Why Won't My Roofer Give Me an Estimate?

 My Roofer Won't Give Me an Estimate!  Why?

So you sustained damage to your roof, you have made a claim and had the adjuster out.  Insurance has totaled the roof and now you need a roofer.  But the roofer you selected has told you he won't give you an estimate without seeing the insurance document.  Why?  Should you be worried? Should you choose another roofer?

There may be several reasons he won't give you an estimate without seeing the insurance document.  The main reason is that he might shoot himself or you in the foot by giving you an estimate.  If he is trying to 'win' a roof job from you, and he comes in cheap, he cannot legally invoice the carrier for anything over his estimate.  If he gives you a cheap estimate, and he cuts his profit margin razor thin, he will need to use economical products, and he will not have a lot of wiggle room to fix real issues if they pop up.  This is not ideal.  You have put yourself at a disadvantage by requiring him to do this.  As stated in other blog posts, once your roof is approved by the carrier, you cannot get the depreciation from them without the roofer invoicing for it, so you have absolutely nothing to gain by requiring him to give you a quote up front.  His quote doesn't matter.  You pay the same amount either way, which is your deductible.  Do yourself a favor, show him the scope, let him write up the contract as a true insurance transaction, and get a better roof than you had.  After all, this is why the insurance company gives you an estimate and a scope of work.  It is for your contractor.

For more information see:

Show Me the Insurance

Can You Provide an Estimate?

 

Do I need an Estimate?

The answer to this question is going to depend on several factors including, whether or not this is an insurance job, if the insurance has released all depreciation or not, and whether or not this is a straight out of pocket bid job.  I will explain each of these scenarios below.

Insurance Claim (RCV, with depreciation)

No, you don't need an estimate.  In almost all cases with storms, this is the situation.  This insurance claim will pay you a portion of the money up front, withhold the remainder, and only release it when I invoice the carrier for it.  Any estimate coming in cheaper than the full RCV can only bill at that price point.  Insurance will not release the full amount if they are billed for the lesser amount, and billing for the full amount with a lesser amount on the contract is straight insurance fraud.  There is no way to 'make money' on this situation legally and this is not what insurance is for.

You do not need estimates for your roof.  Your insurance company will provide the estimate.  The estimate they provide will be based on local material and labor costs that are generally current.  When you ask a roofer for estimates, you are signaling to him that he needs to be 'cheap'.  You are also signaling to him that you don't understand the process or how money is released from the carrier.  As such, you will get a lot of cheap estimates, you'll feel good that you 'beat' the insurance price, and you will get a roof put on.  The problem with this is that to get that cheap price, the roofer put on cheaper materials than he could have if you had shown him your insurance estimate, and you likely saved your insurance company some money.  All of this also cost you your deductible just the same.  

What you need to do is find the best roofer you can.  Do not base it on price.  Your cost is the same.  The roofer cannot pay your deductible.  So, pick the most qualified person for the job and let them do it.  For me, I will take the insurance estimate and then supplement it right off the bat.  This is where I put in all the items that the carrier missed or didn't want to pay for.  When I do this, I often come back with an approved roof scope that is several thousand dollars more than it was.  What does this mean?  It means that you are now getting a lot of upgrades that you would not have gotten before.  As I said, it costs you the same (your deductible), so, I want to install the best quality product I can because I am a top tier roofer.  I do not want to put on the cheapest roof I can.

Insurance Claim (ACV only)

You may want to get an estimate or two.  This is not nearly as common as above.  Generally, this situation catches homeowners off-guard.  However, your roofer needs to see the documents from the carrier in order to help you determine this.  In this case, the insurance company only sends you  a portion of the proceeds, or the Actual Cash Value.  There is no depreciation to be collected so there is no additional money.  In this case, you are footing the bill for most of the roof yourself unless it's a new roof.  Either way, you need to show your roofer the insurance.  In these cases, I will still supplement the claim aggressively because every penny I get from the carrier is a penny you don't have to pay out of your own pocket.  Estimates and bids may be necessary to help determine how much out of pocket you will be.  The 'cheap' roofer is still an issue here so you need to make sure you understand what materials he is using.  You also need to be up front and show the roofer your insurance document if you have it.  He is trying to win the roof job, but he is also now aware of the situation and what he needs to do to make it happen.

