Won my hail damage claim after 4 months - here's exactly what I did

Finally posting this because I've been lurking here for months getting advice and I want to give back. Last April we had a major hail storm in the DFW area. I filed a claim, adjuster came out, and they offered me $4,200 for what I knew was at minimum a full roof replacement. I got three separate roofer estimates ranging from $18,000 to $22,000. The gap was insane.

Here's what actually worked for me. First I hired a public adjuster - best decision I made. Mine charged 10% of the final settlement but he knew exactly what to document and how to write it up. Second, I requested a re-inspection with my own roofer present on the same day. Having two sets of eyes there made a huge difference. Third - and this is the one most people skip - I filed a complaint with the Texas Department of Insurance about the lowball offer. That got attention fast.

Final settlement was $19,400. That's a difference of $15,200 from their first offer. The whole process was exhausting and stressful but it was absolutely worth it. Don't accept the first number they give you, especially on storm damage. Happy to answer questions about any part of this.