By Dani Sheehan. 

Visit the MetalVue booth #5116 at IRE to strike it rich and grow your metal roofing business. 

Don’t forget to pack your walking shoes as we get ready for the 2024 International Roofing Expo (IRE) from February 6-8, 2024, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Have you mapped out the booths you want to hit during your time on the exhibit show floor? The show floor is open 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, and it still won’t be enough time to soak in the information provided at each booth! Want to strike it rich and maximize your metal roofing education and resources? Make sure to visit the MetalVue booth, #5116, to meet several metal partners and get the most out of your visit. 

Come say hi to your favorite MetalCoffeShop™ crew and stay to chat with some amazing metal industry experts! Grosso University is one of the industry’s leading sales performance companies and wants to provide you with sales solutions that are empowering and successful in helping you grow your business. Don’t miss Watts Removal Products to learn more about the only Sherwin-Williams-approved metal cleaning products aside from soap and water. Meet Truss, banking built for construction, and learn how they can help you move your money forward. And don’t miss the ever knowledgeable Sheridan Metal Resources for all your sheet metal tools and installation questions. 

Interested in other technology to help your company grow? Meet with One Click Contractor to see how their platform can help you increase close rates, create estimates in minutes and reduce your sales costs. ToolBelt is a digital format that allows contractors to meet and find work for your next residential construction project. 

Sherwin-Williams will have a booth right next door at #4916. Join them for happy hour on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Register for the International Roofing Expo (IRE) today and join other industry professionals for the premier roofing and exterior event of the year!

By Karen Edwards, RCS COO. 

Improving accuracy, protecting profits and eliminating friction between contractors and adjusters.  

OneClick Code’s story is one we hear often in the roofing industry — a contractor became frustrated with a poor-performing product, or in this case, a broken system, so they took the matter into their own hands and created a new way of doing things.  

CEO Garrett Kurtt was in those shoes. He spent 14 years in the property restoration industry as a contractor, an adjuster, an appraiser and even an expert witness. Frustrated at the complicated building code system he became determined to build a better way of finding the right codes to defend his estimates.  

The old way doesn’t work 

In a recent Tech Talk for RT3 members, OneClick Code’s Director of Marketing and PR Jessi West Gunteski shared the company’s story. “Contractors and adjusters are using very outdated and manual systems to gather building code information,” Jessi said. “These manual systems of calling the cities and counties to find building codes for roofing projects leaves money on the table and wastes a lot of time.” 

Jurisdiction is key to accuracy 

OneClick Code’s solution is that easy – contractors and adjusters can type in the property address and with one click have access to accurate jurisdiction, building codes, sales tax and more. Using addresses alone isn’t enough says Jessi because that is just assigned by the U.S. post office and doesn’t determine the jurisdiction of the property. “We’ve found that 45 percent of properties in the U.S. fall outside of the city listed in their postal address,” explained Jessi. “If you get the jurisdiction wrong, you get the sales tax wrong, you get the building codes wrong, and we see that these errors can cause up to 25 percent price swing in estimates.” 

Jessi shared with RT3 members an example of two properties, which both had mailing addresses in Englewood, Colorado, yet one of those homes fell under the jurisdiction of Arapahoe County. If one were to assume they were both under the jurisdiction of Englewood, they would not have accurate estimates because of the differences in sales tax, permit fees and the fact that the code in Arapahoe doesn’t require ice and water shield like the code in Englewood does.

It's a common problem to get the jurisdiction wrong according to Jessi. She shared that OneClick Code did a study with a top 50 insurance carrier to analyze 500+ properties. They found that 36 percent of the properties were assigned the wrong jurisdiction, meaning that carrier over or underpaid those claims.  

The secret sauce 

OneClick Code spent the first two years as a company manually calling 30,000 cities and counties across the U.S. to build their extensive database of building codes. They continue to update it daily, using proprietary, patented geolocation technology to identify each property.   

The company works with contractors, adjusters and carriers because they want to be that single source of truth that helps everyone be more accurate in their estimates. To help get everyone on the same page, OneClick Code includes the documentation needed along with the code language and the specification report, complete with diagrams of the roofing systems.  

If accuracy, profitability and eliminating the back and forth with insurance companies sounds good to you, give OneClick Code a try. Start your 14-day free trial at www.oneclickcode.com.   

Learn more about OneClick Code in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.oneclickcode.com.

By OneClick Code. 

Complications of working with municipalities to find building codes and how you can better equip yourself to overcome them. 