Insurance Claim (RCV without depreciation)

You may want to get an estimate or two.  In this case, the carrier has approved your roof and you have a  Replacement Cost Policy, but for whatever reason, they have released everything to you as a lump sum.  This money is expected to be used in full for your roof.  It is unethical to get a cheap roof and save that money for yourself.  However, at the end of the day, it is possible to do.  The same applies in terms of making sure your roofer is clear on the materials and that you are comfortable with the cheaper cost and lesser quality materials he is using for the chance to save a buck.  For me, I will again supplement this claim and upgrade everything I can to make your average roof install be a superior roof install.  I will collect the full amount as I am not in the business of skirting the law or playing in ethically gray areas.

Out of Pocket Bid

Yes, for sure.  This is the only situation where you want to get estimates from several roofers.  You will want to compare all estimates side by side to make sure you are getting what you think you are getting and question any roofers that are cheap or expensive.  I have no problem explaining why my price is where it is.  If your roofer doesn't want to discuss it, or he gets offended, it may be a tell that he is inexperienced or shady.  

Picking a Reputable Roofer 

Throughout my career as a project manager, I have come across many common questions online through various platforms that I am involved with.  One that doesn't come up often enough is how to pick a good roofer.  I get it, it's less than 12 hours since hail pummeled your house, you have a parade of roofers driving down your street, beating on doors, throwing flyers all over the place...it's quite an overwhelming experience.  It may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be.  So, how do you find a good roofer?  

Look Them Up!

So, you have a pile of flyers and you don't know where to start.  The first thing to do is start looking them up.  They should have an some sort of online presence.  Do they have a website?  Do they have a local office?  How about a google or Facebook page?  You are looking for a somewhat complete picture here.  In this day and age, I judge professional businesses harshly if they don't have a functional website.  

Check for Insurance

It's is imperative that your contract carry current insurance.  You are looking for general liability and worker's compensation.  I carry this document around with me in digital and paper form, and I provide it with every estimate I give out.  In some instances, I can even have a customer endorsed on our insurance.  Your contractor or project manager should be able to make this happen pretty easily.  If they cannot produce a current insurance document, I would weed them out on the spot.  The last thing you need is a mishap on the job that ends up costing you.

How are the reviews?

Reviews are a bit tricky.  You want to make sure your contractor the company you are researching has reviews.  Specifcally, you are looking for not only good reviews, but bad reviews.  What were the bad reviews?  Were they legitimate?  Were they addressed?  Did the owner or the company respond to the bad reviews, or just let them sit with no feedback?  This is important.  The information contained in reviews and feedback gives you a complete picture of the contractor's committment to customer satisfaction.  Roofing has many moving parts, and sometimes things do not go perfectly smooth.  The mark of a good company is not one that has a spotless records, anyone can handle that.  The mark of a good company is what that deals with issues head on and makes sure a customer is made whole and the issue is addressed.

What are their certifications?

Any roofing company can install shingles.  Whether or not they are installed properly is another question.  Most manufacturers have requirements for the way they want their products installed.  To that end, they will often offer extended warranties for top level companies who are certified.  For Infinity Roofing, we are GAF MasterElite certified, Owens Corning Platinum rated, and 5 Star ShingleMaster certified for Certainteed.  Very few roofing companies carry all three of these.  Almost every roofing company should carry at least one of the top levels for a particular brand of shingle.  This harkens back to committment to quality.  With certified installations, you are eligible for better warranties that are manufacturer backed, and that's a good thing.

Does all of the paperwork match?

