Insurance Claim Checklist for North Royalton Homeowners

Last summer, my neighbor Tom called me three weeks after a hailstorm tore through North Royalton. His roof had obvious damage—missing shingles, dented vents, the whole deal. But here's the thing: he didn't take any photos right after the storm. Didn't document the interior water stains. Didn't get his own contractor out there before the insurance adjuster showed up. When his claim finally settled, he got about $8,000 less than what the repair actually cost. He ended up paying out of pocket because he didn't know what to document or when to do it.

I see this happen all the time in North Royalton. Homeowners think calling their insurance company is enough. They figure the adjuster will find everything and they'll get a fair payout. But that's not how storm damage claims actually work. Insurance companies are businesses, and their adjusters work for them—not for you. If you don't have your documentation together, you're leaving money on the table. Sometimes thousands of dollars.

Here's what most people don't realize: the difference between getting your roof fully covered and paying out of pocket comes down to documentation. Good documentation. The kind that shows exactly what your roof looked like before the storm, what happened during the storm, and what damage resulted. It's not complicated, but you gotta know what to capture and when to capture it.

North Royalton gets hit with everything—lake-effect snow that creates ice dams in winter, severe thunderstorms with straight-line winds in spring, hailstorms in summer. We're in a weather pattern that keeps roofers busy year-round. And every time a storm rolls through, insurance claims spike. The homeowners who get full payouts? They're the ones who followed a system. They documented everything. They knew their policy. They had their own contractor present when the adjuster showed up.

This checklist walks you through the entire process, from what to do right now (before any damage happens) to how to get insurance to pay for roof replacement after a storm hits. You'll learn what photos to take, what documents to gather, how to talk to adjusters, and what to do if your claim gets denied or undervalued. Everything here comes from years of helping North Royalton homeowners navigate the claims process—the stuff that actually works, not the theory.

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Before the Storm Hits: Documentation That Saves You Thousands

Most homeowners wait until after damage happens to start thinking about documentation. That's too late. The single biggest mistake I see? No baseline photos of what the roof looked like before the storm. When you don't have before photos, you're basically asking the insurance adjuster to trust you that the damage is new. 

Take Baseline Photos of Your Roof Right Now

I'm serious about this. Put down your phone after reading this section and go take photos of your roof. You need evidence of your roof's condition before any damage occurs. Here's why this matters so much: insurance adjusters look for reasons to deny claims or reduce payouts. One of their favorite tactics? Claiming the damage was "pre-existing." Without before photos, you can't prove them wrong.

A guy on Royalton Road had his claim reduced by $4,500 because the adjuster claimed some of the missing shingles were from "normal wear and tear" rather than the windstorm. He had no photos from before the storm. No way to prove those shingles were intact two days earlier. The insurance company won that argument.

Here's what you need to photograph:

• All four roof planes – Get shots from every angle, not just the side you can see from the driveway

• Ridge vents and roof vents – These get damaged in hailstorms but adjusters often miss them

• Flashings around chimneys and skylights – Close-up shots so you can see the condition

• Valley areas – Where two roof planes meet, water damage shows up here first

• Gutters and downspouts – Document any existing dents or damage

• Soffit and fascia – The trim areas that often get wind damage

You don't need a fancy camera. Your smartphone works fine. Just make sure the photos are clear and dated. Most phones automatically timestamp photos, which helps establish when you took them. Store these in cloud storage—Google Photos, iCloud, Dropbox, whatever you use. Don't just keep them on your phone where they could get lost.

Update these photos every six months. Roofs change over time, and you want recent documentation. After any major weather event (even if you don't see damage), take another set of photos. It takes 15 minutes and could save you thousands.

Know What Your Insurance Policy Actually Covers

Most homeowners have no idea what their roofing insurance actually covers until they file a claim. Then it's too late to get better coverage. Pull out your homeowner's policy right now—the actual policy documents, not just your bill. Look for the declarations page. That's where your coverage details live.

Here's what you need to understand:

If you have ACV coverage on a 15-year-old roof, you might only get 50% of the replacement cost. That's a huge difference. A $12,000 roof replacement becomes a $6,000 payout, and you're stuck covering the rest.

Your deductible matters too. Most North Royalton homeowners have a standard deductible (usually $1,000-$2,500) plus a separate wind/hail deductible. That wind/hail deductible is often a percentage—1% to 5% of your home's insured value. On a $300,000 home with a 2% wind/hail deductible, you're paying the first $6,000 out of pocket. Know this number before you need it.

"I thought my deductible was $1,000. Turns out my wind damage deductible was 2% of my home value—$5,400. I had no idea until the claim check arrived and I was $4,400 short of what I expected." – North Royalton homeowner

Keep a Simple Maintenance Log

Insurance companies love to deny claims by saying the damage resulted from "lack of maintenance" rather than storm damage. A maintenance log shuts down that argument before it starts. You don't need anything fancy—a simple spreadsheet or even a notebook works.

