I recently got a new roof installed, and I’m not sure how or when I need to inform my insurance company. Do I call them directly or will they eventually find out on their own? Also, should I expect a rate change? Any advice would be great!
Tell them, and get a better rate on your insurance now that you have a new roof.
A new roof can lower your home insurance premium anywhere between 5% to 35% depending on building materials, location, and carrier.
I am about to put in a new roof as well in NJ and that was some advice I was given by older friends.
@Hero
Mine lowered my payments only 2 percent. But hey it needed a new roof and 2 percent is 2 percent.
Aris said:
@Hero
Mine lowered my payments only 2 percent. But hey it needed a new roof and 2 percent is 2 percent.
Yeah, I’m just hoping for any kind of reduction. My roof was over 20 years old, so it needed to be replaced anyway. Even a small discount is a win!
@Rey
Mine didn’t either. And the agent I talked to was kind of condescending when I asked if we get a discount. He said that they don’t give discounts just because I did routine maintenance on my house. That would be like rewarding someone for doing what they should be doing anyway. “Oh, ok then…sorry for bringing it up.” Geesh.
@Hadley
Next time someone is being condescending, say “what was that?” and make them repeat the whole thing again. If they want to be condescending, you can make it awkward for them.
@Hadley
Sounds like there’s probably a bit of a misunderstanding here, and the agent was being obtuse. They likely don’t give a “discount” for a new roof, but it might lower your premium because of different rating factors.
Aris said:
@Hero
Mine lowered my payments only 2 percent. But hey it needed a new roof and 2 percent is 2 percent.
I made an insurance claim on my roof from some storm damage. Insurance paid for a new roof, then they lowered my premium because of my new roof. I’m a big fan of my insurance company.
@SniddesSquad
What insurance company do you have? I had my insurance replace my roof, then I went through hell trying to get them to acknowledge the new roof.
Luca said:
@SniddesSquad
What insurance company do you have? I had my insurance replace my roof, then I went through hell trying to get them to acknowledge the new roof.
Amica. They actually contacted me after storms to see if I was ok and needed help. They’re not the cheapest, but they’ve been easy to work with.
Luca said:
@SniddesSquad
What insurance company do you have? I had my insurance replace my roof, then I went through hell trying to get them to acknowledge the new roof.
I think I’m equally interested in what insurance company you have.
@SniddesSquad
I made one insurance claim in 30 years of home ownership from storm damage to my roof. Insurance paid me $1300, and then they started pressuring me to replace the roof. The new roof cost me $14k, and they said they’d cancel my policy if I didn’t replace it. After that, they harassed me about other things for years until I finally dropped them.
@Blaze
Yeah, no way would I remove a diving board or make other changes just because my insurance company said so.
@Blaze
Making a $1300 claim probably wasn’t worth it in the long run. They’ll get their money back one way or another.
@Blaze
I learned the hard way that insurance companies just want you to keep paying and never file claims.
@Hero
Mine didn’t change at all, but my premium is only $675 a year, so I wasn’t expecting much.
@Hero
My annual insurance premium went up by about $25 when I told them I had a new roof installed 
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Kerr said:
@Hero
My annual insurance premium went up by about $25 when I told them I had a new roof installed
Mine went up about $25 too, but the roof was in such bad shape that I didn’t bother trying to make a claim. We just paid the $12k and told insurance afterward.
@Hero
I called my insurance agency about the new roof and they said to send documentation. Then they told me there were no discounts available, but they updated the age of the roof on my policy. I’m in PA.
@Hero
Mine got lowered 1.13%. Liberty Mutual, but I switched the next day for a better rate.