The Process, Demystified

How Your Insurance Claim Works with Eagle Star (Step by Step)

If you've never filed a storm damage claim, the process can feel overwhelming. Insurance companies have adjusters, estimators, and layers of bureaucracy. You have a damaged roof and a phone. Here's exactly how it works when Eagle Star handles it for you - from the first call to the final check.

1. 1

   Step 1: You Call Us (or We Find You After a Storm)

   After a hailstorm or wind event, call (224) 490-3939 or fill out the form on this page. We schedule a free inspection - usually the same day you call. No cost, no obligation, no pressure.

2. 2

   Step 2: We Inspect and Document Everything

   Our team inspects your roof, siding, gutters, fascia, and soffit. We photograph every piece of damage, measure affected areas, and create a detailed report. This documentation is built to the standard insurance companies require - because we know exactly what they look for and what they try to deny.

3. 3

   Step 3: We File the Claim for You

   If we find damage covered by your policy, we file the insurance claim on your behalf. We submit the inspection report, damage photos, and our professional estimate directly to your carrier. You don't have to call your insurance company. You don't have to figure out what to say or what form to use. We handle it.

4. 4

   Step 4: The Insurance Adjuster Visits - and We're There Too

   Your insurance company will send their own adjuster to inspect the damage. Here's where most homeowners get shortchanged: the carrier's adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you. When Eagle Star is on your side, our licensed public adjuster meets theirs on the roof - point by point, line item by line item. We make sure nothing is missed, nothing is undervalued, and nothing is quietly excluded.

5. 5

   Step 5: You Receive the Initial Payment (ACV)

   Your insurance company issues the initial payment, called the Actual Cash Value (ACV). This is the replacement cost minus depreciation. You pay your deductible (typically $1,000 to $2,500 for hail and wind in Illinois). This initial check gets the project started.

6. 6

   Step 6: We Submit Supplements for What They Missed

   Insurance adjusters routinely miss line items - code-required upgrades, manufacturer specifications, project access conditions, disposal costs. Industry data shows that proper supplementing recovers an average of $7,000 to $8,000 per residential claim. Most homeowners never know this money was left on the table. We find it and we file for it.

7. 7

   Step 7: We Build Your Roof (and Everything Else the Storm Damaged)

   Once the claim is approved, our licensed crew replaces your roof, siding, gutters - everything covered under the claim. We use manufacturer-certified materials (GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning) and build to code. You pick the color. We handle the rest.

8. 8

   Step 8: We Recover Your Depreciation

   After the work is complete, your insurance company owes you the recoverable depreciation they held back in Step 5. This is real money - often several thousand dollars. Most carriers require you to request it within 12 to 24 months of the date of loss. Miss that deadline and the money is gone permanently. We submit the completion documentation and track the release so nothing is lost.

9. 9

   Step 9: Final Walkthrough and Warranty

   We walk the completed project with you. Every repair. Every installation. Every detail. Your new roof is backed by manufacturer warranties. Our work is warranted by us. And if anything comes up after we leave, one call brings us back.