Get Your Insurer to Cover Storm Damage - Every Time

When it comes to getting your homeowner's insurance to pay for storm damage to your house, it pays to keep in mind that "no" shouldn't always be the last word. Insurance companies routinely deny or underpay claims, banking that homeowners will accept the answer they're given and pony up the cost of repairs themselves.

And many do just that. But if you've been turned down by your insurance company - or the company has offered a lower payout than you think you need to repair the damage - it may pay to hire a restoration contractor, says Michael McAlpin, owner of Direct Exteriors, a Minnesota-based contracting company that specializes in working with insurance companies to cover all damaged areas of a property.

"Many homeowners whose claims have been denied by their insurers are unaware that hiring an insurance restoration contractor will entitle them to a second inspection of their storm damage - and a second chance at getting the insurance company to pay," McAlpin says. "Having someone fighting on your behalf can make all the difference. In 100 percent of our cases, when we inspect a home and find damage we get the insurance company to cover it. And 99 percent of the time, they cover everything we say needs to be repaired or replaced."

With some climate experts predicting that global warming will cause storms to become more severe and numerous in the future, it's more important than ever for homeowners to know how to deal with their homeowner's insurance companies. McAlpin offers the following tips:

* Don't take "no" for an answer. "Pointing out every piece of damage and making sure the adjuster identifies this damage is the key," McAlpin says. "If you feel you have a valid claim for storm damage, don't give up when the insurance company initially denies the claim."

* Take your time, but not too much time. After storm damage occurs, you have up to one year to file claims. That means if your home is still damaged from last year's winter storms, there's still time to file an insurance claim.

* Don't go it alone; the insurance company sure won't. "The insurance company has legions of lawyers and specialists focused on minimizing their losses," McAlpin says. "You should have someone working on your behalf to deal with the insurance company."

To illustrate the power of renovation contractors, McAlpin points to one Minnesota street where hail damaged several houses this past summer. Most homeowners received insurance payouts of about $18,000. The homeowner who hired Direct Exteriors got $59,000 from his insurance company. Direct Exteriors routinely gets insurance companies to pay the maximum the homeowner is entitled to.

Direct Exteriors is a one-stop shop for storm damage claims and repairs. The company can give you an expert damage appraisal with complete details as to what needs  to be repaired, help you file the claim with your insurance company and fight to get everything you are entitled to.


You don’t have to take “no” for an answer when it comes to storm damage. To turn that “no” into “yes,” log on to www.DirectExteriors.net. Copyright � 2008, ARAnet, Inc.