If your home has taken damage from a hailstorm we’re here to help. We offer home insurance inspections and will walk with you through getting your insurance claim approved and the repairs completed. A hailstorm can be one of the most damaging storms you’ll experience in your lifetime. Sure, small hailstorms are often nothing to worry about, with little to no damage other than some dents to your vehicle, but when the hail gets large, into the quarter or great sizes, it is capable of causing very real damage to not only your automobile but to your home as well. So, when you’ve just gone through a hailstorm, what can you do to make sure that you quickly are taking care of the damage that accompanies such storms? Well, luckily, there are a few steps that you can take to get on the road to recovering from such an incident and putting your home and your property right.

1) Record When The Hail Storm Occurred

This is not as important today as it has been in the past, but it is still important that, for your records, you keep a good list of when the storm came through your area and when you found the damage that resulted. Your insurance company has access to great tools for accessing that data, but it is still important that you have your own record, and that it is as accurate as possible.

2) Search For Damage And Document It

Once the storm rolls through, it’s time to get a camera and go out in search of any damage to your home. You should make sure that you properly document damage to your home and your property (fences, sheds, garages, things like that). If there is damage to your vehicles or your yard, be sure to photograph that as well. Things to photograph include:
  • Any hail remaining. Pick it up and photograph it next to a coin for reference, showing how large the hail was, if you can.
  • Damage to your roof. If you can see missing shingles, or areas with missing shingles, be sure to photograph them.
  • Shingles that have fallen from the roof. If you have a large collection of shingles that are in your yard after a storm, be sure to take a picture of them.
  • Broken windows
  • Damage to any outside appliances (air conditioners, for example)
  • Damage to your yard, tress, bushes, etc.
  • Any leaks inside or outside your house
This will make the process of repairing your home with your insurance company’s help much simpler.

3) Focus On Emergency Situations First

If you discover damage to your home, you should focus on emergency situations first. This means taking care of extreme damage, leaks, roofs that may be collapsing, broken windows, and similar situations. If you can’t get a contractor to come out and fix your home quickly, then you may need to create a temporary solution until they can come out as appropriate. If you’ve got leaks on your roof, for example, you can utilize tarps to cover the area until a contractor can come perform the repairs.

4) Have Your Roof Inspected

Many times, this service is free, but after a hail storm comes through, there will be contractors offering free roof inspections. Find a contractor you trust, and have them inspect your roof for damage. Just because you can’t see the damage, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t any, after all, and catching it early means you can limit the damage to your roof and prevent leaks before they start.

5) File A Claim

If you have to have any work done, you can file a claim after it has begun. Depending on who you hire, a home improvement or roof repair contractor with experience may even be able to help you with the process, such as the folks at National Home Improvement. Remember; the more evidence you have, the easier your claim filling process will be. So, if you’ve gone through a hail storm recently, or you live somewhere that such storms are common, you should be sure to keep these steps in mind to quickly get your house back in operating order.