Guides
Playbooks for every stage of your claim.
62 pages in this collection
62 results
Condo Water or Storm Damage: Is It Your HO-6, the Association, or the Neighbor?
Condo damage: who actually owes what, and how to sort the statutory insurance question from the liability question in three steps.DecisionTheft or vandalism. Here is what to do in the first 48 hours.
Theft claims rise or fall on documentation. Police report first, full inventory second, carrier notice third. In that order. Not the other way around.EmergencyPublic Adjuster vs Attorney in Florida: Which One Do You Need?
A public adjuster values and negotiates your claim; an attorney litigates your legal rights. Here is which one fits your Florida situation.DecisionDo I Need a Public Adjuster? A Florida Claim Decision Guide
You need a public adjuster when the claim is underpaid, denied, large, or complex, and you can often skip one on a small, fully paid loss. Here is how to tell.DecisionIs a Public Adjuster Worth It? The Florida Fee-Cap Math
A public adjuster is worth it when the added recovery beats their capped, contingent fee. Here is the Florida fee-cap math and how to run it.DecisionPublic Adjuster Cost & Fees in Florida: The Statutory Caps
A Florida public adjuster costs no more than 20% of the claim payment (10% in a declared catastrophe’s first year), with no upfront fee. Here is how it works.DecisionWater damage. Here is what to do in the first 48 hours.
Water damage moves fast. The first 48 hours decide what you will recover. Shut off the source, document before cleanup, and do not sign anything a contractor hands you in the driveway.EmergencyStorm damage. Here is what to do in the first 48 hours.
After the storm passes, insurance carriers are overwhelmed. Your documentation, speed, and sequencing decide whether you get a fair settlement or a CAT-team drive-by estimate.EmergencyTree impact. Here is what to do in the first 48 hours.
Tree damage covers a wide range: roof penetration, siding impact, pool cage collapse, vehicle crush, fence destruction. Each has different coverage rules. The first 48 hours are about safety and documentation, not cleanup.EmergencySinkhole activity. Here is what to do in the first 48 hours.
Sinkhole claims are among the most technical and contested in Florida. FS 627.706 governs the process, required testing, and the difference between "catastrophic ground cover collapse" and non-catastrophic sinkhole activity.EmergencyVehicle hit my home. Here is what to do in the first 48 hours.
Vehicle impact claims are multi-policy situations: their auto, your home, possibly their bodily injury, and sometimes municipal liability. Coordination in the first 48 hours decides whether you get paid fully and quickly or fight for a year.EmergencyFire damage. Here is what to do in the first 48 hours.
Fire damage claims turn on scope. Not on whether it is covered, but on how much. The first 48 hours set the ceiling on what you will recover.EmergencyRoof damage. Here is what to do in the first 48 hours.
Roof claims are the most denied property claims in Florida. The paperwork and photographic evidence you generate in the first 48 hours decides whether you replace the roof or fight for a patch.EmergencyBringing Your Contractor to the Adjuster Inspection
Your contractor's presence helps ensure scope accuracy. Here is how to coordinate without overstepping.InspectionBringing Your Public Adjuster to the Inspection
A public adjuster at the inspection changes the dynamic. Scopes tend to be more thorough, negotiations more cooperative.InspectionWhen the Carrier Brings in an Engineer
Carrier engineers often produce reports that minimize scope or dispute causation. Your right to an independent engineer is the counter.InspectionScope Sheets: Read Before Signing Anything
The scope sheet is the carrier's assessment of what to repair and at what cost. Sign nothing without review.InspectionWhat to Say to a Florida Insurance Adjuster
The adjuster is a carrier employee, not your advocate. Language choices during inspection echo through the claim. Here is how to talk.InspectionQuestions You Should Ask the Carrier Adjuster
Take control of the inspection by asking the right questions. Timeline, scope details, next steps.InspectionQuestions a Good Adjuster Should Ask You
A thorough inspection includes specific questions. If they skip these, they are under-scoping.InspectionIndependent vs. Company Adjuster: Know Who Is Writing Your Scope
Independent adjusters are contracted by the carrier. Company adjusters are employees. Both represent the carrier, but their incentives differ.InspectionRed Flags During Your Carrier Inspection
When the inspection is being rushed, under-scoped, or pressure-tested, these are the signs. Know what to look for.InspectionWhat to Expect When the Adjuster Arrives
The first inspection visit sets the tone for the entire claim. What happens, who does what, and what to have ready.InspectionRequesting a Re-Inspection of Your Florida Claim
If the first inspection missed scope, you can request a re-inspection. Here is how and when.InspectionDocumenting the Carrier Inspection
Your record of the inspection is your defense against scope gaps later. What to photograph, record, and write down.InspectionRecorded Statements: Your Rights as a Florida Policyholder
Carriers ask for recorded statements. You can delay. You can have representation. Here is what to do.InspectionWhat NOT to Say to an Insurance Adjuster
Statements that hurt claims. Speculation, apologies, cost estimates you cannot back up. Avoid these.InspectionDesk Adjuster vs. Field Adjuster: Why It Matters
Desk adjusters work remotely from your photos and documents. Field adjusters come to your home. Different processes, different risks.InspectionPool Cage and Screen Enclosure Coverage in Florida
