Insurance Claim Guides
Practical, plain-English guides to property insurance claims in McAllen, Hidalgo County, and across Texas—written by public adjuster Joseph Dittman.
McAllen adopted the 2024 ICC codes effective January 1, 2026. Here is how codes, permits, and ordinance or law coverage interact when insurance pays for repairs.
By Joseph Dittman, Public Adjuster
Read the articleCommercial storm claims involve more moving parts than home claims. This guide covers roofs, rooftop units, signage, glass, inventory, business income records, and lease responsibilities.
Read articleHard freezes are rare in McAllen, but February 2021 showed how much damage burst pipes can cause. Here is how freeze and burst pipe claims usually work.
Read articleA roof estimate that looks complete can still leave out starter, ridge, flashing, steep charges, or O&P. Here is how to read the line items and ask for a supplement.
Read articleMcAllen sits inland, but tropical systems like Dolly (2008) and Hanna (2020) still brought wind and flooding. Here is how coverage, deductibles, and claims work.
Read articleWear and tear, prior damage, "no hail that size," engineer reports — here is how McAllen property owners can respond when an insurer disputes storm damage.
Read articleNOAA records 163 hail reports in Hidalgo County from 1956 to 2025, and most fall in April and May. Here is what the data says about McAllen hail season.
Read articleNOAA storm reports can help tie hail or wind damage to a specific date. Here is how McAllen property owners can find them, read them, and use them wisely.
Read articleWhy was your first insurance check smaller than the estimate? A plain-English guide to replacement cost, actual cash value, depreciation, and how holdback is released in Texas.
Read articleA burst pipe and a flooded street can leave the same wet drywall, but insurance treats them very differently. Here is how McAllen owners can tell water damage from flood damage.
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