ACV Roof Claim Quote Checklist

Overview

Roof claim calls can go sideways fast when the homeowner thinks insurance will cover the whole replacement and the paperwork says otherwise. MarketWatch reported that more homeowners may face actual-cash-value roof coverage, meaning depreciation can leave a bigger cash gap between the claim payment and the replacement quote. At the same time, MySA covered National Weather Service hail reports showing why roof damage leads can spike quickly after severe storms. For roofers, this is not an insurance-law speech. It is an estimating workflow: confirm the claim basis, separate covered work from upgrades, and make the customer cash requirement visible before you order material.

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Ask for the claim basis before you promise a roof number

The first question is not shingle color. It is whether the roof claim is replacement-cost value, actual-cash value, repair-only, or still pending adjuster review. If the homeowner does not know, ask for the declarations page, estimate summary, and adjuster scope before you lock the quote.

Actual-cash-value coverage can leave depreciation on the homeowner. That does not make the lead bad, but it changes the sales conversation. Your estimate should show what insurance appears to cover, what is excluded, and what the homeowner must approve out of pocket.

• Claim status: filed, inspected, approved, supplement pending, or denied
• Payment basis: replacement-cost value, actual-cash value, or unclear
• Deductible and depreciation shown separately from contractor price
• Storm date, photos, adjuster scope, and code items

Split covered scope from customer-selected upgrades

Do not bury upgrades inside the claim number. If the customer wants impact-resistant shingles, better ventilation, decking replacement, gutter guards, skylight work, or code upgrades not included in the adjuster scope, price those as separate options.

This keeps trust intact. The homeowner can see the base roof replacement, the claim-related gap, and the upgrade choices without feeling like the contractor is inflating the insurance job.

• Base scope: tear-off, underlayment, flashing, shingles, cleanup, and warranty
• Claim gap: deductible, depreciation, uncovered items, and supplement status
• Options: shingle upgrade, ventilation, decking, gutter, skylight, or code add-on
• Expiration: material pricing and installation window

Use a supplement rule instead of arguing at the kitchen table

If the adjuster scope misses damaged flashing, drip edge, decking, vents, or code-required work, write a supplement rule into your process. The field rep documents the item, sends photos and measurements to the office, and waits for approval before promising the homeowner it is covered.

LightWork fits this as an intake safeguard: capture claim type, roof photos, storm date, and requested timing before the estimator call. That gives the roofer a cleaner first conversation and keeps the customer from hearing a confident number before the paperwork is clear.

Put the homeowner cash gap on the estimate

A roof lead is not qualified just because insurance is involved. If the customer has a deductible, depreciation holdback, ACV-only payment, or uncovered upgrade, they need to know the cash requirement before production scheduling.

Use plain language: “Insurance documents are not a payment guarantee. This estimate separates covered work, optional upgrades, deductible, depreciation, and any customer-approved cash items.” That sentence prevents the most expensive kind of callback: the payment dispute after the roof is already installed.