No, you do not have to use your insurance company's roofer. Even if your insurer hands you the name of a roofing company, you do not have to call it. You are free to choose who repairs your storm or fire damage, and Tennessee law backs that up. Here is what you should know about your rights, why we suggest choosing your own roofer, and how to vet any contractor, wherever the name came from.
You have the right to choose your roofer
Your insurance company may keep a list of preferred contractors, but in most cases you can hire the provider of your choice. Tennessee goes a step further for larger claims. When you file a homeowners claim for structural damage above a threshold set in the law, your insurer must give you a written statement of your basic rights, including the right to have repairs made by a contractor of your choice, with the understanding that the contractor is hired by you and does not work for or at the direction of the insurance company (Tennessee Public Chapter 226, now Tenn. Code Ann. 56-7-125).
The same statement tells you that you may receive a detailed estimate of the damage, file supplemental claims as the need arises, and that your contractor can take questions about the insurer's estimate straight to your claim representative.
Why we suggest choosing your own roofer instead of the insurance company's roofer
Insurance companies often have pre-negotiated rates with the contractors on their lists. That does not mean those contractors do bad work, but it does mean you should look at them the same way you would look at any roofer. A referral from your insurer is not a substitute for your own research. Preferred lists can change, and the company that is on one this year may not be on it next year.
When you choose your own roofer, you get a company you have vetted yourself, working for you. That matters most when the roofer's findings and the adjuster's estimate do not line up.
How to vet any roofer
Whether a name comes from your insurance company, a neighbor or an online search, check that the roofer:
- Is local, with an office you can find and a reputation in your community that goes back years
- Holds a Tennessee contractor license you can verify, and carries insurance
- Has manufacturer certifications for the products being installed
- Puts warranty coverage in writing, and has been in business long enough to stand behind it
- Has real experience with storm damage and insurance claims
- Has good reviews on independent sites, not just on its own website
You can check a Tennessee contractor license on the state's license verification site. Our license number is 59116. For more on choosing well, read how to choose the right roof repair contractors.
A roofer who works for you
When you choose your own roofer, they are on your side of the table. A good roofer documents the damage thoroughly, gives you a written estimate you can set beside the insurer's, and, if you want, meets the adjuster at the house to point out what was found. If the insurance company does not see the damage the way your roofer does, the roofer can explain why. What a roofer cannot do is negotiate the claim or represent you to the insurer; that conversation stays between you and your insurance company, or a licensed public adjuster if you hire one. Our roof insurance claim page lays out who does what.
For the full process, read how to get insurance to pay for roof replacement after storm damage.
Choose Mobley Brothers for your storm damage repair
We are not on anyone's preferred list, and we like it that way. We charge a fair price for the work, document the damage with photos, and can meet your adjuster on site if they do not see the storm damage roof repair needs the way we do. Mobley Brothers Roofing & Renovation is a family-owned GAF Master Elite residential contractor serving Middle and East Tennessee from our A+ rated Lebanon and Knoxville offices. Call our Lebanon office at (615) 455-3131 or our Knoxville office at (865) 205-0800, or contact us online for a free roof inspection.
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