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Fran's Friday Forum...Through The Roof...!!!

By
Title Insurance with Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.

O.K....So I just found out I need to replace the roof on our home...AND...It ain't goin to be cheap...!!!

Don't you like it when you consult with ‘PROFESSIONALS' and you get the feeling you are being manipulated, misguided, misinformed, misunderstood, and misinterpreted...

Yes...that is exactly what happened with the roof on our home...

The home was built in 1989...we bought it in 2003...

Around 5 years ago
we had a detached oversize garage built, at which time the roofer, who nearly exactly matched the home roof, commented on how well the home roof looked...In fact, to paraphrase him, he suggested that the house roof looked almost as if it had been recently replaced inasmuch as it seemed in like new condition...

Well, just a few years later, we noticed many shingles appeared to be cracked...!!! We have those newer dimensional shingles, which, according to the insurance adjuster, carried a 40 year warranty...

According to a recommended roofer, however, the shingles were only 25 year shingles, and could be replaced for nearly $400 per square...

When verifying with a friend of mine who is an estimator for a commercial contractor, he indicated that the ‘going rate' is $200 per square...

You see what I mean about ‘PROFESSIONALS' disagreeing...

I even consulted with FEMA, who only concern themselves with ‘FEDERAL' disasters...

Ohhhh.......I forgot to mention...in May of 2010, our area was hit with a bad hail storm, which I, no expert at all in roofing, feel caused the resulting damage to our roof, but neither the insurance company, Donegal, a local small insurer in our area, nor their adjusters, nor the insurance agents recommended contractor will admit that it may have been caused by the hail event...and so...

CLAIM DENIED...!!!

It makes you want to go through the roof, doesn't it...BUT...

It's baseball season and God takes care of all my hardships anyway...!!!

Have a great weekend...!!!

Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi Fran,  Here in Florida the hot sun really takes a toll on roffing.  The last roofer I spoke with said a 25 year roof should last approx 15 -17 years.  Have a terrific weekend.

May 06, 2011 09:28 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Fran - I hope that is not standard practice with Donegal, since we also have it. However, that being said, it might be hard to make a case for damage a year old. Best of luck this Friday, and all future Fridays (and the days in between of course).

 

May 06, 2011 09:33 AM
Robin Dampier REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker King - Hendersonville, NC
Hendersonville & Western NC Real Estate Source

Don't you just love the insurance companies.  They expect to be paid on time, or they cancel you.  But, dare to use them for the purpose you have them and they can deny the claim or even worse yet pay some on the claim and than cancel you.

Sue of Robin and Sue

May 06, 2011 09:34 AM
Fran Gaspari
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Bill: But less than $2000 of materials shouldn't cost over $13,000 to install...!!!

Mike: I'm afraid you may be better off with a company such as State Farm, etc...!!!

Sue: I agree wholeheartedly...If the gov't wants to investigate corporations, maybe they should start with the Insurance Companies...!!!

Thanks,   Fran

May 06, 2011 01:58 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

The sad part is even if you had the roof checked the day after the hail storm and found the damage, they still would have had found a way to deny your claim.

May 06, 2011 06:36 PM
Lois Davies
Century 21 Birchwood Realty, Inc. - Cape Coral, FL
Cape Coral & SW Florida

I hate to say it but not finding the problem for a year has given the insurance agency its OUT.  We had a similar situation where we had a leak fixed and a few months later we had several others; the roofer had broken several of the tiles while fixing the first one.  Crazy isn't it?

May 07, 2011 03:25 AM
Fran Gaspari
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

TC: I've read that often times hail damage doesn't cause immediate leaking, thus it can remain undetected for a long time, especially if the roof is in good condition to begin with...!!!

Lois: That's just it...They always look for outs, instead of looking for ways to help you with the problem...I thought that's what insurance was all about...!!!

Thanks,   Fran

May 08, 2011 12:18 AM