If a storm just damaged your home and you’ve never filed an insurance claim before, the process can feel intimidating. There’s a lot of terminology, a lot of steps, and it’s not always clear who does what.
The good news: it’s more straightforward than it looks. Here’s the whole thing, explained simply.
We’ve helped hundreds of Nebraska homeowners through the insurance claim process over 30+ years — 1,500+ completed projects and counting. The homeowners who get the best results are almost always the ones who understand the basics before they start. That’s what this is for.
Step 1: Something Damages Your Home
This sounds obvious, but it matters to understand what triggers a claim. Home insurance covers sudden, accidental damage like hail, wind, falling trees, lightning. It doesn’t cover things that gradually wore out over time.
So if a hailstorm damaged your roof last Tuesday, that’s a claim. If your roof is just old and leaking, that’s not.
Step 2: Document the Damage
Before you call anyone, take photos and video of everything you can see. Walk around the outside of your home. Check your gutters for granules (dark, sand-like material). Look for dented gutters, damaged siding, or anything that looks different than before the storm.
Inside, check your ceilings and attic for any new moisture or staining.
Why this matters: Your photos are evidence. The sooner you take them after the storm, the harder it is for your insurance company to argue the damage is old.
Step 3: Call a Roofing Contractor First
Most people call their insurance company first. We actually recommend calling a roofing contractor first.
Here’s why: when you file a claim, your insurance company sends out their own adjuster to assess the damage. If you don’t have your own documentation ready, the adjuster’s estimate becomes the baseline — and those estimates sometimes miss damage that isn’t obvious.
When we inspect your home before the adjuster arrives, we document every damaged area in detail. That report gives you something to compare the adjuster’s estimate against — and it’s your best tool for making sure nothing gets left out of your claim.
Our inspections are free. We’ll tell you honestly what we found — and if it’s not worth filing a claim, we’ll tell you that too.
Step 4: File Your Claim
Once you have your documentation, call your insurance company or file online through their portal. You’ll need:
- Your policy number
- The date of the storm
- A description of the damage
- Your photos
They’ll assign you a claim number. Write it down — you’ll use it for everything going forward.
PRO TIP: File quickly. Nebraska insurance policies have deadlines. Waiting too long can give your insurer a reason to deny the claim or argue the damage happened before the storm.
Step 5: The Adjuster Visit
Your insurance company will send an adjuster to inspect your home, usually within a week or two of filing. The adjuster’s job is to assess the damage and determine how much the insurance company will pay.
Important: You can have your roofing contractor present during this visit. We strongly recommend it. Having us there means we can point out damage the adjuster might otherwise miss, and we can speak the same technical language the adjuster is using. This one step often makes a significant difference in the final settlement amount.
Step 6: You Receive an Estimate
After the adjuster visit, your insurance company will send you a written estimate (called a scope of loss or adjuster estimate). This document breaks down what they’re willing to pay for and how much.
Read it carefully. Compare it to what your roofing contractor documented. If something is missing or the numbers look off, you can dispute it. Which brings us to the next step.
Step 7: Supplemental Claims (If Needed)
A supplemental claim is when you go back to your insurance company and say “you missed something.” This is very common and completely normal.
If the adjuster missed damage we documented, or if repair costs come in higher than the estimate, we help you put together the supplemental documentation and submit it. Most insurers handle supplements regularly and the process is usually straightforward.
Step 8: Understand Your Payout
Once the claim is approved, here’s how the money works:
Your deductible comes out first. If your deductible is $1,000 and the approved claim is $12,000, you receive $11,000 from insurance and pay $1,000 yourself.
ACV vs. RCV — the two types of payouts:
- Actual Cash Value (ACV): You get what the damaged item is worth today, after depreciation. So if your roof is 15 years old, you won’t get the full cost of a new roof — you’ll get what the insurance company decides a 15-year-old roof is worth. That’s often a lot less than you’d expect.
- Replacement Cost Value (RCV): You get the actual cost to replace the damaged item with a comparable new one, regardless of age. This is significantly better coverage and is what most homeowners should aim to have.
Check your policy to see which type you have. If you have RCV coverage, you’ll typically receive two payments: an initial check for the ACV amount, and a second check for the remaining depreciation once the work is completed.
One important rule: Never let a contractor offer to waive your deductible. That’s insurance fraud in Nebraska — and the legal consequences fall on you, not the contractor.
Step 9: The Work Gets Done
Once everything is approved and finalized, the actual restoration work begins. Your contractor completes the repairs or replacement, you pay your deductible, and your insurance covers the rest.
Keep all your receipts and documentation. If you have RCV coverage and haven’t received the depreciation payment yet, you’ll need to show proof that the work was completed to get that second check.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
Your rates probably won’t go up. Hail and wind claims are “acts of God” — events outside your control. Most insurers don’t raise rates significantly for these types of claims. That said, if you’re worried about it, you can call your insurance company and ask directly before filing.
You can choose your own contractor. Your insurance company cannot force you to use a specific roofing contractor. You have the right to work with whoever you trust.
Don’t let a storm chaser pressure you. After a major storm, out-of-area contractors will knock on your door offering fast deals. Many disappear after the job is done. Work with a local, established company that will be around when you need them.
Get the Full Picture on Storm Restoration
If you’ve been recently hit by a storm and want to learn more on the storm restoration process our complete storm restoration guide covers what to look for after a storm, what restoration actually covers, and how to choose the right contractor.
Read the Complete Storm Restoration Guide →
Get a Free Inspection and Know Exactly Where You Stand
Don’t guess about whether your home has storm damage. A free inspection from Patriot Roofing gives you the honest answer — with documentation you can use to file a claim confidently.
We serve homeowners across Nebraska, South Dakota, and Iowa.
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