How much does a roof inspection for insurance cost?
Short answer. A storm damage inspection from an established roofer is usually free, and the adjuster's inspection on a claim costs you nothing because the insurer pays for it. You generally pay only for a formal roof certification or condition report, or for your own engineer, and those prices vary by company, roof size and type of report, so get the fee in writing first.
Inspections that should cost you nothing
- Roofer's storm damage inspection: standard practice after hail or wind.
- Adjuster's claim inspection: part of the insurer's cost of handling your claim.
- Underwriting inspection: ordered and paid for by the insurer.
- Insurer's engineer: the insurer pays when it hires one.
Inspections you may pay for
- Roof certification or condition letter: requested by some insurers for older roofs, and by some buyers and lenders. The price depends on roof size, steepness, and whether the report estimates remaining life.
- Home inspection: includes a visual roof review as part of a whole house inspection when you buy a home.
- Your own engineer: usually the most expensive option, generally used only to answer an insurer's engineer on a large disputed claim. See engineer inspections.
- Appraiser: if you invoke appraisal, you pay your appraiser and share the umpire's fee; see the appraisal clause.
Free should mean free
A free inspection should come with photos and an honest answer, and it should not require a signature. If someone wants a contract signed before they will inspect, or asks you to sign over insurance proceeds, walk away. If you do sign a roofing contract that depends on insurance, Georgia law lets you cancel it if the claim is denied, so read the cancellation terms carefully. More warning signs are in storm chaser scams in Georgia.