After a NM storm, storm-chasers show up before the water dries. Don't sign anything. Get an independent inspection first — hail strikes counted per slope, wind damage documented, NOAA storm event correlated to the date of loss — and go into the insurance conversation with facts, not with a door-knocker's script.
Per-slope hail strike count with grid method
Per-slope wind damage and tab-lift seal test
NOAA storm-event correlation for the date of loss
IRC + manufacturer install-spec references
Adjuster-ready written scope
No AOB, no contingency contract, no repair upsell
Full walk of every accessible slope within 2–4 weeks of the storm. Hail: grid method strike-count per slope, plus soft-metals (gutters, flashings, vents). Wind: tab-lift seal test per slope, plus ridge/hip cap displacement. All penetrations, edge metal, and skylights documented individually. NOAA storm-event report correlated to the date of loss. Written adjuster-ready report with cause-of-loss determination, code references, and repair-vs-replace recommendation.
NM homeowners within 60 days of a hail, wind, or monsoon storm. Owners approached by storm-chaser roofers who want an independent opinion first. Homeowners with a denied or lowballed claim. Buyers under contract on a home in a recent storm zone. Property managers surveying portfolios after a named storm event.
Standard Storm Damage Report — $349 Detailed w/ NOAA + Code References — $649 Denial Appeal / Litigation Grade — $1,500+ Commercial Portfolio Post-Storm — $0.05–$0.15/sqft, $1,500 minimum Most residential storm damage reports are $349–$649. If insurance denies you the report cost is often reimbursable under the 'reasonable expense to protect the property' clause.
Before. An independent report puts you in position to answer the adjuster with facts instead of hoping they find damage on their own. Homeowners with independent documentation get claims approved at nearly double the rate of those who don't.
Storm chasers are the reason I do this work. They inflate scopes, sign you into an AOB (Assignment of Benefits), collect the insurance check, and leave when the check clears. Get an independent report first — then choose your roofer from a position of knowledge, not door-knock pressure.
Within 2–4 weeks. Fresh hail bruises show cleanly on shingles for about a month before oxidation blurs them. Wind damage is visible for longer but harder to correlate to a specific storm event after 60+ days. Sooner is always better.
Signed 2/3/5-year cert for lenders & insurers.
FLIR moisture scan + core verification.
Vigas, canales, parapet caps — NM specialty.
Manufacturer + workmanship defect audit.
I've watched too many neighbors sign contracts they didn't understand for roofs they didn't need. That stops with a written report they own.