Should my roofing contractor be present at the adjuster inspection?

Yes. Your contractor walks the roof with the adjuster, points out damage the first pass missed, and agrees on the scope on site, which is far easier than disputing it later by email. If the adjuster visit is scheduled before you have called a roofer, ask the carrier to move it a few days so a contractor can attend.

What Happens During an Insurance Adjuster Roof Inspection in Fargo?

Q: What does an insurance adjuster do during a roof inspection in Fargo?

The adjuster photographs the house and soft metals like gutters, vents, and window wraps from the ground, then chalks a 10 by 10 foot test square on each roof slope and circles every hail bruise. Many carriers treat roughly eight or more confirmed hits in a square as enough to replace that slope. Wind creases, cracked pipe boots, and exposed nails are also documented before the adjuster writes a line item estimate. The visit usually takes 45 minutes to two hours.

Q: What if the adjuster finds less damage than my roofer did?

Your contractor can send a supplement with photos and a written scope of missed items, you can request a reinspection with a different adjuster, and most policies include an appraisal clause where each side hires an appraiser and a neutral umpire settles the difference. North Dakota homeowners can also contact the consumer assistance line at the North Dakota Insurance Department, and Moorhead homeowners may benefit from Minnesota's matching rule.

Caleb Cook

Sep 22

4 min read

During an insurance adjuster roof inspection in Fargo, the adjuster climbs onto the roof, chalks off test squares, counts hail bruises and wind creases, photographs soft metals like gutters and vents, and writes the estimate that decides whether your carrier pays for a repair or a full replacement. The visit usually takes 45 minutes to two hours. Dodd Roofing and Exteriors meets adjusters on Fargo-Moorhead roofs every week during claim season, and the most useful thing you can do is have your contractor on the roof at the same time with a documented inspection in hand.

What does the adjuster actually do on the roof?

The adjuster starts on the ground, photographing each side of the house and checking soft metals: gutters, downspouts, roof vents, window wraps, and air conditioner fins. Dents in soft metal are the clearest proof that hail large enough to bruise shingles fell on your property. On the roof, the adjuster chalks a 10 by 10 foot test square on each slope and circles every hail bruise inside it. Many carriers treat roughly eight or more confirmed hits in a square as enough to replace that slope. Wind creases, cracked pipe boots, and exposed nails get photographed too before the adjuster writes a line item estimate using regional pricing for eastern North Dakota.

Should my roofing contractor be at the adjuster inspection?

Yes, and this is the step Fargo homeowners skip most often. An adjuster may inspect six roofs in a day and cannot spend an hour on yours. Your contractor walks the roof with the adjuster, points out damage the first pass missed, and agrees on the scope while everyone is still on the shingles. It is far easier to add a slope on the roof than to argue about it by email in December. Dodd does not decide what the carrier owes, and a good contractor never pressures an adjuster. If the visit is scheduled before you have called a roofer, ask the carrier to move it a few days. Our step by step guide to filing a roof claim covers how to make that request.

What should I have ready before the adjuster arrives?

Write down your policy number, the storm date, and your deductible. Gather any photos you took right after the hail, especially ice on the lawn or dents in vehicles, because those establish the date and stone size. If Dodd already inspected, print the photo report so the adjuster has slope by slope hail counts to compare against. Note interior stains or attic drips with the date you first saw them, and keep receipts for any emergency tarping. Finally, open the gates and bring pets inside. Adjusters routinely reschedule when they cannot reach the back of a house in the fenced subdivisions of West Fargo and Horace, and a reschedule in October can push you into snow.

What if the adjuster finds less damage than my roofer did?

This happens, and it is not the end of the claim. The first step is a supplement: your contractor sends the carrier photos and a written scope of the missed items, whether that is a fourth slope, the ice barrier required by code, or gutters and downspouts. The second step is a reinspection with a different adjuster, which you can request. If the two sides still disagree, most policies contain an appraisal clause where each side hires an appraiser and a neutral umpire settles the difference. North Dakota homeowners can also call the consumer assistance line at the North Dakota Insurance Department in Bismarck. Moorhead and Dilworth homeowners have an extra tool, since Minnesota's matching rule can require replacement of undamaged material when a reasonable match is not available. If a claim is denied outright, this guide explains what to do next.

Why schedule the adjuster inspection before snow in Fargo?

Fargo usually sees its first measurable snow in late October or early November, and once it lands, hail bruising becomes nearly impossible to verify. Adjusters will not walk a snow covered or icy roof, so a claim filed in November often sits until April while freeze and thaw cycles turn summer bruises into cracked shingle mats and winter leaks. By spring, a carrier can argue the damage is wear and tear rather than a sudden event. If you took hail in June or July and have not filed, the window is now. We explained why waiting until spring costs more in an earlier post.

How does Dodd Roofing and Exteriors handle adjuster meetings in Fargo-Moorhead?

We inspect first, photograph every slope with hail counts, and then meet the adjuster on your roof with that report in hand. If part of the scope gets missed, we write the supplement. The inspection is free in Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, Horace, and Dilworth, with no obligation to use us for the work. Call (701) 831-0710 or visit our storm damage page to book before the snow flies, and browse the homeowner guide library for more claim answers.