Homeowner Checklist

What to Do After a Hail Storm: Homeowner Checklist

The hours and days right after a hailstorm matter — for your roof's condition, your insurance claim, and avoiding pressure tactics from door-to-door "storm chasers." Here's the order to actually do things in.

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Quick Answer

Document damage with photos before doing anything else
Never climb up to inspect your own roof after a storm — it's riskier than it looks
Verify credentials before signing anything with a door-to-door roofing solicitor
Understand whether your policy pays ACV or RCV before budgeting for repairs

The Checklist

Six Steps, In Order

Document Damage With Photos

From the ground: gutters, downspouts, siding, screens, and any visible roof damage. Timestamp it the same day if possible.

Don\'t Climb Up to Inspect the Roof Yourself

Hail-damaged shingles can be unstable underfoot, and the damage that matters most is hard to spot without training anyway. Leave this to a professional.

Contact Your Insurance Company Promptly

Open the claim while the storm date and damage are fresh, especially before a regional backlog builds.

Get a Professional Roof Inspection

A trained eye catches granule loss and bruising that\'s invisible from the ground — and it becomes the documentation your claim is built on.

Verify Credentials Before Signing With a Door-to-Door Contractor

Confirm Illinois licensing, a real local business address, and a track record in your area before signing anything a "storm chaser" hands you.

Understand Your ACV vs. RCV Coverage

Know whether your policy pays depreciated or full replacement cost before you budget for the work ahead.

A Word of Caution

Watch for Door-to-Door "Storm Chasers"

Verify Licensing

Confirm the contractor is actually licensed to do roofing work in Illinois before engaging further.

Ask for a Local Address

A real, physical local business address — not just a phone number or a truck with out-of-state plates.

Don\'t Sign on the Spot

Some "inspection agreements" are actually contracts or insurance benefit assignments. Read everything first.

Know Your Coverage

ACV vs. RCV: Know Before You Budget

Actual Cash Value (ACV) policies pay the depreciated value of your roof today. Replacement Cost Value (RCV) policies pay the full replacement cost, usually in two installments — an initial payment, then the balance once the work is finished. Which one you have changes how much you'll need to cover up front.

Read the Full ACV vs. RCV Guide

Local Support

If You Suspect Hail Damage

A free inspection is the lowest-risk next move — it tells you whether there\'s damage worth filing a claim over before you commit to anything. Learn more about what a professional inspection actually looks for on our hail damage signs & inspection page, or see our Naperville storm damage roofing page for local service details.

FAQ

Common Questions

What's the very first thing I should do after a hail storm?

Document what you can safely see — photograph dented gutters, downspouts, siding, window screens, and any visible roof damage from the ground. This creates a timestamped record tied to the storm date, which is useful whether or not you end up filing a claim. Don't go up on the roof to do this.

Why shouldn't I inspect my own roof after a hail storm?

Hail-damaged roofing can be more slippery and less stable underfoot than it looks, and the damage that matters most — granule loss and bruising in the shingle mat — is genuinely hard to spot without training and close inspection. The safety risk isn't worth it when a professional inspection accomplishes the same goal more accurately.

How soon should I contact my insurance company?

Promptly, ideally within a few days of the storm while damage is fresh and easy to document. Most policies don't have a hard deadline measured in days, but filing early gets you in the queue before a regional backlog builds after a widespread event, and it starts the documentation trail while everything is recent.

A roofing company showed up at my door right after the storm. Is that normal?

It's common after any hail event — some are legitimate local or regional companies, but it's also when "storm chaser" operations that follow severe weather from town to town are most active. Before signing anything, verify the company is actually licensed to work in Illinois, ask for a physical business address (not just a phone number), and check how long they've actually operated in your area. A legitimate contractor won't pressure you to sign a contract on the spot.

Should I sign anything a door-to-door contractor hands me?

Not on the spot. Some documents presented as a simple "inspection agreement" are actually a contract or an assignment of insurance benefits (AOB), which can sign away your control over the claim. Read anything fully before signing, take it inside to review if needed, and get a second opinion from an established local roofer if you're unsure what you're being asked to sign.

How do I know if my policy pays ACV or RCV for the damage?

Check your policy's declarations page, or call your agent and ask directly which coverage applies to your roof. It changes how much cash you'll have in hand up front versus after the work is finished. See our ACV vs. RCV guide for a full breakdown of how each one pays out.

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