09/30/2022
Whether us or someone else here are tips for hiring a public adjuster for Hurricane and Flood claims. Please not there is a huge difference. Most public adjusters have never worked a flood claim. Do NOT allow them to experiment with you. These are nothing like a standard claim and are federally handled. You CAN NOT complain to the State or ask them to step in on any issues. They can not help you. Here are important flood tips for any flood claim and some overall tips....
• No matter what you are told – DO NOT dispose of contents without at a minimum a picture of every item worth more than $100, serial numbers for electronics, and if possible holding them until the inspection. NFIP/flood carriers phone agents do not hold the insurance company responsible for incorrect information here.
• Pre-firm and Post-firm home dates are treated differently. The age of your home and your first elevated level flood cert are extremely important. Make sure you know this so you are covered properly.
• Flood claims are not handled the same as homeowners or Hurricane claims. They follow federal guidelines and do not vary state to state. The same style and payment methods apply in Florida as any other state. For example, they will not pay to match unaffected upper cabinets not matter what someone tells you, they will not pay for mold remediation or growth a foot or two above the highest flood line, will not pay for insulation that wicks well above the flood line, and they will only accept a line by line item and material estimate. The flood line is the coverage line.
• Flood claims must have the full notarized claim demand submitted in the first 60 days and are very hard to dispute. They need to be done right from the very beginning. Sometimes during a catastrophic event if it is large enough (like Hurricane Sandy) they will extend the 60 day deadline. For Sandy and Irma it went to 180 days or more.
• Flood will usually not pay invoices for emergency costs at market price. They only pay set prices. Often the water or mold dryout company will try to bill the flood insurance direct. This can not be done in NFIP policies and you may be left with the bill. Also, there a specific guidelines and documents to get reimbursed for these expenses you must have and need done by these companies. Do not pay them without them.
• Estimates need to be done in insurance software line by line. A normal contractor estimate will not suffice and all estimates must be broken down in each room, by each item, exact measurement, material, labor, depreciation, and other costs like ….
• Many flood adjusters are from other states or were recently licensed to assist with the storm. Ask them where they are from. Both flood adjusters and Non resident public adjusters are not typically familiar with the building style of homes in Florida and often can miss items in the estimate. Public Adjuster’s assist greatly in this manor.
• You can check an Adjuster license at http://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/Agents/ to see if they are licensed, assigned to a company, and a Florida resident or non-resident adjuster. This can be done for public and carrier adjusters. Flood adjusters as well. You will also get an idea of HOW LONG and how much experience someone has. Often insurance company adjusters have no experience after big storms as they need more adjusters and hire newly licensed people.
• Contractors of any kind are not legally allowed to negotiate an insurance claim of any kind in Florida. It is a felony no matter what they say. They often only worry about their repairs and finalize your claim without contents, living expenses, and more.
• If you do not like what your flood adjuster said at the inspection get help ASAP. Disputing flood claim amounts no matter what they tell you is extremely difficult, often not fruitful, and takes forever. There are hardly any attorneys in this field that help. So you need to dispute early and properly.
