Immediate Steps to Take After Hail Hits Your Home

Hail damage is a serious concern for many homeowners. While not every hailstone is an 8-inch record breaker like the one recorded in Vivian, SD, in 2010, standard hail ranges in size from 0.5 to 6 inches and can hit homes at incredibly high speeds. It’s the equivalent of someone hurling rocks at your home — at velocities of up to 40 mph.

A hailstorm can cause damage to roofs, windows, doors, shutters, and even home siding. While you can’t control the weather, there are five steps you can take to mitigate hail damage and get the necessary restoration efforts underway fast.

1. Ensure Safety First

Before anything else, check in on your family and any pets to ensure everyone is safe and healthy. Sweep up any broken glass and assess if structural damages might mean you have to close up a room or two, or even stay elsewhere temporarily. While it can be jarring to have to keep away from parts of your home, the safety of you and your household is paramount.

2. Document the Damage

Take as many photos of the damaged areas as you can. Where possible, take videos to show a 360-degree view of impacted zones. Carefully document the date and time of the storm, including how long it lasted and which items/areas were damaged. All this data is critical for ensuring a smooth insurance claim process.

3. Contact Your Insurance Company

Now it’s time to contact your insurance carrier. Do this as soon as you can after documenting the damage. The faster you get your claim in, the more likely you are to receive the requisite compensation. Let the insurer know that you have photos and documentation, and ask them what else they need to speed the process along.

4. Prevent Further Damage

Hail damage mitigation is your next step. This may involve:

• Covering or blocking broken windows
• Temporary roof fixes
• Removing loose materials from yards/gardens that could become projectiles in high winds

Any steps you take now to prevent further damage to your home should also be carefully documented. Ensure you keep any receipts for materials used, as your insurer may reimburse you for these.

5. Contact Accuserve for Professional Restoration

Accuserve is a managed repair provider (MRP) — your single point of contact handling the assessment and repair of hail damage. Our expertise in managing hail damage claims means we can match you with contractors and restoration professionals who can quickly get your home back to its usual standard. Plus, we liaise directly with insurers to ensure contractors are paid, taking that stress off your hands.

When hail strikes, you want home repairs designed for and by property owners. Contact Accuserve today to find out more.