Steps to take after a hail storm

Calgary has recently been hit with a couple of large hail storms that have wreaked havoc on homes, gardens, yards, and vehicles. Reeling from a recent hail storm? You're not alone! The storm this past weekend in Calgary's southwest hit my roof hard and my truck even harder. It may seem like a daunting task when assessing the damage. Here's what steps you should take after the storm!

Check for damage right away

Don't wait to see if you have damage. Many insurance policies have a time limit on when you can claim for damage. So assess right away! Check your roof, downspouts, gutters. These are fairly common things that get hit hard by hail. Look at any other things you have in your yard like patio furniture, BBQ or smoker. These are often all covered as part of your plan. Some policies will even cover your vehicle if it was parked at your home during a storm. This means only one deductible as part of your home insurance claim, instead of two if you go through your home and auto insurance separately. Once you've figured out what has been damaged, you have a very important phone call to make...

Contact your insurance agent 

Before you do any repair work, contact your insurance agent. The sooner the better as your insurance agent will be dealing with calls from many people in the city after a storm. They will be able to guide you through the next steps for getting your claim started, seeking repair quotes and starting the process of getting your home and vehicles fixed.

Help! My home is for sale and it's damaged

Don't panic. But do call your real estate agent as soon as possible. If your home is listed, we need to let prospective buyers know of the condition change of your home. If your home is closing, you are responsible for maintaining the home in the condition it was in when the buyers viewed it. There are lots of different solutions to help your home close even after some damage has occurred. A few common ones include helping you navigate getting those repairs done before closing through our preferred partner program and preferred trades list, negotiating an amended closing date to give you time for repairs, or negotiating a reduction in price in order to compensate the buyer for the damage. There are several more options, and each situation is unique.  It is very important to work with an experienced real estate agent when selling a damaged property who can make sure you don't end up in a legal mess for something after the sale has gone through. 

How to prepare your home for future hail storms

There are a few steps you can take so that when a storm rolls through again (Calgary, for example, has an average of five hail storms per year). Trim and maintain trees on your property to remove weak branches that could potentially damage your home if they fall during a storm. Keep your downspouts and gutters clear to allow for proper drainage. Get your roof checked regularly for issues, so that it doesn't fail you in a storm. Move your outdoor furniture and BBQ under covered areas in your yard (if possible) when not in use or make sure they have a cover on them. All these tips will help minimize damage.