- Large hail
- Straight-line wind
- Flash flooding
- Dust and blowing debris
- Metal roof damage
Storm country on the Pecos
East of the Capitan and Sacramento mountains, the land flattens into the Pecos Valley, and Roswell is right in the path of the thunderstorms that roll off the high terrain each spring and summer. Hail is a regular visitor in Chaves County, and severe storms can carry straight-line winds that strip shingles, bend metal panels and send debris into siding and windows. Blowing dust is common in late winter and spring.
Water is part of the picture too. Roswell has a history of flash flooding when slow-moving storms stall over the city, and the flooding in October 2024 was a hard reminder of how quickly streets and low-lying homes can be inundated. Most of that kind of water damage falls under flood rather than homeowners coverage, which is why it’s worth understanding where each policy begins and ends.
Roswell’s buildings
Close to downtown and the older parts of town, many homes are brick or frame construction from the early and mid-twentieth century, often with pitched shingle roofs that have been re-covered more than once. Newer subdivisions on the north and west sides lean toward frame-and-brick or stucco ranch homes with architectural shingles. Out in the county, farm and ranch properties add metal-roofed barns, equipment sheds, irrigation structures and fencing, all of which come with their own coverage limits and pricing questions. Manufactured homes are widespread across Chaves County.
Common Roswell claim disputes
- Cosmetic versus functional hail. Dents in metal roofing and siding may be called cosmetic, especially where a policy contains a cosmetic damage exclusion. How the policy defines functional damage matters.
- Multiple layers. Older homes with more than one layer of shingles require tear-off and disposal that is sometimes omitted.
- Brick and window damage. Spalled brick, broken window seals and damaged screens are easy to miss in a quick inspection.
- Outbuildings. Barns, sheds and carports are often scoped with minimal detail or priced as if they were simple structures.
- Prior storm arguments. Where a property has seen hail before, carriers may attribute damage to an earlier event.
See our hail and roof appraisal page and our commercial and HOA appraisal page for larger properties.
Serving Chaves County
We handle Roswell claims as part of a statewide practice, without a local office. We start by reviewing the policy, the carrier’s estimate and any photos you have, then inspect the property and build a detailed scope. If the policy includes a percentage wind or hail deductible, our percentage deductible converter shows the dollar figure before you weigh your options.
When the difference is significant, we can be appointed as your appraiser under the appraisal clause. Read about the steps on inside the appraisal process, or see how we work in nearby Carlsbad. Get in touch when you’re ready.
Services available in Roswell
Every New Mexico Insurance Appraiser service is available in Roswell and the rest of Chaves County, including:
- Appraisal Clause Representation
- Home Insurance Appraisal
- Commercial & HOA Appraisal
- Hail & Roof Appraisal
- High Wind Damage Appraisal
- Water Damage Appraisal
- Fire & Smoke Damage Appraisal
- Wildfire Loss Appraisal
Roswell claim questions
Was the October 2024 flooding in Roswell covered by homeowners insurance?
Rising surface water is generally treated as flood, which standard homeowners policies exclude. Flood coverage comes from the NFIP or a private flood policy, though some water damage from other causes may still fall under a homeowners policy.
My metal roof has hail dents but doesn’t leak. Is that covered?
It depends on the policy. Some contain a cosmetic damage exclusion for metal roofing, while others do not. Read the policy language closely, and if the dispute is about coverage rather than amount, consult a New Mexico attorney.
Can you appraise barns and outbuildings on a ranch property?
Yes. Outbuildings, fencing and other structures can be included in the appraisal if they are part of the claim, priced for how they are actually built.