No, you do not have to use the contractor your insurance company recommends. In Georgia and Florida you have the right to hire any licensed contractor to repair storm, wind, hail, or fire damage covered by your policy, and choosing your own contractor does not violate your policy or reduce what the carrier owes you. Your insurer’s “preferred vendor” is a convenience they offer, not a condition of coverage.
Do I Have to Use the Contractor My Insurance Company Recommends?
No. Georgia and Florida insurance law does not require a policyholder to hire the contractor an insurance company suggests, refers, or lists as “preferred.” Your policy is a contract between you and the carrier to pay for covered damage — it is not a contract that assigns you a specific repair crew. You can hire Integrity CRR, a service-disabled veteran-owned general contractor licensed in Georgia (GC license #GCCO009212) and Florida (CGC1539499), or any other licensed contractor you choose, and the carrier still has to pay the approved claim to the contractor you actually select.
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 volume in exchange for a steady stream of referred work. That arrangement can genuinely 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. That relationship creates pressure to keep estimates inside what the carrier expects to pay, because a contractor who consistently writes big supplements risks getting fewer referrals next quarter. That does not mean every preferred contractor lowballs a claim. It does mean the incentive runs toward the carrier’s number, not necessarily toward the full, documented cost of the repair.
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
How Integrity CRR Handles a Claim
Integrity CRR holds the highest level of Haag Certified Reviewer credential, which requires Xactimate certification — the same estimating platform nearly every property insurance carrier uses to price claims. That means the scope gets written in the carrier’s own software, line by line, and laid beside the adjuster’s estimate to show exactly which items are missing or underpriced, instead of submitting a different format and arguing generalities. Roof inspections are done by Haag-certified inspectors, and because roofing is self-performed by Integrity’s own crews, the same team that documents the damage also builds the repair — the estimate isn’t handed off to a separate sub who never saw the roof.
The process runs in order: inspection and photo documentation, a written scope in Xactimate, a site meeting with the adjuster to walk the damage together, and a supplement if the approved estimate leaves out code-required upgrades, detached structures, or damage that only shows up once the roof is opened. Once a claim is approved, Integrity CRR guarantees you get the full value of it — meaning every item of justified, claimable damage gets written into the scope Integrity controls. That guarantee covers the completeness of the scope, not the carrier’s coverage decision. What your policy covers is between you and your carrier, and Integrity CRR is a contractor, not a public adjuster — it does not negotiate or settle your claim on your behalf. It documents the damage, writes the estimate, and pursues supplements as the contractor of record.
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
Switching from a preferred-vendor referral to a contractor you picked does not restart your claim or forfeit coverage. You still file with your carrier the same way; the only difference is who documents the damage and who the adjuster meets on site. Integrity CRR works claims across metro Atlanta, including Sandy Springs, Marietta, and Alpharetta, along with the rest of Georgia and Florida.
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?
The payout is based on the approved scope of damage, not on which contractor is doing the work. What can change the payout is the quality of the estimate: a contractor who writes the scope in the carrier’s own software and documents every damaged item is more likely to catch what a quick preferred-vendor estimate misses.
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 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.