Don't let the insurance company shortchange you.

Hail claims

What to do first

Four things you can do in the first day that protect a roof claim — before we ever set foot on the property.

• Photograph all damage immediately. Photos and video of everything, before anything is moved, cleaned, or thrown out. If you can find recent “before” photos of the property, save those too — they prove pre-loss condition.
• Prevent further damage. Tarp the roof, shut off the water, board up openings. Your policy expects reasonable emergency mitigation — and save every receipt for it.
• Gather your policy. Find your policy and its declarations page. That’s where your coverages, limits, deductible, and deadlines live.
• Don’t submit documents to the carrier first. Let your adjuster review anything before it goes to the insurance company. What gets sent early can be used to limit your claim later.

Coverage & deadlines

The deadlines and terms that decide a roof claim

Whatever isn’t in the scope of loss doesn’t get paid — the scope lists the damage, quantities, materials, and repair costs, line by line. That’s why we build our own complete scope instead of accepting the carrier’s. On a replacement-cost policy the first check is usually ACV; the withheld depreciation is released once the work is done and documented — collecting it is part of our job.

Most policies give you 6–12 months to file and 1–2 years to complete documented repairs. Yours are in your policy — missing one can cost you coverage.

Plain-English definitions for every term on this page — ACV, RCV, depreciation, scope of loss — are in our Know Your Policy guide.

Wind claims

What to do first

Do these in the first day or two after the storm — they protect both your home and your claim.

• Photograph all damage immediately. Photos and video of everything, before anything is moved, cleaned, or thrown out. If you can find recent “before” photos of the property, save those too — they prove pre-loss condition.
• Prevent further damage. Tarp the roof, shut off the water, board up openings. Your policy expects reasonable emergency mitigation — and save every receipt for it.
• Write down the storm date. Your claim is tied to a specific date of loss — the day the storm hit. Note it now, while it’s fresh; we match the damage to weather records for that date.
• Gather your policy. Find your policy and its declarations page. That’s where your coverages, limits, deductible, and deadlines live.
• Don’t submit documents to the carrier first. Let your adjuster review anything before it goes to the insurance company. What gets sent early can be used to limit your claim later.

Coverage & deadlines

Why storm claims get denied — and how they get paid

The most common storm denial is “that’s wear and tear.” We counter it with evidence and policy language: dated photos, weather data for your date of loss, and — when it’s disputed — an independent engineer’s report. Wind-lifted shingles often don’t leak until months later, which is exactly why the damage has to be documented and tied to the storm now, not after the next rain.

Most policies give you 6–12 months to file and 1–2 years to complete documented repairs. Yours are in your policy — missing one can cost you coverage.

Plain-English definitions for every term on this page — ACV, RCV, depreciation, scope of loss — are in our Know Your Policy guide.

Water claims

What to do first

Water keeps damaging your home until it’s stopped and dried. These steps protect the property — and the claim.

• Stop the water. Shut off the supply line — or the main — if you can do it safely. Preventing further damage protects both your home and your claim.
• Photograph all damage immediately. Photos and video of everything, before anything is moved, cleaned, or thrown out. If you can find recent “before” photos of the property, save those too — they prove pre-loss condition.
• Prevent further damage. Tarp the roof, shut off the water, board up openings. Your policy expects reasonable emergency mitigation — and save every receipt for it.
• Document your belongings too. List damaged personal property room by room. Contents are their own coverage and their own part of the claim — they’re forgotten more than any other.
• Don’t submit documents to the carrier first. Let your adjuster review anything before it goes to the insurance company. What gets sent early can be used to limit your claim later.

Coverage & deadlines

Contents and mold: the two most underpaid parts of a water claim

Your belongings are Coverage C — Personal Property, typically 50–70% of your Coverage A limit, with an itemized inventory often due within 60–90 days. Contents are the most underpaid part of a water claim — usually because nobody documented them in time. We inventory room by room.

Mold follows water fast, and carriers “miss” it just as fast. We document water and mold work to the ANSI/IICRC S500 standard — the standard the insurance industry itself recognizes.

Plain-English definitions for every term on this page — ACV, RCV, depreciation, scope of loss — are in our Know Your Policy guide.

Fire claims

After a Fire: First Steps

The first days after a fire are chaotic. Work through these in order — and call us at any point. Securing the property, filing the claim, and documenting everything below is exactly what we manage for you.

• Write it down. Record the date, time, and location of the fire while it's fresh — your claim starts with these facts.
• Get the fire report. Request a copy of the fire department's report; the carrier will ask for it.
• Notify your insurer. Contact your insurance company or agent to open the claim — or call us at (602) 429-9396 and we'll file it for you.
• Don't re-enter until it's cleared. Wait until officials say the home is safe. Soot and contaminated water are genuine health hazards.
• Secure temporary housing. Ask about ALE — your Loss of Use coverage — which pays for a hotel or rental while your home is uninhabitable.
• Keep pets safe. Board them somewhere clean, away from soot and debris — and keep the receipts.
• Replace vital documents. Start on IDs, insurance papers, and the records you'll need throughout the claim.
• Save every receipt. Housing, food, and essentials — many are reimbursable under ALE, but only if you can document them.
• Plan for clearance. You'll need official clearance — a certificate of occupancy — before you can live in the home again.

Help exists for every stage: board-up services to secure the home right away, restoration companies for cleanup and rebuild, and temporary housing services while you're displaced. We coordinate all of it as part of your claim, so you're not managing three vendors from a hotel room.

Coverage & deadlines

A fire claim draws on all four of your coverages

A single fire usually touches every coverage you have: A — Dwelling (the structure), B — Other Structures (garage, fences), C — Contents (your belongings, typically 50–70% of Coverage A, inventory often due in 60–90 days), and D — Loss of Use / ALE (hotel or rental while the home is uninhabitable, typically capped at 12–24 months — keep expense records from day one).

Typical policies give you about 6–12 months to file and require repairs to be documented and completed within 1–2 years. Those are typical deadlines — yours are in your policy. Tracking every one of them is part of what we do on your claim.

Plain-English definitions for every term on this page — ACV, RCV, depreciation, scope of loss — are in our Know Your Policy guide.