It’s wild how they expect contractors to work for less than market rates... makes you wonder if they ever actually talk to real roofers in the area.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had a bit of a different experience with my last claim. When our roof got hit by hail, I was worried about the same thing—Xactimate numbers seemed low at first. But here’s what helped me:
1. I got a couple of local estimates from roofers I trusted. Their bids were higher than the insurance payout, but not by a crazy amount.
2. I sent those estimates to my adjuster and asked them to review the difference line by line. It took some back and forth, but they did end up adjusting the payout closer to what the contractors quoted.
3. I double-checked my policy for “ordinance or law” coverage, like you mentioned. Turns out, mine had a small allowance for code upgrades, so I made sure to point that out.
It was definitely more work than I expected, but pushing back (politely) made a difference. Not saying it’s always easy or fair, but sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease... even with insurance companies.
It was definitely more work than I expected, but pushing back (politely) made a difference.
That’s kind of reassuring to hear, honestly. I’m in the middle of my first claim right now and it’s been a headache trying to figure out what’s “normal.” My deductible feels huge, and the first offer from insurance barely covered half the quotes I got. I’m learning you really have to keep following up—didn’t realize how much back-and-forth there’d be. Guess persistence really does pay off sometimes.
My deductible feels huge, and the first offer from insurance barely covered half the quotes I got.
That sounds about right, unfortunately. I see a lot of folks surprised by how high their deductible is when it’s time to actually use it. Out of curiosity, did your adjuster actually get up on the roof or just do a quick look from the ground? Sometimes that makes a big difference in what they’re willing to cover.
Yeah, those deductibles always seem manageable until you actually need to use them, right? I remember the first time I filed a claim after a hailstorm—thought I’d get a decent payout, but after the deductible and “depreciation,” it barely made a dent in my repair bill. My adjuster did climb up on the roof, but honestly, he was up there for maybe five minutes. I’m convinced he missed half the damage.
One thing I learned is that if you push back a little (politely), sometimes they’ll send out a second adjuster or even let you bring in your own roofer to meet with them. It’s kind of ridiculous how much you have to advocate for yourself just to get what you’re owed. And yeah, those “actual cash value” vs “replacement cost” terms are sneaky—makes a huge difference in what you end up getting.
I’ve started budgeting for that deductible every year, just in case. Not fun, but it beats being caught off guard when the next storm rolls through.
- Seen this a lot:
That quick glance is way too common. Sometimes it feels like they’re just checking a box, not actually looking for real issues.“he was up there for maybe five minutes. I’m convinced he missed half the damage.”
- In my experience, it’s worth documenting everything yourself—photos, notes, even videos if you can. Adjusters don’t always catch subtle stuff like bruised shingles or small leaks that can get worse over time.
- Agree on the “actual cash value” vs. “replacement cost” thing. If your policy only covers ACV, you’re basically getting a payout minus both depreciation and deductible. That can leave you covering a big chunk out of pocket, especially on older roofs.
- I’ve seen some folks get better results bringing their own roofer or inspector to meet the adjuster. It doesn’t guarantee anything, but it can help if there’s a disagreement about what’s damaged.
- Curious—how old was your roof when you filed the claim? Sometimes insurers use age as an excuse to knock down the payout even more. Has anyone else run into that?