What to do first
- Prioritize personal safety and follow emergency authorities.
- Take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage when safe.
- Photograph conditions without entering unsafe areas.
- Review your policy and report the loss through your carrier’s official channel.
- Keep receipts, claim correspondence, estimates, and work authorizations together.
Know the roles
Policyholder
Reports the loss, protects the property when reasonably possible, provides information, reviews documents, pays applicable deductibles, and authorizes work.
Insurance carrier and adjuster
Investigate the claim, apply the policy, estimate covered damage, communicate decisions, and issue applicable payments.
Contractor
Evaluates construction conditions, documents visible damage, prepares or reviews a construction scope, performs authorized work, and records completion.
A typical claim-aware roofing sequence
Inspect
Document visible conditions and urgent exposure.
Report
The policyholder opens the claim with the carrier.
Align
Clarify the authorized construction scope and selections.
Restore
Complete approved work and retain closeout records.
Coverage, deductibles, and payment
Insurance proceeds may fund eligible covered work. The policyholder may remain responsible for the deductible, depreciation until recoverable conditions are satisfied, upgrades, maintenance, excluded items, and work beyond the approved scope.
Any financing or payment option should be reviewed on its own terms. Availability, cost, and eligibility must be disclosed before agreement.
Common questions
Can McMullen Browne approve my claim?
No. Only the insurer can make coverage decisions under the policy.
Should I wait for the adjuster before protecting the property?
Safety comes first. Policies often require reasonable measures to prevent additional damage, but the appropriate action depends on conditions. Document temporary work and retain receipts.
What if the carrier estimate and field conditions differ?
Construction questions can be documented and submitted through the carrier’s process. A difference does not guarantee that additional work will be covered.
Can a contractor waive my deductible?
Do not assume a deductible can be waived. Ask your carrier and qualified legal or regulatory sources about your obligations and applicable law.
This page provides general construction-process education, not insurance, legal, financial, or public-adjusting advice. Policies and claims vary.