Fact: According to Texas State Insurance laws, this is considered insurance fraud. Not only is this insurance fraud, insurance companies require the roofing contractor to provide a final invoice to them. Getting the work done cheaper than the insurance estimate actually saves the insurance company money and does nothing for you. If the price of the roof replacement is lower than the insurance company estimate, your insurance company will in turn, adjust your final depreciation check accordingly, making the final depreciation check less by that amount. More importantly, in many cases customers end up with a roof of lesser quality than what they could have received, precisely because they went with the company that had the lowest price.

Fact: You are not required to get three estimates. Plus you can determine which company you want to have perform the work for you. Even though the insurance company is paying for the work, this does not mean that you have to go with the lowest or cheapest estimate just to save the insurance company money.

Fact: Unfortunately during an active storm season, many companies come into an area temporarily as “storm chasers”. These companies ‘work’ an area after a storm then leave to go on to the next storm area. This means that they will not be here to contact for warranty work and/or for service calls. Often these companies replace the roof as fast as they do because they aren’t concerned about backing their work by honoring their warranty.

Fact: Insurance companies cannot cancel your policy for a disaster related claim.

Fact: After a disaster, whether you get a new roof or not, the state board of insurance in Austin, Texas may raise everyone’s rates in your area. You are better off getting a new roof since your rates could go up anyway due to the disaster.