Spring is just around the corner, and it is never too early to read and understand your insurance policy.  Your insurance policy is a contract whether you know it or not.  The Oklahoma Department of Insurance requires certain policies to contain certain things, and have written the minimum policies allowed, but most of the good companies exceed those minimum requirements. You may be surprised to find out that yours does or does not contain certain things. Below are a few of the most important things you need to know about your policy. 

Deductible:  Deductibles can range from $100 up to 10s of thousands of dollars.  Most deductibles are between $250 to $2500 for perils other than wind and hail.  The Declarations page will have this listed in a conspicuous place.  Wind and hail deductibles are now usually 1% or 2% of the limits of the policy limits.  In other words if your dwelling is insured at $100,000, then your deductible for wind and hail is either $1,000 or $2,000 depending on whether you have a wind and hail deductible of 1, or 2 percent. It is still possible to have a standard deductible that applies to wind and hail perils, but they are becoming more and more uncommon.

Replacement cost vs. Actual cash value:  In Oklahoma most owner occupied policies are full replacement on the dwelling, but almost all rental dwellings are actual cash value. Actual cash value means that the Insurance Company depreciates the estimate based upon the age and condition of the item, and they do not give you that depreciation.  If you have Replacement cost, they will most likely depreciate, but will then return the money depreciated when the work is completed. What you need to know is that you can have full replacement on the dwelling, but the roof can be actual cash value. Ex..Insurance company says the replacement cost of the roof is $10,000, but your 30 year roof is 15 years old.  The carrier will then depreciate the roof 50% to $5,000, less your deductible, and that is all your will receive for your claim. If that is what is in your policy on the date of loss, than that is final.  That is how the claim will be handled.  Remember, it’s a contract. That my friends, is worth looking into

Limits: There are 3 basic parts to a homeowners policies: Dwelling (your house),Other Structures (Outbuildings, fences, permanent pools and spas, sidewalks and driveways.), and Personal Property (contents). Each of these has their own dollar limits the company will pay if damaged. If your house is blown away by a tornado, it is nice to know that you have enough coverage for your dwelling, outbuildings, and personal property. You can find these limits on the declarations page in a list (Coverage A Dwelling, Coverage B Other structures, usually 10% of dwelling limits, Coverage C Contents, usually 50% of dwelling limits) Some personal property has very low limits, like firearms, (If you have a large amount of firearms, then you need to evaluate the value, and discuss with your agent about purchasing extra insurance for firearms.) business personal property, computers, cash.(If you have a lot of cash laying around you need to give me some, or rethink your method of banking. It is not safe for a myriad of reasons.) You will find these limits in the body of the policy.

Additional Living Expenses or ALE:  ALE is coverage that is provided for when damage causes your dwelling to be uninhabitable. The insurance company should provide enough coverage so that you can live the same lifestyle you did before the damage.  There are limits to this coverage also.  Usually are a dollar figure and a time limit, whichever comes first.  Usually 1 year if there is a time limit. This will only cover your expenses over and above what you would normally spend.  You will be responsible for the normal amount of food, house payment, fuel, but ALE will pay the difference over and above normal expenses.

I suggest that you read the policy through, and then discuss it with your agent if you have any questions.  Your agent will be happy to discuss your policy with you. If not maybe you should find another. 

I hope this helps you to be prepared for the spring storm season. Honestly, in all of my years in adjusting and roofing, I do not think I have ever met with an insured on a claim here he or she had reviewed and knew what was in their policy prior to the catastrophe. I hope this helps you change that, and you can be prepared if a catastrophe happens to you.

Brad Neff

President

Heartland Roofing

I am happy to announce that we have recieved the Super Service Award from Angie's List 2 years in a row. Below is the official press release.

www.angieslist.com

 

 Heartland Roofing Earns

Coveted Angie’s List Super

Service Award

Award reflects businesses’ consistently high level of customer service

 

Heartland Roofing has been awarded the prestigious 2011 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor bestowed annually on approximately 5 percent of all the businesses rated on the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service and health providers.

 

Brad Neff, President of Heartland Roofing said, “We are so excited to have earned this award from Angie’s List for the second year in a row.  We work hard to provide an excellent experience for all of our customers, and are very gratified when they reward us for that.  The responses of our customers are the reason we were recognized, and for that we are grateful!”

 

“Only a fraction of the businesses rated on Angie’s List can claim the sterling service record of being a Super Service Award winner because we set a high bar,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “The fact that Heartland Roofing can claim Super Service Award status speaks volumes about its dedication to consumers.”

 

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their clients and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

 

Ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2011 Super Service Award logo next to business names in search results on AngiesList.com.

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Angie’s List collects consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Currently, more than 2 million consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions. Members get unlimited access to local ratings via Internet or phone, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine and help from the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Take a quick tour of Angie’s List and view the latest Angie’s List news.

 

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Every once in a while a product comes along that revolutionizes an industry. I believe we have one of these revolutionary products in the roofing industry.  Forever flat roof replacement and repair was dangerous, messy, hot, and caustic to the environment.  The leading products were asphalt based, and required an open flame, or very hot kettle to melt the asphalt.  The flat roof products that did not rely on that technology were unreliable and short lasting. These products were not conducive to helping with energy efficiency after applied because they were black and/or held heat because of the asphalt content. 

Finally there is a product that is easy to handle, not dangerous, energy efficient, and is a very long lasting product.  Simply it is called TPO, or thermo polyolefin.  It comes in colors, (stock colors are white, tan, and gray).  The product is a single-ply product, and the seams are heat welded, with a heat gun, or heat robot for big jobs. The product comes on a roll, which covers 600 sf or 1,000 sf.  They are 10' wide or 6' wide.  This means 1/2 or 1/3 as many seams as modified and fewer seams mean less leaks.  The product is smooth on top, which makes it easy to detect leaks if you have one.  (Remember trying to find a leak on a hot tar and gravel roof.  Sometimes it is impossible.)  It is smooth surface, which allows water to run off easier than a granulated or rock ballasted surface.  Wow!  You can tell I am an advocate for TPO.  I will tell you that we try to use TPO exclusively if possible.  I really think it is the best product out there.  The technology was introduced over 20 years ago.  Most people my age, and older remember the dashboards of the 70's and early 80's and how they cracked.  When is the last time you saw a cracked dashboard?  It’s been a long time.  Well, TPO is the technology that stopped all of the cracking in dashboards.  That kind of helps put it into prospective doesn't it.

Last but not least, if you have a flat roof that is damaged, or is leaking we can replace it with TPO, and make it good as new.  We have expert crews and state of the art equipment that enables us to be the foremost installer of TPO in the State of Oklahoma.  Look us up on Face book and see our current project at Coyle High School Gymnasium.  Please feel free to call us and request an estimate to replace you flat roof.  You can reach us at 405.728.3333 in OKC, and 918.994.7477 in Tulsa.  Please ask for me, Brad Neff.

Call us for all your storm damage needs. We are ready to help, and can provide temporary repairs, insurance assistance, damage inspections. Call us at 405-728-3333!

This photo was taken in Moore, Oklahoma on Monday by a friend of my insurance agent. Thats big hail!!