How should you prepare for the insurance adjuster's roof inspection?

Adjusters and Inspections · Updated October 13, 2026

Short answer. Before the adjuster arrives, gather your policy and declarations page, your claim number, storm-day photos, interior damage photos, receipts for emergency repairs and your roofer's inspection report. Be home, have your roofer meet the adjuster on the roof, stick to facts you actually know, and do not sign releases, sworn statements or contracts you have not read.

Start with the paperwork the adjuster will use

The adjuster arrives knowing your policy. You should too. Pull up your declarations page and find three things before inspection day.

Your deductible. Some Georgia policies use a separate wind and hail deductible figured as a percentage of dwelling coverage rather than a flat dollar amount. Our page on the percentage wind and hail deductible shows how to calculate it.
How the roof is valued. Is it replacement cost, actual cash value, or a roof payment schedule that pays a percentage based on age? See roof payment schedules if you are not sure.
Endorsements that touch the roof, such as a cosmetic damage exclusion or a roof age provision.

Write down the claim number and the adjuster's name, phone and email. The NAIC's post-disaster claims guide suggests asking the company early how long you have to file, whether separate wind or hail deductibles apply, and what else it will need to process the claim.

Build a simple evidence file

Adjusters work fast, often with several inspections a day after a big storm. A tidy file lets you show the important things in minutes. Put these in one folder, printed or ready to email:

The storm. The date and approximate time, and how you know: phone alerts, photos of hail in the yard with a coin or ruler for scale, or a neighbor's damage.
Exterior damage. Dented gutters, vents, window screens, air conditioner fins, siding, fences and anything else that shows impacts.
Interior damage. Ceiling stains and attic photos with the date they were taken.
Mitigation receipts. Tarps, emergency repairs and water cleanup. Policies generally expect you to protect the home from further damage, and these costs are often reimbursable.
Roof history. Install date, permit or receipt, and any improvements. The NAIC suggests giving the adjuster records of improvements you have made.
Your roofer's report, organized slope by slope with photos.

The Insurance Information Institute's advice is simple: be prepared to show the adjuster the structural damage and have your list ready so you make the best use of the time.

Who should be there

You. The NAIC says you should be present when the adjuster comes, so you can point out damage and hand over your lists, photos and bids. If you cannot be there, send a trusted adult who knows the house.

Your roofer. The NAIC also notes it may help to have your contractor meet with you and the adjuster. On the roof, a good roofer points out hits the adjuster might miss, agrees on measurements and pitch, and confirms details like the number of shingle layers. Georgia does not allow a contractor to act as your public adjuster, so the roofer's job is to document and show, not to negotiate your coverage.

Your public adjuster, if you hired one. Our comparison of public adjusters and roofers in Georgia explains the difference in roles and fees.

Practical details matter too: unlock side gates, put dogs inside, move cars away from the ladder spots, and make sure the attic hatch is reachable.

On inspection day

Walk the outside with the adjuster first and show the items on your list. Then let the adjuster and your roofer go up together, so they mark and photograph the same hits. Before the adjuster leaves, ask:

Which slopes are you recommending for replacement or repair?
Where were your test areas, and what counts did you find?
Is anything being called wear, cosmetic or pre-existing?
When will I receive the estimate and your photo report?

Take notes, and get the adjuster's contact information and the expected timeline for the next step.

What not to say

Most mistakes on inspection day come from guessing. "I don't know, but I can find out" is a perfectly good answer.

Do not guess your roof's age. Offer to send the permit or receipt instead.
Do not speculate that a leak "has been going on a while" if you do not actually know when it started.
Do not describe damage you did not see, or exaggerate the storm. Accuracy protects your claim, and deliberate misstatements are insurance fraud.
Do not agree on the spot that something is wear and tear. Say you would like to see the reasoning in the report.
Do not say you "just want a new roof." Talk about what you observed and when.

What not to sign

Releases or "final" settlement papers. Georgia's unfair claims settlement practices law, O.C.G.A. 33-6-34, lists as an unfair practice marking a payment or check as final or as a release unless the policy limit has been paid or you agreed to a compromise settlement. It also bars partial-settlement checks with language releasing the insurer from its total liability. If you see that kind of language, question it before you sign or deposit anything.

A sworn proof of loss you have not checked. Some carriers request one. It is a formal statement, so take the time to make sure the amounts and facts are right, and ask what deadline applies.

Contractor paperwork you have not read. The Insurance Information Institute warns that a "direction to pay" form can sometimes assign your entire claim to a contractor. Read anything that touches your claim rights, and see our page on assignment of benefits in Georgia.

Any offer to cover your deductible. A roofer waiving or absorbing your deductible is illegal in Georgia. Here is why that matters.

Bring a roofer who shows up with evidence

Robust Roofing meets the carrier's adjuster on the roof with its own documentation: a slope-by-slope photo report and drone images from its free inspection, reviewed by the licensed Property and Casualty adjuster it keeps on staff. That combination is why so many North Georgia homeowners, and 66 five-star Google reviewers, call it the best roofer to have beside you on inspection day. Read its notes on the adjuster meeting or its overview of roof insurance claims.

After the visit, compare the carrier's estimate with your roofer's findings. If items are missing, the next step is usually a supplement or a reinspection request. And if you are still choosing who to bring, the Georgia Roof Guide has a checklist for choosing a roofing contractor in Georgia.

Common questions

Do I have to let the insurance adjuster inspect my roof?

Homeowners policies generally require you to let the insurer inspect the damaged property as part of the claim. Refusing can delay or jeopardize the claim, so schedule the visit and plan to attend.

Can my roofer talk to the adjuster?

Yes. Your roofer can point out damage, confirm measurements and share photos. In Georgia a contractor cannot act as your public adjuster, so negotiating coverage on your behalf is a job for you, a licensed public adjuster or an attorney.

What should I do if the adjuster seems rushed?

Stay polite, hand over your evidence file, and ask which slopes and items were inspected. If the estimate later misses damage you documented, request a reinspection in writing and list exactly what was missed.

Should I sign anything the adjuster gives me at the inspection?

Read everything first and do not sign a release or final settlement document on the spot. If you are asked for a sworn proof of loss, confirm the deadline and take time to check the figures.

How long after the inspection will I get the estimate?

It varies by carrier and storm volume. Ask the adjuster for an expected date before they leave, and follow up in writing if it passes. If the claim stalls, the Georgia Office of Insurance Consumer Services Division can help.