How to Maximize Your Commercial Roof Insurance Claim in Metro Detroit

It’s springtime here in Metro Detroit, and that means your business or commercial property is about to face the wrath of Mother Nature. Spring brings high winds, damaging hail, and occasional torrential downpours. All of these weather events can lead to a necessary exterior insurance claim on your building. Navigating a commercial roof insurance claim can be overwhelming for many Metro Detroit business and building owners. Without the right guidance, you could easily leave money on the table that you are rightfully entitled to, preventing you from restoring your building to its pre-loss condition.

But fear not! My team here at Four Seasons Kanga Roof has put together this essential guide to ensure you maximize your claim and protect your valuable commercial investment right here in Southeastern Michigan.

Helpful Tips for Your Commercial Insurance Claim!

• Don’t File the Claim Right Away – Get a Free Roof Inspection First!

  We’ve stressed this in our other blogs, but the biggest mistake many commercial building owners in Metro Detroit make is calling their insurance company first. Before you call your agent, get the property inspected by a qualified commercial roofing inspector like our experts at Four Seasons Kanga Roof (You can book your free inspection at https://kanga-roof.com/schedule-inspection-now/). They will be able to give you professional guidance on whether the damage would likely qualify for a claim, or be worth making. This step is critical for a smooth commercial claim process.

• Hire a Qualified Commercial Insurance Restoration Contractor.

  Due to the size and complexity of most commercial insurance property claims, especially for flat roofs common in Detroit, Warren, and Sterling Heights, it is vital that you hire a contractor who is experienced in handling commercial claims. Commercial claims receive more scrutiny than their residential counterparts. Not partnering with a true expert can lead to building owners settling for far less than they are entitled to per their policy, or incurring costs they should not. Look for a contractor with proven experience in TPO, EPDM, and Metal Roof insurance claims.

• Your Agent Can’t Help You with the Claim.

  By design, the claim process is completely separate from your sales agent. Many people think that by enlisting their agent’s help, they will get a bigger settlement. This is simply not the case. The insurance companies set up the system so their sales vehicle (your insurance agent) does not have any control or influence over their claims departments or the adjusters. Focus on your insurance restoration contractor as your primary advocate.

• The Adjuster Is Not The Final Step.

  As your claim progresses, it is very common for the adjuster to provide a total scope and a proposed settlement amount. The key is to never accept the “proposed” word when they give it to you. Their initial scope often misses key items or systems necessary for complete commercial roof repair or replacement. Additionally, there is the step of taking the claim to appraisal or, if you believe your claim is being handled in bad faith by your insurance company, legal avenues are available to you. In either of those scenarios, we would urge you to contact your legal counsel before taking action.

• Don’t Cash the Initial Check.

  Just like in the above scenario, the adjuster often gives you a proposed settlement and sends a check. Until you are in 100% agreement with your adjuster on the scope of work for your commercial roof, do not cash the check. Cashing the check can be framed as you accepting the proposed settlement. While that is not legally binding, it can make it significantly more difficult when fighting for the increased scope or dollars that you are entitled to.

• You Do Not Have to Settle for Their Contractors.

  This ties into our first recommendation: do not file the claim immediately. If you did already file the claim, you do not have to accept using the contractors your insurance company suggests. It is your building, and you ultimately decide on the qualified contractor who is going to perform the work. The contractor provided by your insurance company may be adequate, but if issues arise, they ultimately prioritize keeping the insurance company happy because the insurer provides their next job. Securing the local Metro Detroit commercial roofing contractor you trust, who is working exclusively on your behalf, is always your best bet.

A word from a satisfied Metro Detroit customer:

“Four Seasons Kanga Roof did a phenomenal job handling the complex insurance claim for our commercial building after a major hailstorm. Their expertise in commercial roofing and insurance claims in the Macomb County area was the difference between a minor repair and a full roof replacement that was desperately needed. Highly recommend them for any commercial or industrial roof project!” – [Name Withheld for Privacy], Commercial Property Owner, Sterling Heights, MI (Source: Four Seasons Kanga Roof Google Reviews)

We know any insurance claim can be a daunting process. When you add in the complexities of handling a large loss commercial roof claim in Southeastern Michigan, “daunting” quickly adds “danger” into the equation. By following the steps above, it should help you side-step many of the common pitfalls that beset many Metro Detroit commercial building owners.

However, if you want to work with an expert commercial restoration company, our team of commercial claims experts is standing by. We can guide you through commercial roof repair or replacement claims, and we can handle the entirety of the claims process for you. To get the process started, you can call us at 586-566-0308 or skip the line and book your free commercial roof inspection entirely online at https://kanga-roof.com/schedule-inspection-now/.

We sincerely hope you found some benefit from the article, and as always, I hope you have a Kanga-Riffic day!

Sincerely,

Bill Burkhardt, Jr.

VP and Owner

Four Seasons Kanga Roof