The responsibility of finding a construction company falls on the property owner. Trying to expedite the repair process is not easy and insurance companies are wary about giving advice on how to get a contractor to your property before one goes to your neighbor's house. Duarte of State Farm says that you have to be lucky. Dennis Neuharth, manager of the Travelers' mobile fleet, says it always helps to know a contractor or someone who has a contractor working on their property already. Company representatives say that once the claim has been processed, the bulk of the responsibility of finding a construction company falls on the property owner.
Every storm is different.
Neuharth offers the real-life example of the Carolinas in 1996 and 1998, when hurricanes Fran and Bonnie blasted the Carolina coastline. But don't despair, your insurance company will evaluate your claim after the storm is over. For smaller disasters, companies can wrap up property-damage assessment and you'll have a check in your hand in a matter of a couple of weeks. If you're involved in a larger storm and your claim is not as straightforward as a leaky roof or a damaged fence, you may not enjoy the same expeditious claims process. If your house is destroyed, you're likely to be shacking up in a hotel for quite some time.