You're a roofing contractor, not an insurance adjuster. But when it comes to getting paid, your ability to build a bulletproof insurance claim estimate is everything. A single missed line item or a forgotten code citation can mean thousands in lost profit and weeks of frustrating back-and-forth.
The key to a winning estimate isn't just about using the right roofing estimating software. It's about having a systematic, repeatable roofing contractor workflow that turns a chaotic claim into a streamlined process. This guide is your roadmap to building an estimate that gets approved faster, so you can get paid and move on to the next job.
From Claim to Cash: Your Estimate Workflow
Why do so many estimates fall apart or get trapped in the endless supplement cycle? In most cases, it comes down to three avoidable breakdowns: incomplete documentation, a lack of code-required items, and poor communication. The solution is simple: follow a consistent process that leaves no room for error.
Below is an A–Z roofing claims process that ensures every estimate you submit is complete, defensible, and ready for approval the first time.
Step 1: Claim Intake & Authorization
This is your starting line. Before anything else, capture all the key details: the claim number, carrier, and adjuster info. Most importantly, get the homeowner's authorization to communicate with the insurance company and a signed "direction to pay" form.
Step 2: Pre-Inspection Prep
Preparation reduces rework. Before you arrive on-site, order aerial measurements and gather local roofing codes and manufacturer installation requirements.
The OneClick Code Advantage:
Instead of spending hours digging through city sites and PDFs, pull accurate, property-specific building code detail report data in seconds. This puts you in control before you ever climb a ladder and sets the tone for a defensible estimate.
Step 3: On-Site Inspection & Documentation
You can’t prove what you can’t show. Your on-site inspection is about more than just finding damage. Follow a strict roofing inspection checklist to document everything. Take dozens of detailed, labeled photos of damage, collateral issues, and every slope. This photo documentation is the evidence that backs up every single line item in your estimate.
Step 4: Define Scope with the Homeowner
Alignment prevents friction. Discuss with the homeowner, material choices, explain the deductible and depreciation, and clarify what is and isn’t covered. This pre-estimate alignment prevents surprises down the road and builds trust.
Step 5: Build a Line-by-Line Estimate
Now it’s time to build the roofing claim estimate. Using your chosen roofing estimating software, such as Xactimate or Symbility, create a detailed line-by-line estimate. This includes not just the basics like shingles and tear-off, but also crucial items like decking repairs, ventilation, and drip edge.
OneClick Code - A Game Changer
Use our data to justify every code-required line item. With a verifiable code citation, you turn what might look like an extra cost into a non-negotiable requirement. This is how you amplify your estimate and ensure you’re paid for all the work you do.
Step 6: Attach Evidence & References
A strong estimate without evidence is just an opinion. Package all your supporting documents into a single, clean packet that includes your photo report, measurements, and, most importantly, the code citations that support your estimate. With OneClick Code, you also get a downloadable PDF report for all your local building codes, along with many other essentials such as roofing manufacturer installation requirements, accurate roof sheathing codes, permit fees, and more.
Step 7: Package & Send to the Adjuster
Using your preferred estimating software, submit your completed estimate documentation, including OneClick Code's insurance-ready, defensible building code reports as well as a concise cover note with all the key details. Send it through the carrier’s preferred channel and confirm receipt.
Step 8: Handle Adjuster Reconciliation & Supplements
This is where your prep pays off. If the carrier’s initial scope is missing warranted or code-required items, prepare an insurance supplement roofing document. Cite the specific missing lines and use your documentation to fight for what is owed.
Step 9: Finalize & Closeout
Once the scope is agreed upon, get the final signatures needed to proceed. With a complete and accurate estimate, your closeout process will be fast and seamless, getting you paid faster.
You've got the workflow down. Now, it's time to optimize it. Stop burning hours on manual code research and start building estimates that get approved faster.
See how OneClick Code's property-specific data can transform your business.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does a strong estimate workflow help me get paid faster?
An organized roofing contractor workflow is your best tool for speeding up payments. By mentioning every code-required item included in the OneClick Code full report, and backing it up with solid photo documentation, you reduce the back-and-forth with the adjuster, minimize the need for supplements, and get a clean approval that leads to a faster payout.
Q: What's the biggest challenge with building an accurate roof estimate related to insurance claims?
The main challenge is accounting for all the small, but critical, items that vary by location—like local roofing code requirements or manufacturer specifications. If you don't include these from the start, you'll have to fight for them later with supplements costing you time and money.
Q: Why do I need to worry about the roofing claims process if I'm using estimating software?
While roofing estimating software is crucial, it's just a tool. The real power comes from your knowledge and process. You still need to gather all the right data, local code reports, weather history, take meticulous photos, and know how to present a complete and defensible case to the adjuster. Without a solid workflow, even the best software won't save you from a messy claim.
Q: How does OneClick Code help me with my roofing estimates?
OneClick Code simplifies your estimate process by providing instant, property-specific data for local codes and manufacturer installation requirements. You can use this verified data to justify every line item in your roofing estimate, ensuring nothing is missed and proving to the adjuster that the work you're proposing is required, not just a recommendation.