Record these things:

1. Professional roof inspections – Date, company name, what they found

2. Gutter cleanings – When you did it (or when you paid someone to do it)

3. Minor repairs – Replaced shingles, sealed flashings, fixed small leaks

4. Major work – Previous roof replacements, additions, structural repairs

Keep receipts and invoices. If a roofing contractor did any work, keep their paperwork. This stuff proves you took care of your roof, which makes it much harder for insurance to claim neglect.

A woman in North Royalton had her leak claim initially denied because the adjuster said her gutters were clogged and that caused the water intrusion. She pulled out receipts showing she'd had her gutters professionally cleaned twice a year for the past five years. The insurance company reversed the denial within a week. That's the power of documentation.

First 48 Hours After Storm Damage: Your Action Checklist

The first two days after a storm are critical. What you do (or don't do) in this window affects your entire claim. I've seen homeowners lose thousands because they waited a week to document damage, or because they didn't call their insurance company fast enough.

Stay Safe While Assessing Damage

I've seen homeowners try to climb on their roof right after a storm to "check things out." A really bad idea. Wet roofs are slippery. Damaged roofs are unstable. One wrong step and you're falling through decking or sliding off the edge.

Do your initial assessment from the ground. Walk around your house and look for these signs:

• Shingles in your yard or street

• Granules collecting in gutters or downspouts (looks like coarse sand)

• Dented or damaged roof vents

• Bent or torn flashing

• Damage to neighbors' roofs (if they got hit, you probably did too)

Check your attic if you can get up there safely. Look for water stains, wet insulation, or daylight coming through the roof. These are all signs of damage that need professional attention.

If you've got active leaks, protect your home's interior. Move furniture away from leak areas. Put buckets down. Cover valuables with plastic. If it's a serious leak, you might need emergency tarping to prevent more damage. That's when you call us—we respond within 24 hours for emergency situations.

Document Everything Immediately

Grab your phone and start taking photos. Lots of photos. More than you think you need. You can delete extras later, but you can't go back in time to capture damage that's already been repaired or that got worse.

Here's your photo checklist:

• Wide shots of entire roof – Shows overall damage pattern

• Close-ups of specific damage – Missing shingles, cracks, dents, tears

• Ground debris – Shingles, granules, roofing materials in your yard

• Interior damage – Water stains on ceilings, wet walls, dripping water

• Attic damage – Wet insulation, water stains on decking

• Collateral damage – Damaged gutters, siding, windows, outdoor fixtures

Take videos too. Walk around your property while recording and narrate what you're seeing: "This is the north side of the roof, you can see three missing shingles here and damage to the ridge vent." Video captures details photos might miss.

If there's hail, collect samples. Put a few hailstones in your freezer—they're physical evidence of the storm's severity. Measure them if you can (use a ruler or coin for scale in photos).

Call Your Insurance Company (Here's What to Say)

Don't wait for this. Call your insurance company within 24-48 hours of discovering damage. Most policies require "prompt notification" of damage. Waiting too long can complicate or even jeopardize your claim.

When you call, keep it simple and factual:

"We had storm damage on [date]. I've noticed missing shingles and possible water intrusion in my home. I need to file a claim and schedule an adjuster inspection."

Don't speculate about costs. Don't exaggerate damage. Don't downplay it either. Just state the facts. The insurance company will give you a claim number—write it down. You'll need it for everything moving forward. They'll assign an adjuster and give you a timeline for when they'll inspect your property.

Even if the damage looks minor, file the claim. I've seen "small" leaks turn into major problems once contractors get up there and realize the storm damaged the underlayment or decking. You can always withdraw a claim if it turns out to be nothing, but you can't go back and file later if you discover the damage was worse than you thought.

Schedule Your Own Professional Inspection Before the Adjuster Arrives

This is huge: get your own roofing contractor to inspect your roof before the insurance adjuster shows up. Why? Because contractors find things adjusters miss. Adjusters work for the insurance company. Their job is to settle claims as cheaply as possible. Your contractor works for you.

A professional roofing inspection will catch:

• Underlayment damage not visible from the surface

• Subtle wind damage that looks like normal wear to untrained eyes

• Decking problems that need replacement

• Code violations that need fixing during replacement

• Additional damage the adjuster might overlook

When the adjuster comes, have your contractor there with you. Two sets of eyes are better than one, and having a professional present keeps everyone honest. Your contractor can point out damage the adjuster might miss or dispute the adjuster's assessment on the spot.

We offer free insurance claim inspections for North Royalton homeowners. We'll come out, assess the damage, document everything with photos, and provide a detailed report you can use with your insurance company. We'll even be there when your adjuster shows up if you want us there.

What Happens Next

Once you've got your documentation together and filed your claim, the real work begins. The adjuster will inspect your property, write an estimate, and your insurance company will make an initial offer. That's when you need to know how to read estimates, when to push back, and how to get the full value of your claim.

Most North Royalton homeowners don't realize they can negotiate with insurance companies. The first offer isn't always the final offer. If you've done your documentation right—baseline photos, maintenance logs, professional contractor assessment—you're in a strong position to get fair coverage for your roof replacement.

The key is being prepared before damage happens. Take those baseline photos today. Review your insurance policy. Start a maintenance log. When the next storm hits North Royalton (and it will), you'll be ready.

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