Hail is usually a straightforward claim. The part that goes wrong is what happens in the 48 hours after the storm — before you've spoken to your insurer.
Built by homeowners who've replaced roofs, dealt with storm chasers, and learned what the process actually looks like.
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Most claim surprises are policy surprises — things that were always true but never understood until they mattered.
Storm-chasing contractors show up within 24 hours. The first signature you're asked for is the one that matters most.
The first number is rarely the final one. Knowing this prevents the most common hail claim mistake.
None of these are careless mistakes. All of them are preventable.
Storm chasers arrive within 24–48 hours. The first signature transfers more control than most homeowners realize.
A 2% wind/hail deductible on a $400K home is $8,000. Most homeowners find out only when the check arrives.
The adjuster's first number is based on what's visible. Once the roof is opened, more damage is almost always found. The insurer expects this — but won't tell you.
Many homeowners sign off before repairs are fully verified and lose the right to additional payment they were owed. Don't sign anything as complete until the work is done and inspected.
Use the checklist when you need to act. Use the playbook when something feels off.
A practical, phase-based guide for before the storm, after the storm, and through the claim.
What insurance doesn't explain — from policy surprises through final settlement. 6 parts, free to read.
ClaimEase gives you the checklist, the organization, and the context to stay on top of your claim — free, without needing to hire anyone.
Not insurance, legal, or financial advice.
Start Your Hail Claim Organized →Many homeowners policies include a separate deductible that applies only to wind or hail damage — and it's almost always a percentage of your home's insured value rather than a flat dollar amount. A 2% wind/hail deductible on a $400,000 home means you pay $8,000 before insurance covers anything. This is separate from your standard deductible, which might be $2,500. Check your declarations page for a line item labeled “wind deductible,” “hail deductible,” or “windstorm/hail deductible.”
An Assignment of Benefits is a document that transfers your insurance claim rights to a contractor — giving them authority to deal with your insurer directly and receive payments on your behalf. Storm-chasing contractors commonly ask homeowners to sign one in the first 48 hours after a storm. What it means, what it transfers, and the default answer are covered in Part 3 of the playbook.
It almost always is — and it's not an accident or a mistake. The gap between what an insurer estimates and what contractors charge in a post-storm market is a structural feature of how claims are priced. Understanding why it happens, what's normal, and what to do about it is covered in Part 4 of the playbook.
Not necessarily — and most homeowners don't know this. Depending on your policy and your state, you may have the right to more than a patch if materials can't be matched. This is one of the most commonly missed entitlements in hail claims. How to raise it and what to say is in Part 4 of the playbook.