The first 72 hours after a hailstorm
What you do in the three days after a storm shapes the entire claim. Here is the order of operations.
Minn. Stat. § 72A.201
1. Stay off the roof
Inspect from the ground only. Look for dented gutters and downspouts, damaged window screens, dings in soft metal like flashing and AC condenser fins, granules piled at downspout exits, and hail splatter marks on decks and siding.
2. Photograph everything
Photograph everything with your phone, which date-stamps automatically. Wide shots of each side of the house, close-ups of every mark, and a picture of any hailstones next to a tape measure or a coin before they melt.
3. Prevent further damage
If the roof is leaking, tarp what you can safely reach and move belongings out of the way. Reasonable temporary repairs are typically covered. Keep every receipt.
4. Report the claim promptly
Minnesota's claims-practices rules require your insurer to acknowledge your claim within ten business days and to handle it within timelines set by law (Minn. Stat. 72A.201). Note your claim number and every conversation: date, name, and what was said.
5. Get an independent inspection
Get an independent inspection from a licensed Minnesota contractor before the adjuster's visit, and have your contractor present when the adjuster comes. Verify the license first in the free state lookup, or in this site's directory. Adjusters move fast and miss things like granule loss that only show up close.
6. Check your deadline
Look up your address on this site, confirm the storm date, and read your policy's suit limitation clause. In Minnesota it may be as short as one year.
Before you sign with a door-knocker
Do not sign anything with a door-knocking or storm-chasing contractor without checking their license and standing in Minnesota using these checkers:
Educational information, not legal or insurance advice.