When it comes to creating a defensible roofing estimate you are likely to run into issues that come with working with municipalities. Often inaccurate or outdated information can lead to estimate mistakes that can cost contractors thousands of dollars.  

What are some of the complications you’ll likely encounter when working directly with a municipality? 

• Conflicting information across sources. As crazy as it may seem, the information that employees have and what is posted on websites are often misaligned. This is often caused by miscommunication, oversight or just that they are bogged down with work. These inconsistencies require you to research all available sources instead of trusting one source. It also makes it more challenging to provide evidence when creating an estimate.  

• Getting in touch with the right person. Often, a municipality only has one or two workers who will consistently have the most up-to-date information. Reaching this person takes time and persistence, costing your business valuable time.  

• Constantly changing laws and adaptations. Not only is it important to pay attention to ever-changing roofing codes but it’s also essential to understand whether or not a municipality has adopted the code. Sometimes, municipalities will amend parts of a building code. Other times, municipalities will adopt various code years. (More on this later). 

How does jurisdiction play a role in this? 

• Finding the correct authority. Similarly to finding the right person, you’ll need to understand the jurisdiction of the residence, which isn’t as simple as using the postal address or zip code. All too often contractors and adjusters end up wasting hours of their time on each claim trying to find out which municipality has jurisdiction over each house. Or, they will assume that a property is governed by the city when it actually is governed by the county. This is a very common mistake that can have a huge impact on your bottom line. Did you know that sales tax, building code book adoption, and even code line items can vary from one street to the next costing you thousands of dollars on a claim? If you want to learn more about this, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to jurisdiction that you can read. 

• Differing levels of authority. Cities and counties govern their communities with jurisdictional authority, and with that authority, administer and enforce building codes. When a municipality is recognized as an independent governing body, it can adopt laws and building codes that guide its future development. This means you need to confirm whether the city or county holds authority.  

• Lack of accurate and readily-available building code information. Until OneClick Code, there was no way to get accurate building code information you need easily and with confidence. Naturally, this leads to two massive problems for both contractors and insurance companies: incorrect repair estimates and millions of hours spent trying to validate the correct jurisdiction. 

• Differing adoption of building codes. Though the International Building Code (IBC) has been adopted by the majority of the municipalities in the US, the confusion lies in which version is adopted and when it is updated by each municipality. Additionally, they also use the different versions of the International Residential Code (IRC) and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for specific building types and systems.  

This leads us to the question: What can be done about all this so that I get the accurate building codes I need? How can you overcome these challenges? 

• Ask the right questions. Usually, the first answer to a building code-related question isn’t going to be enough. Be prepared to ask a few follow-up questions to get the information you need. 

• Be patient and persistent. Even if it takes a few days to get the correct information, take the time. It is far better to get the right codes first rather than to get it wrong and cost yourself or your business valuable time and money. As mentioned above, it can take a few calls, but it’s worth the time. 

• Reference each available source. Simply looking at a municipal website or calling the office may not be enough in itself. Make sure you’re cross-referencing all the information to find inconsistencies and ensure you have accurate information. 

• Automate the process. Using the OneClick Code app solves your problem of finding accurate building code information in the click of a button. Instead of spending days waiting for the right information, trying to get in touch with the right individuals, or figuring out the jurisdiction authority, you can simply use technology to automatically find what you’re looking for. In the OneClick app, you can type in a property address and get the jurisdiction, sales tax, line items to start your roofing estimate, and all the documentation you need to back it up. Use our third-party trusted data to make your life easier and put a little money in your pocket too.  

Learn more about OneClick Code in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit oneclickcode.com. 

Original article source: OneClick Code 

By OneClick Code. 

Benefits and misperceptions of incorporating drones into your roofing business.  

Buildings require a variety of repairs and maintenance to upkeep their condition and combat wear and tear, but a building’s roof is the first line of defense against precipitation or any other falling objects. For this reason, roof replacements are both common and inevitable.  

Fortunately, technological advances in hand tools have made the roof replacement process easier, faster, safer and more cost-effective. Safety harnesses, roof pitch calculators, nailers and staplers are some examples of the aforementioned technology that roofers have been quick to adopt, however, when it comes to the world of apps and automation advances, those that are unfamiliar require more persuasion to make upgrades. 

Due to a seemingly steep learning curve and a high-cost entry point, drones are one of the most common cases of unadopted technology in the roofing industry. In terms of price, training and execution, incorporating drones into your inspections and estimates isn’t all that difficult and can provide your company with widespread benefits. In fact, drones can go a long way in providing your team with extra safety, and save you time, money, and a whole lot more.  