The sublimit on Coverage B that trips up many Florida homeowners when a tree falls or a hurricane hits.Pre-LossHow to Document Your Florida Home Before a Claim
Every room, every elevation, every valuable item photographed and stored before anything happens. The single highest-ROI prep step.Pre-LossThe True Cost of Filing Small Florida Claims
Filing a $3,000 claim can cost $5,000 over five years in lost discounts and premium increases. Know the math before you file.Pre-LossYour Annual Florida Policy Review Checklist
What to check every renewal so you catch coverage reductions, endorsement changes, and new exclusions.Pre-LossFlorida Impact-Resistant Upgrades: Discounts and Protection
Impact windows, hurricane shutters, roof deck adhesive, and secondary water resistance reduce damage and generate premium credits.Pre-LossTree Risk Assessment for Florida Homeowners
Diseased trees, overhanging limbs, and shallow roots cause covered-but-preventable claims. Annual tree walk protects your home and your claim.Pre-LossCommon Coverage Gaps in Florida Homeowners Policies
The coverage you probably think you have but may not. Screen enclosures, mold limits, replacement cost content, flood exclusion, and more.Pre-LossBuilding a Defensible Home Inventory for Insurance
The inventory you wish you had when a claim happens. Brand, model, age, condition, value. Plus the storage strategy that makes it defensible.Pre-LossFlorida Hurricane Season Preparation Checklist
Four weeks before season, one week before landfall, and 48 hours before impact. Complete preparation list.Pre-LossAssignment of Benefits (AOB) in Florida Explained
What AOB does, why Florida reformed it in 2019, and why you should not sign one without a cooling-off period.Pre-LossFlorida Four-Point Inspection for Older Homes
What it covers, when it is required, and how to pass. Essential for homes over 30 years in Florida.Pre-LossFlorida Sinkhole Coverage: CGCC vs Non-Catastrophic Activity
Mandatory catastrophic ground cover collapse coverage versus optional non-catastrophic sinkhole activity. What your policy actually covers.Pre-LossAdditional Living Expense Coverage Explained
Hotel costs, meals above normal, storage, pet boarding, and mileage when your home is uninhabitable.Pre-LossReplacement Cost Value vs Actual Cash Value
The difference that decides whether you get a new roof or the depreciated value of a 15-year-old roof.Pre-LossFlorida Hurricane Deductible Strategy
Hurricane, named storm, all-other-perils, sinkhole. Florida policies have multiple deductibles and strategic trade-offs.Pre-LossPublic Adjuster vs. Independent Adjuster vs. Company Adjuster
Three titles, three allegiances. Who works for you, who works for the carrier, and how to tell.Pre-LossFlorida Wind Mitigation Inspection Explained
What a wind mitigation inspection is, what features it credits, and how the report affects your premium. Required every 5 years in most Florida policies.Pre-LossUnderstanding Separate Flood Insurance in Florida
Your homeowners does not cover flood. NFIP and private flood are the two paths. Waiting periods, coverage, and when you need it.Pre-LossHow to Read Your Florida Homeowners Policy
Your declarations page, your coverage sections, and your endorsements explained in the order you should read them.Pre-LossOrdinance or Law Coverage: Code Upgrades Explained
When repairs require current code, you may owe more than replacement cost. Ordinance or law closes that gap.Pre-LossFNOL. First Notice of Loss.
The call that starts the claim. What to say, what to document, what to expect in the first 14 days.ProcessSettlement. The offer and the negotiation.
The settlement offer is an opening. Reviewing it, calculating gaps, and negotiating to full scope.ProcessFNOL. Primer Aviso de Pérdida.
La llamada que inicia el reclamo. Qué decir, qué documentar, qué esperar en los primeros días.ProcessAcuerdo. La oferta y la negociación.
La oferta de acuerdo es una apertura. Revisarla, calcular brechas y negociar hasta el alcance completo.ProcessInspección. Cuando llega el ajustador de la aseguradora.
La inspección del ajustador de la aseguradora es la reunión más importante de su reclamo. Qué preparar, qué decir, qué documentar.ProcessDisputa. Cuando usted y la aseguradora no están de acuerdo.
Mediación, apreciación y litigio. Los procesos estatutarios de Florida para resolver disputas de reclamos.ProcessPre-Loss. Policy review before you ever file a claim.
Before any damage happens, know your coverage. Read your declarations page. Photograph your home. This is the stage that decides the next six.ProcessEstimating. The scope and amount negotiation.
The carrier's estimate is the first number, not the last. How scopes are built, where they undercount, and how to push back.ProcessEstimación. La negociación de alcance y monto.
La estimación de la aseguradora es el primer número, no el último. Cómo se construyen los alcances, dónde subestiman y cómo responder.ProcessClosing. Repairs complete. Depreciation released.
Final phase. Repairs documented, depreciation claimed, mortgage company satisfied, claim closed.ProcessPre-Pérdida. Revisión de póliza antes de presentar un reclamo.
Antes de que ocurra cualquier daño, conozca su cobertura. Lea su página de declaraciones. Fotografíe su casa. Esta es la etapa que decide las siguientes seis.ProcessInspection. When the carrier adjuster arrives.
Carrier adjuster inspection is the most consequential meeting in your claim. What to prepare, what to say, what to document.ProcessCierre. Reparaciones completas. Depreciación liberada.
Fase final. Reparaciones documentadas, depreciación reclamada, banco hipotecario satisfecho, reclamo cerrado.ProcessDispute. When the carrier and you disagree.
Mediation, appraisal, and litigation. Florida's statutory processes for resolving claim disputes.Process
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