4 Things To Know About Hail Damage To Your Home
Many homeowners do not realize how destructive a hail storm can be. Hail has the capability to damage roofs, siding, gutters, windows, and various external features of your home. That's why it's so important to understand how your home insurance protects you from hail damage.
What Type Of Insurance Policy Covers Hail Damage?
Your home insurance policy will have coverage for the dwelling and your personal property. Dwelling coverage is what is used for the exterior parts of your home that can be damaged, such as the walls, roof, and foundation. Personal property coverage is for items both in and outside your home that are not attached to it. Hail has the capability of shattering glass patio tables, BBQ grills, and various other personal property on the outside of your home.
What Do You Pay Out-Of-Pocket To Use Your Insurance For Repairs?
You'll need to pay a deductible before your insurance provider will pay for damage caused by hail. The amount of your deductible depends on what you agreed to when you purchased your insurance policy. A smaller deductible often results in paying a larger premium, and the opposite is true with a large deductible having a lower premium.
If you're not sure what your deductible is, contact your insurance agent to verify the information. It's possible to make changes to your deductible if you feel it is too low or too high, and you don't have to wait until your current policy renews to do so.
Is All Hail Damage Covered?
Be aware that there are some exclusions to hail damage that you need to be aware of. It's important to review your policy to find out if you have coverage for cosmetic damage. This would be damage that doesn't impact the structural security of your home but simply causes it to look bad. This could include things like exterior paint that is scratched from hail damage or indentations in gutters.
How Do You File An Insurance Claim For Hail Damage?
You'll want to contact your insurance agent when you have hail damage that justifies an insurance claim. They'll help start the process for you, and likely send an insurance adjuster out to your home to inspect the damage. It's also possible that they'll request photos of the damage instead of sending out an insurance adjuster. Once approved, you'll be able to hire a contractor to repair the damage to your home.
Contact a local hail damage adjuster for more info.