Checklist for Supplementing Insurance Claims of Property Storm Damage
Take a moment and think back to your first partnership…
Did you imagine your first romantic relationship? Your first business endeavor? Something else? Whatever it was, when it comes to our “firsts,” there are usually similar questions involved. Am I doing this right? Is this what he/she expects? And of course, the ever-popular question: What happens next?
These same questions come up when we start working with new restoration contractors. One of the first questions we are often asked is: What do you need from us? In other words, new clients are wondering what to provide to us in order to receive:
the highest supplemental increase
in the shortest amount of time
with the least amount of time or work involved
For anyone new to supplementing insurance claims, or considering outsourcing to Claim Supplement Pro, we have some guidance that can increase your profits and shorten the turnaround time.
There are 5 essential items that should be ready before starting the supplementing process:
The latest Scope of Loss (SOL)
Measurement Report from a 3rd party company
Pictures of the property
Invoices (if any)
Short description of anything unusual or special requests for the supplement
You may be wondering: Do I really need all 5 categories before supplementing? This is where that old relationship standby -- Experience -- comes in. Sure, it is possible to start supplementing with just 3 or 4 categories. But based on our experience, it is best to have items from all 5 categories. Any missing items could (and often does) reduce your income.
Let’s take a closer look at each item, and see why they are important to the supplementing process.
#1 - The Latest Scope of Loss
It is vital to have the most current estimate (Scope of Loss) to understand what the insurance company has approved and avoid any confusion with the adjuster.
Today, the vast majority of insurance companies use Xactimate (though some use Symbility) software to create their estimates. Our team of experts at Claim Supplement Pro also uses the same software as the insurance companies to create our supplement estimates. Thus, it is easy for us to review and understand the items that have been approved. More importantly, we also know from experience what items to look for that the adjuster should have included, but might have missed!
#2 - Measurement Report
A measurement report from a reputable 3rd party company is a must-have in the majority of cases. To help illustrate why this is important, let’s go over some FAQs about measurements reports:
Can a sketch on the insurance estimate be used instead of ordering a report?
We completely understand that every dollar is important in today's business environment. That's actually the main reason we recommend ordering a measurement report. Our experience has shown that having a measurement report can bring an increase of $450 on average. The cost to get a report is only $20 to $65, so it is definitely a good investment.
Can I measure it myself instead of purchasing a measurement report?
Unfortunately, that often leads to a dispute over who measured the roof properly -- the insurance adjuster or you? A 3rd party measurement report, on the other hand, is considered unbiased by the adjuster.
What 3rd party measurement reports are acceptable?
Insurance companies accept reports from a variety of different companies. For roof-only claims, we usually recommend EagleView. If siding repairs are also needed, we recommend Hover. If you order a roof and siding report at the same time, most measurement companies will give you a sizable discount. Do you have a favorite measurement company? Drop it in the comments.
Can I use the same 3rd party measurement report that the insurance adjuster used to build their estimate?
Yes, that is a great idea! If you can get the adjuster to send you their measurement report, that would save you tons of time and money $$$. This could also reduce disputes if an incorrect measurement is discovered on the SOL.
#3 - Pictures of the property
We are privileged to serve restoration contractors, general contractors and public adjusters. Our top-performing clients see an astonishing 68% average increase on their supplements year after year. An average performance on annual increases is around 20% to 30%.
What factor makes the biggest difference in the increase? Having great pictures! More specifically, it is the client’s knowledge and ability to thoroughly inspect each property and document additional damages by taking excellent supplemental pictures.
We love helping our clients expand their skills and improve their knowledge of what to look for when they inspect each property. We are happy to teach them what photos to take, provide examples of successful pictures, and supply a photo checklist. Contact us and we would be thrilled to help you, too!
#4 - Invoices
Invoices are needed if the job involves any custom work, like windows, OMNI gutters, asbestos, solar panels, etc. For example, you might be in a situation where the amount of money the insurance company agreed to pay the homeowner for a specific item is not enough to cover your expenses as the contractor. Our recommendation in these scenarios is super simple:
Reach out to your sub-contractor who will or already performed the job.
Ask them for a quote (if the job hasn’t begun yet) or an invoice (if the work is already completed).
Send the quote/invoice to the adjuster to show the actual higher costs to make the repairs. Don't forget to mention O&P on it. Otherwise, you are getting zero out of it.
The alternative to this is to charge the homeowner to pay for the difference out of pocket -- which ideally you should try to avoid, since it is not their fault that the storm damaged their house. At the same time, you can’t work for free, and should get paid for your services!
#5 - A short description of anything unusual or special about this supplement
What is the backbone of any good partnership? Communication, communication, communication. Here is no exception. If there is anything unusual or any item(s) you want to include in the estimate, it’s important to let your supplementing partner know.
Let’s say, for example, that the interior bedroom ceiling had water damage due to rain coming through where shingles were blown off the roof during the storm. But, for some reason, that bedroom damage is not listed on the insurance Scope of Loss.
Maybe during the inspection the insurance adjuster agreed to pay for it, but just didn't feel comfortable going inside the house. Maybe the homeowner had Covid at the time, or a big scary dog. Whatever. So, the adjuster just asked for pictures of damages and told you to add the interior as a supplement.
Of course, since your supplementing partner was not there, we would need a note to let us know what happened. This way, your partners at Claim Supplement Pro will know what to do next to follow up with the adjuster to supplement that missing interior.
Some other common examples of special situations might include:
Asbestos siding or shingles
Damages discussed and not approved by insurance
Damages to fence or deck that were never discussed during inspection
Keep in mind that if you are looking to approve something that isn’t in the scope, you will need to provide proof -- usually photos -- in addition to your note explaining the situation.
Think of it like a courtroom case. If you’re introducing something new at trial, you need to present the supporting evidence, or else the judge (or in our case, the insurance adjuster) won’t even consider it.
Now You Are Ready To Get Those Increases $$$
When you choose to outsource your storm damage insurance claim supplements to Claim Supplement Pro, we know how important this decision is and are honored to become part of YOUR team.
We understand that the greatest outcomes are achieved when everyone involved is focused on getting the most for their clients and their bottom line. When we all work together toward one single goal - to increase profitability on every job - this is when the magic happens! This alignment is heavily dependent on our two companies working hand-in-hand, and on the dedication, expertise, and friendly service that Claim Supplement Pro can add to your company’s success.
Would you be excited to discover that your claim supplements can typically be increased by 20% - 50%?
Call or email Claim Supplement Pro today if you are ready to jump in and find out!
