Should I Show My Contractor My Insurance Estimate? And When?

Wondering, “Should I show my contractor my insurance estimate”, after a roof damage? Well, it’s up to you whether or not to share the info. More often than not, it’s a good idea to keep your contractor or roofing company in the loop and work together to maintain your home in the best possible way.

If your home sustains roof damage, the first step is to make an insurance claim as soon as possible. Once you get an insurance estimate, you should know how and when to share the information with your roofing professional.

What is an insurance estimate?

An insurance estimate is an assessment provided by your insurance company. It calculates the scope of the project as well as the potential cost of repairing a property damaged due to a covered event, such as a natural disaster. Simply put, it highlights the amount of compensation the policyholder is eligible to receive for the repair or replacement costs.

What does the insurance estimate include?

In case of covered damage to your home, you will need to procure an insurance estimate. The estimate outlines a description of the damage, an evaluation of the repair work, and the projected repair expenses.

Depending on your insurer and homeowners insurance policy details, the estimate may include:

Expenses for demolition (if required), waste disposal, and site preparation.
Cost of the replacement materials.
Fees for appropriate permits and inspections.
Labor costs for the repair work.
Additional repair costs, if any.

The subsequent evaluation will probably itemize the costs for roof replacement, breaking down expenses into materials, labor, profit, and unforeseen contingencies. Keep in mind that your insurance company will also mention that you’ll be responsible for the roof deductibles, not them.

What is the advantage of sharing the insurance estimate?

Sharing your insurance estimate with your roofing contractor makes sense. Especially, if the estimate involves repairs or renovations that are covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy.

Sharing the estimate can provide several benefits:

It helps both you and the contractor understand the scope of work and the budget. This prevents misunderstandings and any chance of insurance fraud. Most importantly, it ensures that everyone is on the same page.
Having access to the insurance estimate allows the contractor to make informed decisions about their services.
The contractor can use the insurance estimate to plan and allocate resources effectively, which could help in completing the work on time.
If there are discrepancies between the contractor’s quote and the insurance estimate, discussing these differences can lead to better negotiations. The contractor might be able to explain why certain costs are higher or lower than the insurance estimate. And, you can work towards a fair agreement.
Contractors may feel more accountable when they are aware of the insurance estimate. This can encourage them to provide quality work that aligns with the estimate’s requirements.
By sharing the insurance estimate, you can avoid surprises later in the process. If the contractor discovers additional work beyond what’s covered by the insurance estimate, you can discuss the costs and options beforehand.

When to show the insurance estimate to your roofing contractor?

It’s generally a good idea to show the insurance estimate to your roofing contractor after obtaining quotes for the roofing project. The contractor would want to take a look at what the insurance company found and compare it to their own inspection.

You can let the contractor inspect your home first and then show them the insurance estimate to cover all ends. Your contractor can work closely with the insurance provider to ensure that your house gets the right coverage based on the claim.

Why is it necessary to find a contractor who understands the situation?

A good roofing contractor would want the best for you and your home. Moreover, they’ll be willing to advocate for you against the insurance company – if they find that the damage to your property is much more than mentioned in your initial insurance claim. Furthermore, they will make sure that your roofing system is repaired correctly. And, that you’re not paying out of pocket to cover the damage.

You should look for a professional who can handle your home improvement project and the insurance claim process, including insurance paperwork. It’s a good idea to utilize Kukun’s Find a Contractor to hire the best. The free platform will provide you names of all the local, reliable, licensed, and insured professionals.

Remember that an experienced roofing contractor will not just deal with insurance claims and insurance adjusters but also repair your roof to your satisfaction.

Why would a contractor want to see the insurance estimates?

Showing your contractor how much your insurance company will pay is often beneficial for all parties. Keep in mind that your roofer will also need to make some profit while providing you with high-quality roof repairs.

Once they see what the insurance estimate includes, they can make the necessary adjustments, negotiate for a better claim amount on your behalf, or convince the insurer to include additional costs if any.

Bottom line

Revealing your insurance estimate to a contractor is never obligatory. Nonetheless, once you’ve chosen a contractor, obtained the contractor estimate, and are on the verge of finalizing a contract, it’s wise to juxtapose the insurance estimate with the contractor’s quote. This will help safeguard your financial interests.

FAQs

Do all insurance companies give out estimates?

In cases where your roof sustains damage due to a storm, an act of nature, or an unforeseen incident, your insurance provider is obligated legally to provide you with a storm damage assessment. It’s an integral part of the insurance policy.

Are you obligated to hire the contractor the insurance company suggests?

No, you have the liberty to hire your preferred contractor for home repairs, regardless of the scope of the project or contractor suggestions put forth by your insurance company.

When should I show my contractor my insurance estimate?

Showing the quote too early to the contractor might result in them overcharging you or committing fraud. A good time to share the info is after they have evaluated the damage and provided an estimate.

Should I show my contractor my insurance estimate? Find out was last modified: February 27th, 2025 by Ramona Sinha

Written by Ramona Sinha. October 9, 2023

Ramona is the Senior Content Writer for Kukun. This experienced blogger uses simple and succinct words to decipher the complex phenomenon called life. She has written articles covering a broad range of topics, such as real estate, lending and mortgage, finance, business, taxation, home designs, home improvement projects, decor concepts, and more. An avid traveler, she’s a digital nomad at heart and an animal lover from the depth of her soul.