After that storm rolls through and you are standing in your yard with shingles laying all around you and four roofers knocking on your door, another thing you can do is simply check out the paperwork.  Are the numbers local?  Do all of the phone numbers and addresses match between business cards, contracts, agreements, brochures?  Do they have brochures at all?  A reputable company will have all of this and if they are serious about working, it will all be there on the spot and ready to go.

Does the number on the business card work?

Call the number on the business card.  Call all of the numbers on it.  Does it go to what sounds like a professional answering the phone?  Did the project manager answer?  If not, did the voicemail message state the person's name and company?  If not, it may be a red flag.

Putting it all together

All of the items above should be looked at objectively.  The point of all of this is to establish a full picture of the company that is going to be ripping off your roof and installing new shingles.  They may be conversing with your insurance company, providing estimates, speaking to your spouses, so make sure you know who you are dealing with.  To make this a bit easier in a summarized format, I have provided our "How to pick a contractor" page.  It offers a checklist to compare us, an established, certified, legitimate company with others that may come along.  I hope that you find it useful.

Tips for YOUR consideration: Your Contractor Should...

• Be an established company with a minimum of 10 year track record.  Has a verifiable business address, phone number, and license information.
• Have verifiable insurance certificated for both general liability and workers compensation
• NEVER ask for first payment until roof is completed
• Be able to provide credit reference for supplier (very important)
• Have a licensing for the city/county of the area of your property
• Be able to provide listing information for BBB
• Can provide hundreds of local references
• Provide a written, detailed proposal
• Coherent company policy on insurance deductibles is presented and followed
• Are they a certified and backed contractor by the manufacturer? (Master Elite and Platinum Preferred)
• Had the contractor been recognized by other media sources?
• Does the contractor pull permits and final inspections included in the project?
• Are they a member of your state's Roofing association?
• The National Roofing Contractor Association member?

 I Just Got Hit by Wind/Hail!

What do I do?

With the early start to hail season for 2024, now is a great time to address a very common question that I see every single year.  So, with that in mind, I thought it useful to put together a quick outline of how to proceed.  After that, I will expand on each piece with caveats and sundries that can guide you through the decision making process.

Here it is.  If you don't want to read anything else, follow these steps and you'll already be ahead of the game.  

Quick Rundown of what to do

1. Call a reputable roofer to inspect your roof
2. Examine his photos should he inform you of significant damage
3. Call your insurance company and make a claim
4. Give your roofer the time and date of the adjuster meeting so he can be present
5. Wait for the insurance scope of work
6. Give the scope of work to your trusted roofer so he can begin restoring your property

So, without any delay, let's get into each of these now.

Call a reputable roofer to inspect your roof

This is typically the first step.  However, like everything in life, there are certain instances where you can probably skip this step and save your roofer and yourself time that may end up delaying your claim and project.  First, if you were at home and you watched golf ball sized hail or larger fall out of the sky into your yard, there is debris everywhere, then you can probably skip calling your roofer first.  In this instance, you can go ahead, and go directly to step 3.  

If, however, the hail was smaller, or you are just unsure, then you need to go ahead and schedule an inspection with your roofer.  He is going to be able to give you the best advice on what damage you actually have if any.  If I am the trusted roofer, I am going to have photos of everything and we will discuss the process and the odds, in my experience, of your roof being replaced by insurance.  Be aware that no roofer, even myself with years of experience, can possibley gaurantee how your carrier will decide to go with the roof.  My job is to give you the facts.

But, Jason, how do I FIND a reputable roofer?  Well, I'm glad you asked, because there is a topic here about exactly that.  Read it.  Follow it.  Do what it says and save yourself a lot of headache with storm chasers.

Picking a Reputable Roofer

Examine his photos should he inform you of significant damage

This, in my opinion, is important.  For me, I like my customers to trust what I'm telling them.  There are a lot of bad roofers, and my ability to Facetime or show real damage from their own roof is important.  It's how I build trust.  I don't want people to be scared into making a claim or feel forced.  I want to be able to show them that "There is real damage here, and this is what it looks like and what your adjuster will want to see."

