Insurance Repairs:
What to Expect and How We Can Help
If you're dealing with storm damage, fire damage, water damage, smoke damage, or tree damage to your home, navigating the insurance claims process can feel overwhelming without experienced guidance. Confusing estimates, unclear timelines, and communication delays are common, especially when adjusters are managing dozens of other claims simultaneously.
Here's what we consistently hear from homeowners, what to expect from the process, and how we can help.
Common Issues Homeowners Face
Through decades of insurance repair work, we hear these questions and frustrations time and again:
"I don't understand the estimate they sent me" - What do all these abbreviations mean? ea, lf, sf, ls, sq? What's RCV vs ACV? The estimate shows 13.31 sq of roofing. Is that my whole roof or just part of it?
"Why is the repair price so low?" - There are subtotals, totals, deductions, and something called depreciation. The numbers don't add up to what I expected. Will some of this come out of my pocket?
"Why is everything taking so long?" - I've called my adjuster three times over two weeks with no response. I can't hire anyone because we don't have an agreed-upon price yet, and I'm not going to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket when nothing has been approved.
"Why are they asking me to get estimates?" - I got three bids like they asked. It took three weeks and many hours of my time. Now I'm told they can't use them because they're not in the right format. Everything's at a standstill.
"Can I really get my home repaired for what they're willing to pay?" - I can't afford to pay my deductible and be thousands of dollars out-of-pocket. I'm worried I'll be on the hook at the end for costs that won't be covered.
If any of these sound familiar, you're not alone.
Need help understanding your estimate? Call us at (828) 767-6368 or email nickr@qcswnc.com.
What Typically Happens Next
Based on our experience settling many insurance claims, your insurer will likely take one of three approaches. Here's what we see happen and what to watch for:
They may write their own preliminary estimate
Initial estimates often include depreciation and conservative assessments to keep claims costs low. Homeowners sometimes struggle to find qualified contractors willing to work for these amounts, requiring further negotiation and delaying repairs.
They may want you to spend your time getting multiple bids
We've seen homeowners spend weeks collecting bids, only to learn the insurer can't process them because most contractors write estimates in their own format instead of the specific format required by claims processing software. This doesn't help you reach an agreed-upon scope and price.
They may direct you to a repair program
Contractors in direct repair programs often depend on insurers for steady work, pay program fees, and must accept estimate reductions to participate. In our experience, this dynamic can create pressure to minimize costs, potentially leading to:
Reluctance to advocate for additional repairs
Use of less durable materials or methods to meet program price points
Program fees that could otherwise go toward repairing your home
Additionally, a common challenge with these programs is the lack of continuity. Homeowners sometimes work with multiple estimators and multiple project managers throughout the repair, requiring them to restart explanations with each new person. At Quality Construction Services LLC, we assign one person as your manager and point of contact from start to finish.
Want to discuss your options? Contact us at (828) 767-6368 or nickr@qcswnc.com
What You Need and How Quality Construction Services LLC Helps
You need a general contractor who specializes in insurance repairs (That’s us!), who:
Works cooperatively with your insurance company and knows their rules
Quickly gets to an agreed upon price to repair your home properly and within insurance company budgets
Uses the same estimating software the insurance companies use
Adds hidden damages to the insurance estimate when they are uncovered with the insurer’s agreement and approval
Has lots of experience communicating directly with adjusters on your behalf
Is a licensed North Carolina General Contractor, is insured, and can pull needed permits
How Quality Construction Services LLC helps:
With experience successfully resolving over 1,000 insurance claims on behalf of homeowners, the owner of Quality Construction Services LLC knows how to ensure that insurers allocate enough money to do a quality job repairing your home properly.
At Quality Construction Services LLC, we use the team approach. There are three members of the team: the homeowner (most important), the insurer, and the general contractor.
Our goal is to work together and make everybody happy.
Our focus is on giving you and your home the attention you deserve. We handle the complexity of coordination and repairs, so you can focus on getting your life back to normal.
Your home, your choice.
Regardless of what your insurer suggests, you have the right to choose your contractor. It's your home, not theirs. We are experts who deal with adjusters regularly. We're here to make the repair process less stressful by managing the coordination and construction work on your behalf.
