An insurer may suggest a preferred vendor, but the policy, claim communications, and any signed repair agreement determine the owner’s obligations and options. Ask the carrier in writing whether the policy imposes any vendor, inspection, notice, or repair requirements before hiring a contractor.
Do I Have to Use the Contractor My Insurance Company Recommends?
Your policy is the contract that governs coverage and payment. Before signing a repair agreement, confirm the contractor’s applicable license, scope, price, and insurance, and ask the carrier how contractor documents should be submitted. Integrity CRR is service-disabled veteran-owned. Integrity CRR, LLC currently holds Georgia company license GCCO009212, with Zachary Chastain Whyte as qualifying agent under GCQA009212. Georgia board minutes document both May 21, 2025 issuances; check the current records in the live state lookup.
Why Insurers Suggest a Contractor Anyway
Most carriers run a “preferred contractor” or “managed repair” program to speed up claims and control their own costs. Those contractors agree to the carrier’s pricing software, timelines, and referral volume in exchange for a steady stream of work. That arrangement can mean a faster start date. It is not the same thing as the carrier having final say over who does your repair.
The Conflict Built Into a Preferred List
A contractor on a carrier’s preferred list depends on that carrier for repeat referrals. Preferred-vendor programs may have their own pricing and process requirements. Regardless of who referred the contractor, compare the itemized estimate with the documented repair scope and ask how supported differences will be handled.
The One Case Where Your Insurer’s Choice Actually Matters
Check your declarations page and endorsements before assuming every policy handles contractor selection the same way. A managed-repair or preferred-contractor provision may impose project-specific conditions. Ask the carrier to identify any applicable language in writing, and obtain qualified policy advice if the effect is unclear.
If you have a mortgage, the lender is a separate party from the insurer and generally doesn’t require a specific contractor at all. The lender’s interest is confirming the repair gets done, since the property is their collateral. On a mortgaged property the insurance check is often issued jointly to you and the lender, and the lender releases draws against completed, inspected work — not against which contractor you picked.
What to Look for in a Contractor You Choose Yourself
If you’re picking your own contractor instead of the referral, check for these before you sign anything:
- Active state GC or roofing license, and bonding
- A written estimate in the same estimating software your carrier’s adjuster uses (usually Xactimate), so line items can be compared directly instead of argued about in general terms
- A physical inspection by someone credentialed to identify storm damage, not just a sales walk-through
- Willingness to meet the adjuster on site rather than working only from a phone call
- A principal or owner attached to the job, not just a sales rep who disappears after the contract is signed
- A completed-project history you can actually check — ask to see past work, not just a sales brochure
Red Flags in a Preferred-Vendor Estimate
A preferred-vendor estimate isn’t automatically wrong, but a few patterns show up often enough to watch for:
- Desktop estimate written from photos or a satellite measurement, with no one climbing on the roof
- Actual cash value (depreciated) offered instead of replacement cost, with no clear explanation of the depreciation schedule
- If code-related work is proposed, ask the contractor to identify the adopted requirement and ask the carrier how any ordinance-or-law provision applies
- A scope that stops at the shingles and skips decking, flashing, ventilation, or gutters that were also damaged
- Pressure to sign a repair agreement same-day, before you’ve had a second opinion
None of these prove the estimate is wrong. They’re reasons to get a second, itemized opinion before you sign.
How Integrity CRR Documents the Repair Scope
Integrity CRR writes roofing estimates in house using Xactimate, widely used property-loss estimating software. When the carrier used the same platform, corresponding line items can be compared while each estimate retains its own observations and assumptions. The proposal should name the person documenting conditions and that person’s credentials. Roofing is self-performed by Integrity’s own crews.
The process runs in order: inspection and photo documentation, a written scope in Xactimate, and a site meeting with the adjuster to walk through the damage. Once a claim is approved, Integrity CRR documents the repair scope and any supported differences between that scope and the carrier estimate. If appropriate, it may submit a contractor supplement request for carrier review. The carrier decides coverage, the approved repair scope, and payment; Integrity CRR does not negotiate, adjust, or settle the claim.
This applies the same way to a full storm restoration after wind or hail as it does to a straight roof replacement.
What Moves the Cost of a Roof Replacement
These are general Southeast market ranges for asphalt shingle roof replacement, not an Integrity CRR quote — actual cost depends on an on-site inspection.
| Factor | Typical range | What pushes it higher |
|---|---|---|
| Material (per square, installed) | $450–$650 | Impact-resistant shingles, steep or cut-up roof lines |
| Tear-off & disposal | $50–$150 per square | Multiple existing layers, difficult access |
| Decking replacement | $75–$150 per sheet | Hidden rot found once the roof is opened |
| Code-required upgrades (ice/water shield, ventilation) | Varies by jurisdiction | Local code updates since the roof was last permitted |
An estimate requires a physical inspection — these ranges are a starting reference, not a price.
Choosing Your Own Contractor Doesn’t Delay Your Claim
If you are considering a different contractor after an insurer referral, review anything already signed and ask the carrier how the change affects inspections, estimates, communications, or payment procedures. Integrity CRR works across metro Atlanta, including Sandy Springs, Marietta, and Alpharetta, along with the rest of Georgia.
If you’ve got storm damage and a claim open, or one you’re about to file, contact Integrity CRR or call (833) 423-6255 before you sign with whoever the carrier referred. A second inspection costs you nothing and you’ll know exactly what’s in the scope before you commit to a contractor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my insurance company deny my claim if I don’t use their contractor?
No. A carrier cannot deny a covered claim solely because you chose a contractor other than the one they referred. Coverage is based on the policy and the documented damage, not on who repairs it. If a carrier implies otherwise, get that statement in writing and ask for the policy language it’s based on.
Will using my own contractor change how much my insurance pays?
Coverage and payment depend on the policy and the carrier’s approved scope, not simply on which contractor performs the work. A detailed contractor estimate can document supported repair operations for carrier review, but it does not determine the carrier’s coverage or payment decision.
What is a direct repair program, and do I have to use it?
A direct repair program is a network of contractors that has agreed to a carrier’s pricing and turnaround requirements. Participating is usually optional, but check the declarations and endorsements in your specific policy before declining: a managed-repair endorsement can change how replacement-cost benefits apply when you choose someone outside the network.
What if the insurer’s contractor already started work?
You can still switch contractors before signing a repair contract with the preferred vendor. Once you’ve signed and work has started, switching gets more complicated and may involve a separate agreement to close out that contractor’s portion. Review any paperwork before you sign it, not after.
Does my mortgage company have any say in which contractor I use?
No. Your mortgage lender and your insurance carrier are separate parties. The lender’s interest is making sure the covered damage actually gets repaired, since the property is their collateral — not which licensed contractor does the work. On a mortgaged property the insurance check is often issued jointly to you and the lender, and the lender releases funds in draws as work is completed and inspected, regardless of which contractor you hired.
Does the contractor I hire need to be licensed in Georgia?
The required license depends on the work and jurisdiction. Integrity CRR, LLC currently holds company license GCCO009212, with Zachary Chastain Whyte as qualifying agent under GCQA009212. Ask which entity will sign the contract and pull any required permit, then confirm both applicable live records through the Georgia licensing board before signing.
Does Integrity CRR work directly with my adjuster?
Yes. Integrity CRR meets the adjuster on site to walk the damage together and compares its Xactimate-written scope line by line against the adjuster’s estimate. Integrity CRR is the contractor documenting and submitting the claim scope, not a public adjuster negotiating the claim on your behalf.