Name: West Michigan Roofing
Price range: $$
Rating: 5

Michigan weather will take its toll on your roof and significantly impact its lifespan. Because your roof could have significant weather damage even before you notice a leak, it pays to request a free inspection.

In the event your home has sustained a catastrophic event (wind blows shingles off, a branch hits your roof, hail damages your siding), your insurance company will require you to get quotes for repairing the damage.

Wondering what you should know about this whole process? First things first, beware storm chasers and other red flags. Unfortunately, there are many shady operators who take advantage of homeowners after severe weather strikes.

On a more positive note, you should also be aware that work covered by insurance can be performed by your contractor of choice. No matter if you go with the lowest quoted job or the highest, it will only cost you your deductible.

Regardless, you’ll still want to exercise your due diligence when deciding which roofers to choose. A choice like this is not price-driven anymore, but solely based on which company you want to work with to restore your home. Vet your options carefully, and choose a reputable company.

How Much Will It Cost Me?

When the damage is covered by your home insurance, you should plan to pay your deductible toward the repair costs. The good news is, it doesn’t matter if Roofer A quotes the job at $10,000 and Roofer B, who seems more professional and has better reviews, quotes the job at $15,000. As long as the estimate from the roofer you choose is supported by Xactimate, the insurance company will accept it and pay the difference for the work.

Not having to be cost-sensitive gives homeowners the freedom to use a quality contractor and only have to worry about paying their deductible.

What is Xactimate?

Xactimate is an industry-leading software program that sets a standard for estimating the costs of home restoration. Insurance companies are familiar with Xactimate and know they can trust quotes that are made with the software. Only the most professional contractors have access to this tool, which compiles photos, satellite images, estimates, and itemized breakdowns based on the type of work, labor, and materials required.

Can You Help with My Claim?

Our estimator will inspect your home and write up an estimate to turn in to your insurance company. But our advocacy doesn’t end there. It’s common for your insurer to push back against your chosen estimate to try to get costs down—after all, it’s in their best interest to land on the lowest possible figure.

We will be in close communication with your insurance company—back and forth multiple times, if necessary—to make sure your best interest is served. We promise to build a proper estimate for what you should get for the extent of the damage and the work that is necessary to fix it. Then, we’ll work with your insurer to ensure a smooth project—from start to finish.

Do I Need a Roof Repair or Roof Replacement?

A roof has to be relatively new—that is, it must have at least 50% of its life cycle left—to deem it fiscally responsible to do a repair. If your roof is on the older side, it is more cost effective for you in the long run to do a partial or full replacement. We can help you determine this based on the roof’s age and the extent of the damage.

Is the Damage Enough to File a Claim?

Before assuming you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket for what may seem to be minor roof or sidi ng repairs, you could contact West Michigan Roofing first to see if it’s worth filing a claim. We’ll come out for an inspection, and if there’s potential for filing a claim, we can write up an estimate to submit right then and there.

How Soon Can Work Begin?

We promise to give quick attention to your project. In many cases, our estimator will get back to you the same business day and schedule an inspection within the next few days, depending on the work schedule and the urgency of the situation.

When you are making an insurance claim, you can expect about a week turnaround for a response from your adjuster once our report has been generated and submitted to them.

We hope this clears up some of your concerns about repairs and insurance claims. Get in touch if you’d like to work together on your repair project.

Still have questions? We’re happy to help! We’ve been serving greater Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and the West Michigan Lakeshore for over 100 years, and we look forward to serving you!