Call your insurance company and make a claim

This seems pretty straightforward, but not everyone has done it.  It's not common for folks to make a lot of roof claims over their lifetime.  You will need to find the 800 number on your insurance policy or the claims department and give them a ring.  They are going to ask you several important questions. These questions may include:

"What kind of damage is there to the roof?  Hail, wind, other?"

"If your house one story or two story?"

"Do you have any leaks?"

"Is there any additional damage" (this includes gutters, windows, window beading, condenser fan dents, etc)

"What day and time did this occur?"

What your claims rep or assistant is trying to do is establish a storm date, determine if the adjuster needs a tall ladder, and whether he needs to go inside to look at leaks or additional damage.  They are not trying to catch you in any sort of lie or trick you.  It is perfectly acceptable to say that you don't know.  If you have gone through step 1, then you will know how to answer most of these questions.

Also, your roofer CAN help make the claim.  I've done it hundreds of times.  Some carriers allow me to do it with no interaction from a homeowner, but most require a three way call for the homeowner to confirm that I have permission to make the claim on their behalf.  This is for security purposes.

Give your roofer the time and date of the adjuster meeting so he can be present

This is a crucial step in my opinion.  If you have marginal damage, or you draw an irritable adjuster, the presence of your roofer to advocate for you can be a game changer.  I have had more than a few roofs approved simply because I was there and cared enough to show up for my customer.  Aside from esoteric reasons, there are also many instances where I was able to point out something that an adjuster did not see.  It may sway his decision if I defer to his expertise on something that looks abnormal.

Besides those reasons, it often provides my homeowners with peace of mind that I am there on their behalf.  They don't have to get on a roof or 'hope' an adjuster does his best.

This is not to say that adjusters dont care.  Some don't, of course, but many do.  The fact is that during a hail event, your adjuster is going to be busy.  You may be one of 7 appointments for the day and he needs to be quick and efficient.  My presence may help him to slow down and smell the roses.  Sometimes simply talking to him about where he lives, if he has kids, is enough to take the edge off of the hustle and bustle of claims adjusting and let him see things he may have otherwise missed.

Wait for the insurance scope of work

After the roofer and your adjuster have completed the inspection of your roof, it may be 7-14 business days or longer to get a final answer on the roof being replace by the insurance company.  Be patient.  If you get concerned, you can call and ask or you can have your roofer call and ask on your behalf.  I have relationships with adjusters such that it's very easy to talk to them as if we were friends because we might be.  We've done a few storms and looked at a lot of roofs together.

Give the scope of work to your trusted roofer so he can begin restoring your property

This is a big one.  After your roofer has done all of this work.  PLEASE GIVE THEM THE INSURANCE SCOPE.  It is not in your interest to withhold that.  It will slow down the process.  You do not need to get an estimate from your roofer.  It is nearly completely irrelevant at this point.  Your carrier has told you how much they will pay to replace the roof and it's up to your roofer to figure out how to make that happen or supplement accordingly to do the job right.  This is where he earns his keep.  Give him the information he needs to do his job.  

See these posts for further information:

Show Me the Insurance

My Insurance Company Said I Need Three Estimates

Summary

This process does not have to be hard.  It can be, but if you want it to go smoothly, work with your roofer.  Yes, your roofer gets paid to do this job, but he is also there to make sure you get everything you should.  It is in the roofer's best interest to do a good job for you because referrals are our bread and butter.  If you trust your roofer, and you follow this guide, the process should be quite smooth, and if it's not, your roofer can help get you through it.  For an experienced roofer, there are not a lot of issues that we have not come across.  We are here to help.

The Price is too High! Can You Waive My Deductible?

Can You Waive My Deductible?

The short answer directly from Texas Department of Insurance is...

No.  A deductible is part of your home insurance policy.  It's illegal for contractors to waive your deductible or help you avoid paying it.

 

No roofing company or contractor can waive a deductible.  There is absolutely no legal way for any company to pay for, waive, reduce, refund, or credit any portion of your deductible.  None.  Zero.  