The benefits of drones 

On the surface, there’s one clear benefit to using drones: safety. Instead of sending someone up onto a roof that is possibly degraded, slippery, partially inaccessible, steeply pitched or any combination of these factors, roofers can not only obtain the same information from the safety of the ground, but get a true bird’s eye view of the project — something that is otherwise unobtainable.  

Beyond safety, drones provide plenty of other advantages over traditional methods of measuring, estimating, and documenting.  

First, they are incredibly efficient, usually completing the same amount of work as their human counterparts in a fraction of the time — nearly three times as fast, according to some sources — all without the potential of causing physical damage. Second, not only are they able to document accurate data and detailed images, but subsequently remove any human bias that may otherwise occur since everything that is recorded can be stored and reviewed by others — and a record that detailed can be infinitely handy when improving processes, compiling data, conducting audits, or in the case of any liability issues. Plus, some drones have even become so advanced that they can be programmed to calculate and record square footage/surface area, pitch/slope, roof features, even thermal heat maps.  

The misperceptions of drones 

After seeing all the benefits drones can provide, you may be wondering why they aren’t more universally adopted. For anyone who has ever tried to set up an older friend or relative with a smartphone, you’re probably familiar with the reason why: for a lot of people, they’re intimidating. But like adopting smartphones, there are three similar reservations about drones rooted in common misperceptions.  

Misperception 1 - They’re expensive 

Let’s get this one out of the way. You’re in construction and restoration — are any of your best, most reliable, or most helpful tools actually cheap? Good tools are an investment and, like any other tool, buying and using a drone will pay for itself over time and writes off just the same. But unlike most other tools, they also massively increase the level of on-site safety and reduce the man-hours necessary to complete certain tasks, thus actually making it more valuable than almost any other tool. Any other tools you can think of that can claim the same?  

Misperception 2 - They’re hard to learn 

Although it seems and sounds like a difficult task to operate a delicate, multi-axis, flying vehicle with numerous propellers and a camera to boot, anyone with drone experience can tell you that unless you plan to do crazy stunts during your flight, they are about as easy to use as the average smartphone. Since they’ve come onto the market, drones have made huge strides in ease of operation, simplifying both flight and onboard tools like cameras down to a button push or basic joystick movement. Most advanced drones commonly used for this type of work are actually designed with this in mind, allowing users to concentrate on the data and images they’re trying to obtain instead of, you know, avoiding a crash.  

Misperception 3 - FAA rules are difficult to find and understand 

It is true that different areas have different rules and regulations for where, why and how you’re allowed to fly your drone, but it’s not true that those specifications are difficult to find and understand. In fact, OneClick Code not only provides instant access to address — specific roofing codes, but actually include the FAA rules and regulations right with the report, so you don’t need to waste time sourcing, noting and adhering to local requirements.  

If you’re still not convinced, get your free, address-specific roofing code and FAA rules and regulations here, instantly.  

While the thought of owning and operating a drone might be scary, the actual practice isn’t. Not only will you save your company money in the long run, you’ll be taking your employees out of harm’s way by allowing them to stay on solid ground. Saved time, money and extra safety? Sounds like a win-win-win.  

Learn more about OneClick Code in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit oneclickcode.com.  

Original article source: OneClick Code  

OneClick Code, the first-ever company to automate building code data for the roofing industry, launched a cross-platform integration with HailTrace, the leading weather forensics company. 

The integration pairs two significant factors that impact every roofing estimate: weather and building codes. For the first time, roofing contractors and insurance adjusters finally have the tools to access actionable data and write defensible estimates to win more jobs. 

OneClick Code is the only platform for data automation of jurisdictional authority for building codes, permit fees, taxes and manufacturer specifications required for any address nationwide. With the new integration, Inside the OneClick Code app, users can quickly gain insight into the size of hail and speed of wind from the past three years, and all the supporting weather reports they need to send in with their roofing estimate. 

“Understanding when weather damages roofs is one of the most important things in this industry,” said Garrett Kurtt, CEO and founder of OneClick Code. “By creating improved access to building codes – and now weather history data – we’re empowering roofing professionals to create accurate and defensible estimates.”  

The integration works both ways. On the HailTrace app, users will soon be able to access building codes while looking at more in-depth weather and location information. HailTrace is a leading weather forensics technology company with a dedicated team of meteorologists who analyze and build a nationwide database of hail, wind, and tornado maps. Users use that actionable data to nurture existing customers, create new leads and track potential prospects.

