits" or "direction to pay" that hands your claim or insurance money to the contractor.
• No copy of what you signed, or a rushed signature on a phone or tablet.
• Tiny print with cancellation fees, like a percentage of your claim if you back out.
• Verbal promises that aren't written in the contract. Only what's written counts.
• An offer to cover your deductible. That's illegal in Arizona.

Green flags in a roofing contract

• Their ROC license number is listed right in the contract, so you can look it up.
• They give you time to review it, overnight or as long as you need.
• They don't get defensive when you ask questions.
• What they tell you matches what's written in the contract.
• No pressure to sign today, and no "limited time" price.
• You get a full copy of everything you signed, every page.

Your right to cancel

• You can cancel for any reason within four business days after signing.
• You can also cancel within 72 hours after your insurer tells you the claim is denied.
• The cancellation has to be in writing and sent to the contractor's address in the contract. The contractor must return your payments within 10 days.

Know these rules

• A roofer can't pay, promise to pay or rebate your deductible on a storm claim.
• A roofer can't act as your adjuster or negotiate your claim for you.
• Get a full copy of everything you signed, every page.

Not sure what you signed?

Dempsey & Fouts, a Phoenix law firm and CMVF member, reviews storm contracts. Call 602-345-1952 or visit dempseyfouts.com.

Contact Dempsey & Fouts