The main reason for this is that this is part of your legally binding contract between you and your insurance carrier.  When you purchased your policy, you agreed with them that you would be responsible for a percentage of your total claim.  Therefore, when the insurance carrier agrees on an estimate for your roof, they also expect you to cover your portion of the deal.  That is the deductible.

Texas Legislation

The Texas Legislature has clarified and passed laws to prevent this as of September 1, 2019.  The full text of the bill can be found here: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/86R/billtext/html/HB02102F.htm. 

Sec. 27.02. GOODS OR SERVICES PAID FOR BY INSURANCE PROCEEDS: PAYMENT OF DEDUCTIBLE REQUIRED [CERTAIN INSURANCE CLAIMS FOR EXCESSIVE CHARGES]. 

(A)  In this section, "property insurance policy" has the meaning assigned by Section 707.001, Insurance Code.

(B)  A contract to provide a good or service that is reasonably expected to be paid wholly or partly from the proceeds of a claim under a property insurance policy and that has a contract price of $1,000 or more must contain the following notice in at least 12-point boldfaced type: "Texas law requires a person insured under a property insurance policy to pay any deductible applicable to a claim made under the policy. It is a violation of Texas law for a seller of goods or services who reasonably expects to be paid wholly or partly from the proceeds of a property insurance claim to knowingly allow the insured person to fail to pay, or assist the insured person's failure to pay, the applicable insurance deductible."

Though this has been illegal since 1989, the original law was poorly written.  The new bill aims to remove all ambiguity.  There are no legitimate roofing companies that do not know this is illegal.

How Do Contractors Attempt to Waive Deductibles?

There are several means in which this can be attempted.  The one I have run across a few times is the 'dual contract' deal.  The contractor simply asks you to sign two contracts.  The deal is that the cost of the project or roof is less on yours, and more on the other.  Once you sign both, the contractor fraudulently sends the more expensive one to your carrier, defrauds them into paying out the higher price to the homeowner, and the contractor simply takes the lesser amount for the job.  The difference is at least, if not more, than your deductible.  Therefore, you have saved that amount.  At this point, your shady roofer has not only defrauded your insurance carrier, he has actively made you accessory to it.  It doesn't matter if you knew it was illegal.  You and your contractor can be fined and found guilty of insurance fraud.  

Why?  Because your roofer obviously could have done the roof for less, but he charged your carrier more.  It's all illegal.  There are several variations of this including 'sign allowances' whereby a roofer offers to pay you for advertising by placing their sign in your yard.  Then, they 'pay' you for advertising. Unsurprisingly, it will be the amount of your deductible.  The spirit of this scenario is the same...to rebate your deductible and it too is illegal.

Yet another variation is to simply bill you for the full amount and then reduce the price after the fact, leaving you with some extra cash.  Either way, they cheated the insurance company.  What's worse is that you can be accused of fraud.

It Still Doesn't Sound That Bad

Well, it is.  You have actively contracted with a company that would willingly cheat an industry that has more money and lawyers than you could possibly imagine.  Let that sink in.  If your contractor will take a chance on something like that, they will absolutely take a chance on cheating you, the homeowner.  Moreover, many of these contractors will attempt to save money by using cheap labor, cheap materials, and inferior installation techniques in order to increase profits and possibly help rebate your deductible.  Your insurance carrier has likely already provided an estimate.  They are very well aware of what your roof should cost and they will not pay any more than they have to.  It is highly suspect when a roofer can do that job for less than the insurance estimate unless they are cheating the system, using stolen materials, overlaying an install without full tear off, etc.  Never forget that roofers and contractors are absolutely in business to make a living.  It's just that some are willing to risk their business, jail time, your house, making you accessory to insurance fraud...all in an attempt to win the project.  It's not worth it for the homeowner and makes the entire industry look bad.

How Do I Find Good Contractors?

