What to Do After Hail Damage: A Step-by-Step Claims Guide for Minnesota Homeowners

After a significant hail storm — and the upper Midwest just had one of its more active storm stretches in early June 2026 — Minnesota homeowners face a predictable pattern: hail falls on a Tuesday, contractors are knocking by Thursday. The pressure to make a quick decision, before you've had time to assess the damage, understand your coverage, or consult with your insurer, is real and deliberate.

Here's the process that produces the best outcome — for the claim itself and for your long-term relationship with your insurer.

Step by Step

1. Document the damage before anything else As soon as it's safe, photograph and video every area of visible damage — roof, gutters, siding, windows, AC units, vehicles, outbuildings. Take photos of hail stones next to a ruler or common object for scale if any are still on the ground. Date-stamp your documentation. This record establishes what damage existed before any cleanup, temporary repairs, or contractor activity.
2. Make temporary repairs to prevent further damage Your policy requires you to mitigate further loss. If hail cracked a skylight or opened a hole in the roof, cover it with a tarp. Keep receipts for any materials you buy for temporary repairs — those costs are typically reimbursable. Don't make permanent repairs until your insurer has inspected.
3. Contact your agent or insurer promptly Most policies require you to report a loss within a reasonable time. Don't wait weeks to file. Call your agent, explain what happened, and ask about your deductible — specifically your wind and hail deductible, which may be different (and higher) than your standard deductible. Many Minnesota homeowners have percentage-based wind and hail deductibles they've never looked at. This is the moment to know what yours is. Also check your policy for any repair completion deadline — while Minnesota generally allows two years from the loss date to file, some carriers impose a 180-day window to complete repairs. Read your policy carefully.
4. Get an independent assessment before accepting any settlement Your insurer will send an adjuster. That adjuster works for the insurer. Have a licensed roofing contractor you trust — not one who appeared at your door two days after the storm — inspect the damage independently before you accept any settlement offer. The two assessments may align. They may not. If they don't, you have standing to negotiate or request a re-inspection. Ask your agent for a roofer recommendation. Most experienced agents have relationships with licensed local contractors they trust. That referral is worth more than a door knock two days after a storm.
5. Understand your settlement: ACV vs. replacement cost Review your policy for how roof damage is settled. Replacement cost value (RCV) pays for a new roof. Actual cash value (ACV) pays replacement cost minus depreciation — a 15-year-old roof might receive 50–60% for the roof's age — a 15-year-old roof might receive 50–60% of replacement cost. Some policies use a payment schedule that spells out the reduction by age. Know which you have before you accept a payment.
6. Don't rush — you have time Most Minnesota homeowners have up to two years from the date of loss to file a claim. However, some carriers impose a 180-day window to complete repairs — not file, but complete. Read your policy for any repair completion deadline before assuming you have unlimited time. The pressure to sign a contract immediately is still a sales tactic; a legitimate contractor will be available next week. But confirming your carrier's specific repair timeline is worth doing promptly.
7. Consider a public adjuster for large or complex losses For a major loss — significant structural damage, interior water damage, or a settlement that seems materially low — a licensed public adjuster works on your behalf (not the insurer's). They typically work on contingency (a percentage of the settlement) and are most cost-effective on claims above $15,000–$20,000.

Storm Chaser Contractors — The Law and the Warning Signs

Minnesota was an early adopter of storm chaser legislation precisely because the problem was so persistent here. Minn. Stat. § 325E.66 — known as the Storm Chaser Bill, effective August 1, 2010 — bans roofing contractors from offering, advertising, or providing any rebate of a homeowner's insurance deductible. Violations carry a fine of up to $10,000 per violation. That law exists because deductible waivers were one of the most common storm chaser inducements: "we'll cover your deductible" sounds like a deal until you realize the contractor is recouping it through inflated work or outright claim fraud.

A related statute worth knowing: Minn. Stat. § 326B.811 gives you the right to cancel a roofing contract within 72 hours if your insurance company denies the claim. Legitimate contractors will tell you this. Storm chasers often won't.

Watch for the "price agreeable contract"

Many storm chasers hand homeowners a document framed as an authorization — to inspect the roof, or to speak with your insurer. In most cases, what you're actually signing is a legally binding price agreeable contract: an agreement that if the contractor and your insurer reach an agreement on scope and price, you are obligated to let that contractor do the work. You don't see a dollar amount because the price hasn't been set yet — but you've already committed. Read anything carefully before signing, regardless of how it's described.

Warning signs of a problematic contractor:

• They appeared unsolicited at your door within days of the storm
• They offer to "work with your insurance" or "handle the claim for you"
• They ask you to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) — this transfers your claim rights to the contractor
• They offer to waive your deductible — illegal under § 325E.66, up to $10,000 fine per violation
• They pressure you to sign before your insurer has inspected
• They have no Minnesota contractor license, no local address, and cannot provide local references
• Their trucks have out-of-state plates and they arrived this week

What to Check on Your Roof Proactively

For homeowners who haven't filed a claim but suspect damage from recent storms: a proactive roof inspection by a licensed contractor is worth doing. Document the current condition with photos. If damage exists and was caused by a covered storm event, filing promptly is in your interest — waiting doesn't help your coverage position and may complicate the timeline.

Also worth confirming before any claim: your deductible, whether your policy settles at ACV or replacement cost, and whether your current insured dwelling value reflects what it would actually cost to rebuild your home today. Minnesota replacement costs have increased significantly since 2021.