“We’re thrilled about sharing hail and wind data to OneClick users. We’re looking forward to this next phase of the integration — soon, we will have valuable building code data right in the HailTrace app,” said Derik Kline, CEO of HailTrace. “Working together to share valuable data across both apps creates more robust platforms for our users while also benefiting the industry overall.” 

OneClick Code’s building code data will be available on the HailTrace app starting on July 18, 2022, with the launch of their latest software update. Stay tuned for more details! Test out the weather reports for yourself. Start your free 14-day free trial today. 

About HailTrace

HailTrace is a technology company that excels in weather forensics. They have a team of 5 meteorologists that analyze and build a database of hail maps, wind maps, and tornado maps across all of the United States, Canada, and Australia in real-time! Actionable data is then generated to nurture existing customers, build new leads, and track potential prospects. HailTrace's mission is to partner with restoration companies by providing industry-leading ideas, marketing strategies, and weather-related data. Assisting them in accomplishing maximum growth while delivering a client-first mentality and a world-class experience! To learn more, visit hailtrace.com. 

About OneClick Data Inc.

OneClick Data Inc. is a trusted data partner dedicated to streamlining the code-sourcing process for all parties in the roofing industry while increasing efficiency and transparency for all stakeholders in construction and restoration. They have the only platform, OneClick Code, to have blazed the trail for data automation of jurisdictional authority for building codes, permit fees, taxes, and manufacturer specifications required for any address nationwide. OneClick Code has been serving customers in the contracting, insurance, and claim adjusting fields by providing instant access to trusted roofing codes with the click of a button. Offering unique reports that can be easily shared between all stakeholders in the roofing claims industry, OneClick Code adds value to all parties and empowers customers to save time and money on every claim. Welcome to restoration intelligence, automated. To learn more, visit www.oneclickcode.com.

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter. 

OneClick Code and HailTrace have teamed up to provide you with accurate storm information and building codes to support your estimate.  

While you might not be able to control the weather, this new integration certainly makes it easier to respond to it. OneClick Code has teamed up with HailTrace to give you a complete picture of all the information you need the second a hail storm strikes. Get all the data necessary for your estimate in the palm of your hand.   

HailTrace pairs meteorologists with AI to provide you with simplified weather insights. With high-level weather forensics at your disposal, you have all the actionable data you need to better serve existing customers, build new leads and track potential prospects.   

OneClick Code is the only platform that enables roofers, contractors, adjusters and carriers to identify the jurisdiction having authority. By automating the manual process of code enforcement, you get faster, more precise estimates that you can count on and audit.  

Now, with the new integration of HailTrace within the OneClick Code app, OneClick Code is now able to deliver even more up-to-second information that you need to make a proper claim. It is easier than ever to react quickly and accurately to every hailstorm that blows through town.   

For every project you start in your Pro account with OneClick Code, you can rely on a three-year hail and windstorm history right within the snapshot. Quickly gain insight on the size of hail and speed of wind, as well as all the supporting weather reports you need to send in with your estimate. Get started today, and experience the power of full-picture data.  

Learn more about OneClick Code in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.oneclickcode.com.  

About OneClick Code  

OneClick Code is a trusted data partner, dedicated to streamlining the code-sourcing process for all parties in the roofing industry while also increasing efficiency and transparency for all stakeholders in construction and restoration. They have the only platform to have blazed the trail for data automation of jurisdictional authority for building codes, permit fees, taxes, and manufacturer specifications required for any address nationwide. OneClick Code has been serving customers in the contracting, insurance, and claim adjusting fields by providing instant access to trusted roofing codes, in the click of a button. Offering unique reports that can be easily shared between all stakeholders in the roofing claims industry, OneClick is adding value to all parties and empowering customers to save time and money on every claim. Welcome to restoration intelligence, automated.  

By OneClick Code. 

How to upgrade your efficiency and save time in your claims estimating process.  

Using a non-digital system for your claims' estimating process comes at a real cost. Homeowners, contractors and insurance carriers alike feel the delay that comes with manual and antiquated systems of claim estimation. If you want better accuracy, quicker turnaround times and overall, a more efficient claims estimating system then you have to go digital. Read on to learn why automation is so important to the success of your business in the modern era, and to see what manual claim estimations are costing you. 