Easy.  Look for them.  After a hail storm, they may find you.  For me, you can simply ask for references.  All of my documents have local phone numbers that match.  My photo is on nearly every social media page associated with the company in which I am contracted.  My business cards have my photo.  It all adds up.  More importantly, I have reviews where I am noted by name, social media posts, workwear with the company logos on it and I dress for the role I am in.  You won't see me pulling up to your house in a car wearing pants with holes in them with a ladder sticking out the window.  I have a truck, I wear jeans, my shirts have a logo, my business cards have my photo and name, I carry roofing samples and contracts, and I don't shy away from hard questions or technical details of roofing.

Conclusion

It's completely illegal for anyone to pay for your deductible.  If you find a contractor that brings that up, it is a very simple means of weeding them out.  You can also have them reported to the Texas Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-621-0508.  More information can be found at the links below.

https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/frisco/development-construction/2019/08/09/homeowners-to-pay-full-roof-replacement-deductible-under-new-law/

https://www.tdi.texas.gov/tips/replacing-your-roof.html

https://www.tdi.texas.gov/tips/can-a-contractor-waive-my-deductible.html

Show Me the Insurance!

 Should I Show My Roofer My Insurance?

Yes, if you trust him!

I get many questions from new customers about this.  For some, the start of our conversation is "I need an estimate, and I am NOT showing you my insurance."  Indeed, it's not a great way to start a relationship between a contractor and homeowner.  Instead of focusing on how I can help a customer, my first task out of the gate is to defuse a defensive situation and gain trust.  I'm on the customer's team.  Typically, when this happens, it is simply due to the insured not completely understanding the process when replacing a roof through insurance.  So, when you have a roof claim, and your insurance has agreed to total replacement, why does your roofer ask for your insurance in the first place?  This post is designed to answer that question, so let's get to it.

I need to see if your insurance adjuster has properly estimated the job

Adjusters are not roofers.  The fact is that your roofer looks at hundreds of roofs a year.  When I am looking at a roof, my goal is to understand the damage (if any) and also to understand the full scope of work.  We are in the roofing business for the same reason everyone else works...to make a living.  Part of making a living is making sure a job is properly estimated.  Your insurance adjuster does not install roofing.  He is not versed in the technical details of the job.  His job is to quickly get through each claim, itemize out a job from a pre-built macro for the carrier, and move on to the next claim.  Many times this results in an underpaid claim that is missing crucial items.  Some of the items I verify are:

• Square footage - insurance carriers use satellite imagery.  Sometimes it is not accurate.  If you have a 50 square roof, and I have measured a 60 sq roof, then that could be a difference in cost of $3,500-$4,000.  It also could mean I don't order enough materials for the job, which can introduce delays.  I must verify proper measurements and make sure insurance is paying properly.
• Accessories - Do you have lead pipe flashing or "3 in 1"?  Do you have 5 roof jacks or 3 roof jacks?  Are they 4" or 6"?  Do you have a satellite I need to remove?  If so, is it in the insurance scope?  These items all must be verified and corrected if there are any large discrepancies.
• Roof pitch - There are charges associated with different levels of pitch.  If the insurance has not properly allocated the costs for that, then it needs to be corrected.
• ACV/RCV - Which policy do you have?  Many homeowners do not understand that they have an 'actual cash value' policy.  That means the check you got from insurance is the only money you will be receiving to replace your roof.  If an inexperience roofer does not check this and goes through with the job, guess who he is coming for to obtain the remainder of the invoice....YOU.

It helps me make sure neither of us commit insurance fraud

Many homeowners have an RCV policy.  For this type of policy, your estimate is the full cost minus your deductible.  Because of this and a misunderstanding of the insurance process, some may attempt to price shop to find the cheapest roofer and attempt to put that extra cash in their pocket to cover their deductible.  This is insurance fraud.  Any roofer that tells you that they can make this happen if actively helping you break the law.  If they are willing to cheat a multibillion dollar industry, they will certain cheat you.  By allowing me to see the claim, along with everything we've already discussed, I can make sure the insurance company is billed properly, your proof of deductible payment is sent, and neither of us end up in serious trouble.

