How One Homeowner Dealt With Storm Damage to His House
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Heavy storms can wreak havoc on a house, and when one severely damaged Patrick Harrell’s, the homeowners insurance he had through AAA saved the day. Here’s how it felt to Patrick:
“After arriving home one evening last June, I noticed what I thought was a piece of trash in my yard. When I picked it up, I realized what it was—part of the siding of my house!
“I discovered that more than one piece of siding was missing, and windows were broken. That’s when I saw that my neighbors’ houses had similar damage, and I learned that a severe hailstorm had hit while I was at work.
“I had homeowners insurance through AAA, but I had never filed a claim before and didn’t know what to expect. Fortunately, AAA took care of everything. A day after I called the 800 number on my policy, I was contacted by the claim adjuster, Gary Benedict, who set up a meeting to review the damage.
Patrick and his daughter, Natalie, outside their restored home.
Peter Baker
“Gary arrived when he said he would, and he performed a very thorough inspection of the property. All told, I had three broken windows, damage to two sides of the house and a roof that needed replacing. Gary reviewed my options with me and made it clear that AAA would see me through the repairs.
“The week following the storm, my neighborhood was overrun with storm-chasing construction crews competing for the repair jobs. Some offered bargain deals while others promised top-of-the-line repairs. It was a bit overwhelming, but again, Gary was there with helpful advice: Focus on getting quality repairs, done right the first time. This helped me select a reputable contractor to do the work.
“Before summer was over, the contractor repaired my house and AAA settled my claim. And if I needed further proof of how professionally things were handled, I only needed to see some of my neighbors still struggling with insurance companies that didn’t want to cover the cost of their damage. As for me, I hope I never have to file a claim again, but I know that if I do, I can count on the homeowners insurance I got through AAA to be there for me.”