How does insurance pay for hail damage repair, and who picks the contractor?
Short answer. Your insurer pays for the approved repair, and you pick the contractor who does it. Payments usually go to you, sometimes jointly with your mortgage company, and you pay the contractor under your own written contract. Preferred contractor programs are optional, and in Georgia a contractor can document and scope damage but cannot negotiate the claim for you.
How the money moves
- The insurer issues the first payment, usually actual cash value minus the deductible, to you and any mortgage company on the policy.
- You sign a contract with your contractor, often with a deposit.
- The contractor does the repair and gives you a final invoice.
- The insurer releases any withheld depreciation and approved supplements, and you pay the balance.
Preferred contractor programs
Some carriers offer a network of contractors who agree to their pricing. It can be convenient, but you are not required to use it, and a network contractor answers partly to the carrier. Whoever you pick, the scope should be built on the damage, not on what is quickest to approve.
What to look for in the contract
- A scope tied to the insurance estimate, with materials named.
- How supplements and upgrades are handled and priced.
- A payment schedule that matches when insurance money arrives.
- A workmanship warranty in writing.
- The insurance contingency and your cancellation rights. Georgia lets you cancel an insurance-funded roofing contract if the claim is denied; read your contract for the exact window.
What a contractor can and cannot do
Under Georgia law, a roofer can inspect, document, estimate, meet the adjuster and supplement its own work, but only a licensed public adjuster or an attorney can negotiate your claim. Some contractors also offer an assignment of benefits, which Georgia restricts within a year of a declared disaster; see assignment of benefits. Compare public adjusters and roofers before you sign anything.