As for costs, after our last hailstorm, I was out about $1,200 just for temporary repairs—tarps, plywood, and a few tools. The insurance covered most of the permanent work, but only after a lot of back-and-forth.
That’s wild—$1,200 just to keep the rain out? I’m starting to see why people say owning a house is just paying for surprises. I’ve only been here a year and already had to patch up some siding after a windstorm. Insurance covered it, but the paperwork was a pain. Does everyone really take “before” pics? I never thought to do that... is it overkill or just smart?
I get where you’re coming from—$1,200 just for temp fixes sounds steep, but honestly, after a bad storm, prices on tarps and plywood go up fast. I’ve seen folks spend more if they wait too long. As for the “before” pics, I used to think it was overkill too. Then one year, insurance tried to say my roof was already damaged before the storm... Having photos saved me a huge headache. Now I snap a few every spring—takes five minutes and can make all the difference if you ever need proof.
That’s a really good point about the photos—insurance companies can be sticklers. I used to think snapping “before” pics was overkill too, but after a hailstorm last year, my adjuster wanted proof my gutters weren’t already dented. Luckily I had some shots from a spring cleaning. As for costs, I’ve paid anywhere from $800 for a quick tarp job to $3,500 when I waited too long and mold set in. Timing seems to make a huge difference, especially if you’re in an area where storms hit back-to-back.
Man, I hear you on the photos—my neighbor once tried to claim his fence was “pristine” before a windstorm, but the adjuster pulled up a Google Street View from last year and, well... let’s just say it wasn’t winning any beauty contests. Out of curiosity, have you ever had an insurance company actually deny a claim over lack of proof? I’ve always wondered how strict they really get, or if it’s more of a scare tactic.
Yeah, insurance can get picky about proof, especially if it’s something like roof damage where they wanna see “before and after.” I’ve seen a couple claims get denied when folks couldn’t show recent pics or receipts for repairs. Sometimes it feels like they’re just looking for a reason to say no, but I guess it depends on the company and the adjuster. My uncle had to fight tooth and nail over a missing shingle once—he ended up digging out an old Christmas photo that showed the roof in the background. Not exactly what you plan for, but hey, it worked...