How Elevation Estimating Proved a Workshop’s Existence to Secure a Hail Damage Claim

In 2023, severe hailstorms impacted Colorado Springs, causing extensive damage to numerous properties. Mrs. C, a long-standing policyholder with no prior claims, promptly contacted her homeowner’s insurance company to report damage across several buildings on her property, including a large workshop vital to her family’s income.

Initially, the claim progressed smoothly for the residential structures. However, upon closer review, it became apparent that Mrs. C’s essential workshop, despite suffering significant hail damage, had been omitted from the insurance adjuster’s assessment. The primary challenge was the insurance claim denied for an existing structure, with the insurance company asserting they had no record of the workshop’s existence on the property prior to the storm.

Elevation Estimating’s immediate objective was to establish the undeniable presence of the workshop prior to the storm event and subsequent policy contraction. Leveraging extensive industry experience, the following strategies were employed:

• Comprehensive Photographic Evidence: Recognizing photographs as the most critical evidence in property insurance claims, Elevation Estimating compiled a robust portfolio. This included leveraging historical property photos from their measurement packages, dating back to 2010, all of which clearly depicted the workshop on the property.
  
• Supplementary Documentation: To further reinforce the evidence, additional photographic proof was meticulously sourced from publicly accessible real estate listings and social media platforms, where the workshop inadvertently appeared in background shots.

After several weeks of diligent research and presentation of this overwhelming historical evidence, Elevation Estimating successfully convinced the insurance company of the workshop’s longstanding presence on Mrs. C’s property and its undeniable damage from the recent hail event. This successful outcome provided a clear path to overcome an insurance claim denied for an existing structure, allowing Mrs. C to restore her property.

With the building’s existence acknowledged, Elevation Estimating proceeded to submit a comprehensive Xactimate estimate for the metal roof replacement, detailing all necessary materials and labor. Given the irrefutable evidence of the workshop’s pre-existence and damage, the insurance company promptly approved the estimate, enabling Mrs. C to proceed with the necessary repairs and restore her workshop to pre-storm condition.

Outcome:

Elevation Estimating’s diligent efforts ensured Mrs. C received full coverage for all damaged structures on her property, including her critical workshop. This case exemplifies the crucial role of expert estimating and thorough documentation in navigating complex insurance claims and advocating successfully for policyholders.

Do you have a complex claim that requires detailed documentation and expert negotiation? Contact us to see how Elevation Estimating can help.