Start immediately
Report the claim to your insurer as soon as you can. Delays cause problems, and Florida law sets time limits on filing and on supplementing claims — the current deadlines and your policy terms control, so confirm them with your insurer or the Department of Financial Services rather than relying on any figure you read online.
What to have ready
- Your policy number and declarations page
- Your photographs and video of the damage
- Your pre-storm inventory, if you made one
- A written list of damaged items with approximate values
- Receipts for emergency repairs, lodging and supplies
What happens next
- The insurer acknowledges the claim and assigns an adjuster.
- An adjuster inspects. Be present if you can, and walk them through the damage. Point out everything; do not assume they will notice.
- You receive an estimate or a payment. Compare it to your own list.
- If it is too low, ask for a re-inspection in writing and supply your documentation.
Where people lose money
- Accepting the first offer without checking it. Estimates are frequently incomplete, especially for contents and for work that is not visible yet.
- Signing a contract that assigns your benefits without understanding it. Assignment of benefits transfers your rights to the contractor, and it changes who controls the claim.
- Not documenting the water line. See Document Damage Before You Clean Up.
- Missing deadlines. The single most common cause of a denied or reduced claim.
If it goes wrong
The Florida Department of Financial Services runs a free consumer helpline and can help with complaints against insurers and adjusters. See myfloridacfo.com/division/consumers. You may also want independent representation — see What a Public Adjuster Does.
General information, not legal or insurance advice. Deadlines, coverages and remedies depend on your policy and current Florida law — confirm them with the Department of Financial Services or a qualified professional.