I need to understand your claim and policy

Most policies are RCV, but occasionally they are ACV.  For RCV (replacement cost value), the insurance carrier is covering the entirety of the roof job except your deductible.  For ACV (actual cash value), you carrier is only paying a fraction of the roof minus your deductible.  An experienced roofer needs to know this in order to help you make a good decision on replacement.  

Sometimes, the scope of work does not include items like drip edge, starter strips, hip and ridge cap, or any number of other code required items.  I need to see that scope of work and figure out what I need to do to estimate the right items and install them even if I have to cover the cost of them myself should insurance refuse.

Insurance companies want my estimate to look like their estimate

Nothing makes an insurance company nervous like an 'over the top' estimate.  When I am allowed to see the scope of work, I can itemize the roof exactly the same as well as include any missing items.  My estimates use the exact same software with nearly identical price lists as your insurance carrier.  This way, when I complete an estimate, it is very similar and closely priced to what you have from insurance.  It helps them understand that I am a legitimate roofer that is not trying to gouge them by overcharging or do poor quality work with low quality products by giving a cheap estimate.  If my estimate is different than your carrier's and I have not itemized out the estimate, then your carrier is going to want to know why its different and a list.  This can take weeks to sort out, so it's best to use someone that knows what they are doing and get it right the first time.

It helps me make sure you get more money for your claim

You want your insurance money in order to fix items quickly, and I want to be paid for my work.  When you allow me access to the entire insurance document, I have all of the information in order to submit final invoices, talk to your adjuster, and allow my billing staff to work out discrepancies very quickly.  This equates to a process that is much faster than it would be had you done everything on your own with independent estimates and weeks of emails and phone calls.

All of that said, there are always cheap roofers that are inexperienced or don't have the resources an established company like Infinity Roofing does.  They will attempt to use your insurance as a crutch, do only what is listed for whatever price they are given.  This often leads to errors, usage of cheap materials, misunderstanding of costs between the roofer and the homeowner, and delays with payment from insurance.

Your best option with an insurance claim is to show your scope of work in its entirety to your qualified, trusted, and established roofer.  There is nothing to gain from doing it any other way.  So...how do you know if your roofer is trusted, established, and knows what he is doing?  Well...Check this post to find out how  https://infinityrooferjason.blogspot.com/2021/06/picking-reputable-roofer.html

 My Insurance Company Said I Need Three Estimates

I have recently had a few customer tell me that their adjuster told them to "make sure you get three estimates and don't show your insurance to any roofer no matter what".  First, the adjuster cannot make or request you do either of these.  Second, they are actively helping you get a lower quality roofer for a cheap price.

When you have an RCV policy, the insurance company estimates the proper cost of that job.  It is not a number that is pulled out of thin air.  It is based on tens of thousands of closed claims.  Their database uses the law of large numbers to figure out what the items should cost and they are not going to estimate a penny more than necessary.  After all, your roof comes out of their pocket.  Because of this, they are hoping you submit to them 3 estimates.  If your carrier estimates $21,000 for replacement cost of your roof, and you submit three estimates of $23,000, $21,500, and $18,750, which one do you think they are going to encourage you to use?  More importantly, why is one roofer so cheap?  Is he using low quality materials?  Is he insured?  Has he been a roofer for more than a week?  Even more importantly than that, your only out of pocket cost is your deductible.  So, if you have to pay the same amount anyway, wouldn't you want the best roof you can get?  Of course you would.  That often corresponds with a higher price.

The example I always give is repair work on your car.  If you had a brand new Ferrari, and someone ran into the side of it, would you go price shop for the cheapest job?  No.  You wouldn't.  You would pay your deductible to your carrier and take it to the Ferrari body shop because they do the best work on the vehicle.  That's why you have insurance.

Roofing is exactly the same. Don't price shop for your carrier.  Get the scope.  Show your roofer.  Get the best roof you can.