Ditching the old ways 

In conversations with contractors and adjusters about their work processes around finding building codes and jurisdiction, this is often heard: "I have been doing it this way forever." Our response? Well, just because someone has performed a process for a long time, doesn't mean it is the best way to do it. These conversations are often followed up with a description of an excel sheet that this person built five years ago. Sound familiar?  

Here comes the ol' spreadsheet 

After a storm hits a certain metropolitan area, roofers and adjusters gear up for what they know will be a busy few weeks. While all the stakeholders are looking for quick resolutions so that they can get on with more projects (or get their roof repaired), it can be difficult to decrease claim cycle times and close claims if everyone is using manual systems to gather information, communicate, and document their work. I.e., calling municipalities, filling out the previously mentioned spreadsheet, copying and pasting into a word document and emailing back and forth.  

Say for instance a contractor spends two hours tracking down the jurisdiction, compiling documents showing the building codes required for the property, and researching all of the manufacturer requirements for the particular shingle being used. Similarly, an adjuster can spend the same amount of time doing the same processes. Then comes the back and forth trying to prove which estimate is right and what items to pay for. For everyone, including the homeowner and the insurance company, this is wasted time. 

The building blocks of an accurate estimate 

For contractors and adjusters alike, manually tracking down information such as the jurisdiction, building codes, and manufacturer requirements is just a portion of what they do to build an estimate. Nevertheless, these little pieces of information are crucial to creating an estimate that is accurate and defensible.  

The real cost 

The real cost of using non-digital systems in claims estimating comes down to the inefficiencies, inaccuracies and conflict. As a company working in the Contech and Insurtech worlds, we recognize that breaking old habits is a hard thing to do. But, when it comes down to the brass tax, those companies that want to rise above will need to ditch the dark ages and embrace automated systems for claims estimating. Automation is not the way of the future, it is the way to work today. 

Learn more about OneClick Code in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.oneclickcode.com.  

Original article source: OneClick Code

By OneClick Code.  

No more spreadsheets or pen and paper calculations! OneClick Code offers estimates at the click of button.  

Eliminate the guessing game when it comes to complex roofing calculations! OneClick Code recently released a Ventilation Calculator and Ice & Water Shield (IWS) Calculator, making it easier than ever to deliver a fast and accurate roofing estimate. From finding the right roofing codes for the jurisdiction you’re in to further automating your business, increase your accuracy with OneClick Code.  

If you’ve been in the roofing industry for a while, you might be doing these calculations in your head or doing some guesswork. We understand you’re good at your job, but here’s the problem with that - you can’t use guesswork to create defensible estimates.  

“We really wanted to create something that everyone in the roofing industry could use in a meaningful way,” said Garrett Kurtt, CEO and founder of OneClick Code. “The best part is that anyone can use the free tools on OneClickCode.com, either on a computer or on a phone while on the go. All you have to do is type in the measurements prompted within the tool. If you're not sure what something is, you can hover over the information icon and a longer description will appear.” 

Ventilation Calculator 

Roof ventilation is essential for a healthy and balanced attic, but calculating it can be a challenge. This measurement can vary depending on roof size, roof pitch, and the types of vents used.  

The OneClick Code Ventilation Calculator takes the guesswork out of this mathematical equation and walks you through it every step of the way — without a confusing formula! We do this by taking the square footage of the attic to help document the need for any additional vents while taking existing vents into account. 

At the click of a button, you'll get the accurate measurements for the necessary ventilation needed based on the complexity of the roof, and how much ventilation you need to stay up to code to maintain the necessary airflow. 

Try it for yourself! 

Ice and Water Shield Calculator 

This tool calculates how much IWS you need based on the pitch of the roof and helps you justify just how much material you need by square footage and by half or full rolls. 

Ice and Water Shield, sometimes called ice barrier membrane, is a waterproof layer on a roof that protects the roof from ice and water damage. In cold climates, IWS is often required by local building codes. To determine how much IWS you need on a roof, you'll need to measure a few things first - including roof pitch, eave length, valley length, roof size and more. Then, you take all those measurements and use them in an elaborate formula to calculate how much IWS you'll need.  

The OneClick Code IWS Calculator takes the guesswork out of this mathematical equation and gives you the info you need. 

Try it for yourself!

Learn more about OneClick Code in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.oneclickcode.com.

Original article source: OneClick Code

By OneClick Code. 

Which building codes are important and how to research them. 

Despite the importance of building codes for public safety, they are still hard to understand for some people in the building and roofing industry. It is of utmost importance that everyone in these industries has knowledge of codes such as the International Building Code or IBC and the International Residential Code or IRC. Thankfully, OneClick Code has made the process of understanding these codes easy and seamless. 

