Most of what hurts homeowners on a claim is not lying. It is guessing. Guessing at the cause, the date, or how bad things are, in a phone call you did not prepare for.
So this post is about accuracy, not tricks. Never conceal damage, never exaggerate it, and never lie to an adjuster. Our advice is to say less, say only what you know, and put the rest in writing.
Do not guess at the cause
"Maybe it's just old" is the line adjusters write down. You may mean it as a shrug, but it goes in the file as an admission of wear and tear. Carriers deny a lot of storm claims as old roof damage, and a homeowner's own words become part of the case.
Say what you observed instead. "I noticed shingles on the north slope were creased after the storm on June 14." You do not need to be an expert on why. That is the proof part, and it is documented separately. We explain who has to prove what in another post.
Do not guess at the date, and do not minimize
If you are not sure when the damage happened, do not pick a date. Look up the storm. A weather report or a news story will give you the day, and that is the date to point to. If you really are unsure, say "I believe it was the storm on the 14th, and I am confirming."
Likewise, skip "it's probably fine" and "it's not that bad." Saying it is fine when you have not had the roof inspected puts a limit on your own claim. Say "I have not had it fully inspected yet" instead. That is true and leaves the door open.
Do not treat "this is all we can pay" as final
Adjusters sometimes say it with total confidence. It is an opening position. The right answer is not an argument. It is a request: "Please send me the itemized estimate and the photos in writing."
Here is why it matters. Say the carrier offers $6,000 on a roof that a contractor prices at $20,000 and your deductible is $2,500. If you accept "this is all we can pay" on the phone, you may never see the difference. Say "I am reviewing the estimate and will respond in writing" and you keep every option.
Then ask which policy provision applies. If the carrier is denying or limiting something, Minn. Stat. § 72A.201, subd. 4(11) says: "No insurer shall deny a claim on the grounds of a specific policy provision, condition, or exclusion unless reference to the provision, condition, or exclusion is included in the denial. The denial must be given to the insured in writing with a copy filed in the claim file;"
We're public adjusters, not attorneys. This is how the statute reads and how we use it; for legal advice talk to a Minnesota attorney.
Be careful with recorded statements and prior damage
A recorded statement about cause, before you have the facts, is risky. You might be asked about the age of the roof, past repairs, or earlier storms, and an offhand answer can be quoted back later. You can say, "I'd like to review my policy and the estimate first. Can you send the questions in writing?"
Do not speculate about prior damage either. If you know about an earlier repair, say so plainly and truthfully. If you do not know, say "I do not know," not "probably." A home inspection report from when you bought the house is the best answer to a prior-damage argument.
Do not say you will "handle it yourself" if you do not mean it
It sounds polite, but it puts the carrier on notice that you have no help and plan to close it out. If you are thinking about hiring someone, say you are reviewing the estimate. Nobody is owed a decision on the call.
If you do hire a public adjuster, the line is short: "Talk to my public adjuster." Once we send a letter of representation, the carrier has to deal with us. You are copied on everything and you do not have to take the adjuster's calls.
Protect the property, and keep the evidence
There is a tension homeowners should know about. The standard fire policy statute, Minn. Stat. § 65A.01, subd. 3, says: "If the insured property shall be exposed to loss or damage from the perils insured against, the insured shall make all reasonable exertions to save and protect same."
So you should tarp the roof or board a window. But the same moment you need to preserve evidence. Take dated photos and video before any repair, keep what you remove, and save every receipt. Temporary protection is fine. A permanent repair before the damage is documented is where claims go wrong. Our post on how to document storm damage walks through what to photograph.
The honest version
A useful rule is to write down two lists before any call: what you saw, and what you do not know yet. Say the first list as it is. For the second, say plainly that you are still finding out.
Adjusters are usually doing their job, and many are decent people under heavy workload. But they work for the carrier, and anything you say is part of the file. Stick to what you saw and when, point to the storm date, ask for things in writing, and take your time. If it starts to feel like a contest, see how a public adjuster differs from an insurance adjuster, or look at our FAQ.