Insurance Claims After The Storm: A Step-by-Step Guide for Arizona Homeowners

Home insurance, in the words of the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI), "covers losses and damages to an individual's residence along with furnishings and other assets in the home." A claim is how you ask your insurer to pay for a covered loss, and the insurer decides it under the terms of your policy: DIFI tells homeowners to contact the insurance company before starting repairs "so they have the opportunity to confirm and evaluate the damage." Insurance restoration is not work we do, and Vero Exteriors does not handle claims or negotiate with insurers, so this guide is general information drawn largely from DIFI's homeowners insurance consumer page (read September 25, 2026).

DIFI describes home insurance as covering "sudden, accidental damage and catastrophic losses (e.g., fires, windstorms, theft, and liability claims)." Wear, age and gradual deterioration are a different thing, and they are generally excluded under standard homeowners policies. DIFI also notes that "there are still some exclusions in all homeowner policies (e.g., flood, war, neglect)", and that "Homeowners policies generally cover only the portion of a roof that was damaged by, or collapsed from, falling objects, rain, snow, or wind." Before you assume an old roof is covered, read your own policy's exclusions.