Building codes date back to around 1800 B.C. and continue to be a part of the building industry that we are all a part of. The main purpose of building codes is to protect public safety and health in the buildings and structures that we occupy. 

IRC Building Code is adopted for residential buildings and the IBC Building Code is adopted for commercial buildings. All fifty states have adopted the International Building Codes at the state or jurisdiction level, but these codes vary between each state and each jurisdiction. 

So, building codes can vary from one street to another in some places which can leave money on the table with every claim or project. 

Why contractors, adjusters and insurance companies need to be up to date with codes 

Because building codes, and roofing codes more specifically, affect the way we live in our buildings and structures, we see the adoption of new building codes every one to three years following technology, manufacturing updates and general industry growth. 

However, often times code adoption will also follow natural disasters. Keeping up to date with building and roofing codes in your area is crucial to maintaining compliance for all parties involved. Adopting a model code that can incorporate technology landscape and consumer demand reduces the risk for roofers, contractors and insurance companies alike. 

How to use technology to stay up to date. Save time and make money 

Researching building and roofing codes in your area may be something that you have done time and time again if you are in the contracting, adjusting or insurance industry. 

However, with the adoption of new codes between states and over 27,000 cities and counties nationwide, it can be hard to make sure that you are finding the most accurate information and in a timely manner. Because time is money, right?! 

New technology eliminates this uncertainty and wasted time. OneClick Code is the first and ever app to automate roofing codes across the nation including manufacturer specifications, material tax and IECC within seconds. Technology can keep us up to date and in compliance which helps everyone involved. OneClick Code. Restoration intelligence, automated. 

Learn more about OneClick Code in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.oneclickcode.com. 

Original article source: OneClick Code

By OneClick Code.  

How Senate Bill 76 has evolved and what it means for your roofing practice. 

Senate Bill 76 is the latest attempt to stabilize the rising insurance premiums and insurance litigation. The Florida Statute requires every party to a lawsuit to provide notice to the court of all other lawsuits involving the same property insurance policy and for the same property. The bill has been a talking point for roofing contractors wondering exactly what the implications are for them. Keep reading to learn more about the bill and what you can expect from it in the future.  

SB 76 as it was enacted 

If you are like me and have been hearing about SB 76 but didn't understand the entirety of what it would really mean for contractors, then you must watch this video. Episode 55 from The Roofing Success Podcast does a great job of explaining the bill and ways to work around it in order to still be profitable as a roofing contractor. Jim Ahlin, interviews Winston Taitt, Sharon Freeman and Patrick Carr about the bill, how it came about and what it looked like when it was enacted. However, after this episode aired, new developments in the bill have come to the table. Keep reading to learn more.  

SB 76 today 

Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law on June 11, 2021, making it effective on July 1, 2021. SB 76 creates Florida Statute § 489.147 to prohibit a contractor from encouraging a consumer with written marketing material to make an insurance claim.  

Contractors are no longer permitted to make such solicitations by way of door hangers, business cards, magnets, flyers, pamphlets and emails. Contractors will also be prohibited from: 

• Offering (either in writing or by way of in-person solicitation) the homeowner anything of value in exchange for the homeowner allowing the contractor to inspect the roof or for making an insurance claim. 

• Offering or accepting a referral fee for services for which insurance proceeds are payable. 

• Advising a homeowner regarding the terms of a property insurance policy. 

• Providing a homeowner with an agreement for services to be rendered that does not include a detailed written estimate and a notice that the contractor cannot engage in the solicitation restrictions imposed by the statute. 

SB 76 tomorrow 

The full impact of the new legislation remains to be seen, but insurance carriers should prepare now to update claims handling protocols in accordance with the new law. The intent of these statutory changes is to reduce litigation and entice insurance carriers to return to Florida. 

“Florida’s property insurance market has been in crisis for years,” Representative Bob Rommel told FlGov.com. “Besides weather events, bad actors have been targeting homeowners and insurance companies...We need to ensure that consumers have the ability to obtain affordable insurance policies from private companies and not just Citizens, which was originally set up as the insurer of last resort. SB 76 will stabilize the market and should attract new insurance carriers to Florida.” 

However, this legislation regulates contractors rather than insurers. The form that this bill is in now, will most likely see change as the years progress. 

Learn more about OneClick Code in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.oneclickcode.com.  

Original article source: OneClick Code