Navigating Your Insurance Claim: We Speak “Adjuster”

The only thing more stressful than a storm damaging your home is dealing with the insurance company afterward. For many homeowners in Searcy and Heber Springs, the claims process feels like a foreign language.

You hear terms like “ACV,” “RCV,” “deductible,” and “depreciation,” and you worry that you might be getting shortchanged. You aren’t alone.

At Absolute Roofing & Construction, we have guided hundreds of Arkansas families through this process. We aren’t public adjusters—we are roofing experts who know exactly how to document damage so that your insurance carrier honors their promise to you.

Step 1: The “Free” Inspection (Before You Call Claims)

Here is a secret insurance companies don’t tell you: Calling your agent to ask about damage can sometimes count as a “claim” on your record, even if they pay you nothing.

If your damage is less than your deductible (e.g., a $800 repair on a $1,500 deductible), filing a claim is a mistake. That’s why your first call should always be to a local roofer, not the 1-800 number.

We perform free pre-claim inspections. We will tell you honestly: “Yes, you have significant hail damage, call your agent,” or “No, it’s minor, let’s just fix it out of pocket.”

Step 2: The Adjuster Meeting (Don’t Go It Alone)

Once you file a claim, the insurance company sends an adjuster to inspect your roof. Their job is to assess the damage, but they can miss things. Hail damage can be subtle—it doesn’t always look like a golf ball hole. Often, it’s a “bruise” where the granules have been crushed, which kills the shingle over time.

We meet the adjuster on your roof.

We walk the roof with them. We circle the damage in chalk. We advocate for you right there on the spot. It is much harder for an adjuster to deny a claim when a licensed professional is pointing directly at the fracture in the matting.

Step 3: Deciphering the Paperwork (RCV vs. ACV)

When your claim is approved, you will get a confusing packet of numbers. Here is the breakdown:

• RCV (Replacement Cost Value): The total cost to replace your roof today.
• Depreciation: The money the insurance company holds back because your roof is older.
• ACV (Actual Cash Value): The first check you receive (RCV minus Depreciation minus Deductible).

The Good News: In most Replacement Cost policies, that “Depreciation” money is recoverable. Once the work is done and we send our final invoice, the insurance company releases that second check to you.

Step 4: The “Waived Deductible” Myth

We cannot stress this enough: It is illegal for a contractor to pay, waive, or rebate your deductible.

If a roofer says, “We can fudge the numbers to cover your deductible,” they are asking you to commit insurance fraud. If they are willing to cheat the insurance company, they are willing to cheat you on materials. At Absolute Roofing, we play by the rules to protect you and your home.

Get an Advocate on Your Side

Don’t let the paperwork scare you away from getting the roof you deserve. We handle the documentation, the photos, and the supplements so you can focus on getting your life back to normal.

Think you have storm damage? Call Absolute Roofing & Construction for a free assessment before you file.

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