Three roofers wanted $32k after the June hailstorm. Roof Doctor NM walked the roof, took 84 photos, and said the hail was cosmetic. Saved me from a fraudulent claim.
Sarah K.Albuquerque · Nob Hill
Insurance claim prep
The adjuster is coming. Here's what happens next.
Insurance adjusters work for the carrier, not for you. This is the exact playbook we use with clients — before, during, and after the visit — to make sure the scope of loss matches the actual damage on your NM roof.
Before the visit
Do these five things this week.
Every step here is about creating a written record the carrier can't quietly reduce later.
- 1
Get your own independent inspection FIRST — before the adjuster ever climbs the ladder. You want a written baseline that isn't from the carrier's payroll.
- 2
Photograph every slope, every penetration, and every interior water stain with timestamps. iPhone + open the Camera app — don't edit.
- 3
Pull your policy declarations page. Know your deductible, whether you have RCV (Replacement Cost Value) or ACV (Actual Cash Value), and any wind/hail exclusions.
- 4
Write down the storm date. NM carriers routinely deny claims where damage can't be tied to a specific weather event on record.
- 5
Have your inspector or a trusted contractor on-site during the adjuster visit. Adjusters change their tone when a second professional is holding a moisture meter next to them.
During the visit
Do this. Don't do that.
Adjuster meetings tend to last 20–40 minutes. Every minute you're on the roof with them shifts the scope of loss.
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
Walk the roof with the adjuster. Point to each defect on your own photo list. | Let them go up alone and come down with a verbal 'looks minor.' |
Ask them to identify each hit's diameter and quadrant on paper. | Accept 'a few soft spots, cosmetic only' without a scope written on-site. |
Ask which line items are approved and which are being denied, and why. | Sign anything titled 'Assignment of Benefits' or 'Direction to Pay' during the visit. |
Record the meeting on your phone (NM is a one-party consent state). | Argue on the roof. Take the notes, get the report, then dispute in writing. |
After the visit
The claim is won or lost in the next 30 days.
Most homeowners stop after the adjuster leaves. That's exactly when you should push hardest.
Request the adjuster's field notes and photos in writing within 48 hours. Carriers must supply them.
Compare the carrier's scope of loss line-by-line to your independent inspection report. Flag every missing item.
If items were denied, request a re-inspection in writing and cite specific photos and measurements.
If the re-inspection is still short, escalate: NM Office of Superintendent of Insurance complaint form, or hire a public adjuster (licensed under NM §59A-13).
Do not sign the settlement release until every approved line item is paid and the supplement window has closed.
Red flags
If any of this happens, call me before you sign.
- Adjuster spends less than 15 minutes on a 2,000+ sqft roof.
- Verbal denial with no written scope of loss provided.
- Adjuster arrives with a contractor already in their truck ('preferred vendor').
- Scope of loss omits code upgrades, drip edge, ice-and-water, or ventilation required by NM code.
- Payment issued as ACV with no path to release depreciation after work completes.
Bring these on-site
Adjuster day gear.
Phone + charger
Photos, voice memo, and a copy of your independent report on-screen.
Printed report + policy
Independent inspection findings and your declarations page. Hand a copy to the adjuster.
A witness
Spouse, neighbor, inspector, or contractor. Not an "AOB" contractor.
Next step
Adjuster coming this week? Get an independent inspection first.
Book the free on-site inspection, or send a photo and we'll tell you what to do next. No sales pitch — we don't install roofs.