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Claim guides

Texas insurance claim guides

Written by licensed public adjuster Joseph Dittman. No fluff, just what to do, what the law says and what the insurer will look for.

Claim Process · Latest How to document damage for your claim A practical method for claim photos, video, a damage diary, receipts, mitigation records, contents lists and storm-date proof, organized into one claim file. Read the guide

Hail & RoofAppraisal for a hail damage claimHow the appraisal clause settles Texas hail claim disputes: when to invoke it, choosing an appraiser, the umpire, who pays, and what appraisal can't decide.Read more

Hail & RoofWhat to do after a denied hail damage claimWhy Texas hail claims get denied, how to get the claim file, ask for a re-inspection or reopen the claim, and when TDI, appraisal or a lawyer fits.Read more

Hail & RoofHail damage supplement claimsWhen a roof supplement is needed after hail, the proof carriers want for decking, code items and extra layers, and what your roofer can and can't do in Texas.Read more

Hail & RoofUnderpaid hail damage insurance claimsSigns your hail claim was underpaid, the roof line items carriers leave out, and how to get a re-inspection, write a counter-estimate and escalate in Texas.Read more

Hail & RoofCosmetic vs. functional hail damageHow cosmetic damage exclusions work on Texas roofs, what functional hail damage means in practice, and how to read your endorsement before you argue.Read more

Hail & RoofHow insurance companies evaluate hail damageTest squares, hit counts, soft-metal checks, engineer reports and software estimates: how Texas insurers judge hail damage, and how to respond to each step.Read more

Hail & RoofHow long do you have to file a hail claim in Texas?TWIA gives you one year. Private Texas policies set their own reporting and suit deadlines. Where to find yours, and why old hail damage is hard to prove.Read more

Hail & RoofMatching laws for roof replacement in TexasTexas has no roof matching statute. What decides it is your policy wording, discontinued shingles, repairability and how the damage is spread across slopes.Read more

Hail & RoofHow to identify hail damage by roof typeWhat hail damage looks like on asphalt shingles, metal, tile, flat roofs and wood shake, how soft metals prove the storm, and granule loss vs. normal wear.Read more

Claim ProcessHow long does an insurance adjuster have to contact you in Texas?In Texas, insurers have 15 days to acknowledge your claim and start investigating. The full Chapter 542 timeline, TWIA rules, and what to do if no one calls.Read more

Public Adjusters 101Who regulates public adjusters, and why it matters to youThe Texas Department of Insurance licenses and polices public adjusters. How licensing works, how to verify a license, and how to file a complaint.Read more

Public Adjusters 101How to choose the right public adjusterVerify the TDI license, read the contract, know your 72-hour right to cancel, spot red flags, and ask the right questions before you hire a public adjuster.Read more

Public Adjusters 101Should I use a public adjuster?When a public adjuster is worth the fee on a Texas property claim, when it is not, and a simple test to tell the difference before you sign anything.Read more

Public Adjusters 101The truth about public adjuster fees in TexasHow Texas public adjuster fees work: the 10% cap, the total fire loss exception, how the percentage applies to each payment, and worked examples in dollars.Read more

Public Adjusters 101Can a public adjuster work for a contractor?No. Texas law bars public adjusters from repair work on claims they adjust and bars contractors from adjusting. Here is what is allowed and what is not.Read more

Public Adjusters 101What is a public adjuster?A public adjuster is a TDI-licensed claims professional you hire to document, price and negotiate your property claim. Here is what that work looks like.Read more

Public Adjusters 101When is it too late to hire a public adjuster?What a public adjuster can still do before filing, after a low offer, after payment or denial, and in appraisal, plus the Texas deadlines that matter.Read more

Fire, Water & StormFire damage insurance in TexasWhat a Texas homeowners policy pays after a fire: dwelling, contents, living expenses, smoke damage and code upgrades, plus how the claim timeline works.Read more

Claim ProcessCommon property insurance claim mistakes, and how to avoid themThe ten mistakes that most often shrink Texas property claims, from tossing damaged items to cashing checks blind, and what to do instead.Read more

Fire, Water & StormHouse fire debris removal costWhat drives the cost of clearing debris after a Texas house fire, how insurance pays for debris removal, and what to document before anything is hauled.Read more

Fire, Water & StormProperty damage after a hurricane: types, coverage and lessons from BerylWind, wind-driven rain, surge, fallen trees, spoiled food and mold: which Texas policy pays for each, how deductibles stack, and what Beryl taught us.Read more

Hail & RoofHail damage insurance claims in Texas: the complete processThe full Texas hail claim process: the first 72 hours, filing, the adjuster inspection, ACV vs. RCV, depreciation, supplements, disputes and deadlines.Read more

Public Adjusters 101Public adjuster vs. independent adjuster vs. staff adjusterStaff, independent and public adjusters compared: who hires each, who pays them, who decides, and which one is actually on your side of a Texas claim.Read more

Fire, Water & StormDealing with the insurance adjuster after water damageWhat the adjuster looks for on a Texas water claim, how to handle the first 48 hours, moisture readings, sudden vs. long-term leaks, and mold limits.Read more

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