How to File a Property Insurance Claim in Southwest Florida: What to Expect

Discovering damage to your home is stressful enough. Figuring out what you’re supposed to do next shouldn’t make the situation harder.

Whether the damage involves a hurricane, wind, water, fire, theft or another unexpected event, taking the right steps early can make the insurance claim process easier to document and understand.

For homeowners in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and throughout Southwest Florida, severe weather adds another layer of complexity because a single storm can potentially involve wind damage, rain damage and flooding — and those losses are not necessarily handled by the same insurance policy.

At Wilcox Family Insurance, one of the most common questions we receive after property damage is:

“What do I do now?”

Here is a practical step-by-step look at how the property insurance claim process generally works in Florida.

Step 1: Make Sure Everyone Is Safe

Before worrying about insurance, make sure everyone is safe.

If the property has experienced serious structural damage, fire, electrical hazards, flooding or another dangerous condition, do not put yourself at risk trying to inspect it.

Contact emergency services when necessary and follow instructions from local authorities.

If you must leave the property because of the damage, secure the home when it is safe to do so and keep records of expenses you incur.

Step 2: Stop Additional Damage When It Is Safe

After a loss, homeowners generally have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage.

That does not mean immediately beginning permanent repairs.

It means taking reasonable emergency measures when they can be done safely.

Examples might include:

• Placing a temporary tarp over a damaged roof
• Covering a broken window
• Turning off a leaking water supply
• Removing standing water when appropriate
• Moving undamaged belongings away from an affected area

Florida’s Department of Financial Services recommends making necessary emergency repairs, photographing the damage before and after those repairs, and keeping receipts.

The important words here are temporary and documented.

Before making significant permanent repairs, talk with your insurance company so you understand any inspection or repair requirements contained in your policy.

Step 3: Take Photos and Video Before Cleaning Up

Your phone can be one of your most useful tools after a loss.

Before moving, cleaning or repairing damaged property, document as much as you safely can.

Take:

• Wide photographs of each affected area
• Close-up photographs of individual damage
• Video walking through the affected rooms
• Photos of damaged furniture and belongings
• Photos of the roof or exterior when it is safe
• Photos of standing water or water lines when applicable
• Photos before and after emergency repairs

Do not worry about taking too many pictures.

Digital photographs are inexpensive. Recreating evidence of what the property looked like before cleanup can be impossible.

Step 4: Make a List of Damaged Property

If personal belongings were damaged, begin creating an inventory.

Write down things such as:

• Item
• Brand
• Model
• Approximate age
• Approximate purchase price
• Where it was purchased
• Description of the damage

Receipts, photographs taken before the loss, online purchase histories, credit-card records and product manuals may help document what you owned.

Florida DFS also recommends making an inventory of damaged items and generally avoiding disposal of damaged property before the insurer has had an opportunity to address it, except when an item presents a health risk.

Step 5: Report the Claim Promptly

Once the immediate situation is under control, report the loss to your insurance company as soon as reasonably possible.

You will generally need information such as:

• Policyholder’s name
• Property address
• Policy number
• Date of loss
• Approximate time of loss
• Description of what happened
• Areas of the home affected
• Contact information
• Temporary repairs already completed

Your insurance company will provide a claim number.

Save it.

You will probably use that number throughout the process when communicating with the insurer, adjuster, contractors or other parties.

Wilcox Family Insurance customers can also visit our insurance carrier directory to locate their insurance company.

Should I Call My Insurance Agent or the Insurance Company?

You can contact your insurance agent if you need help identifying your insurance company or understanding where to report the loss.

The actual claim, however, is handled by the insurance company and its claims department.

Florida DFS recommends that policyholders make the initial contact with their insurance company rather than allowing a contractor or remediation company to initiate the claim on their behalf.

If you are unsure which company insures your property, contact Wilcox Family Insurance and our team can help you identify your carrier and locate the appropriate claims contact information.

Step 6: Your Insurance Company Opens the Claim

After you report the loss, the insurance company creates a claim file.

Florida law currently requires a property insurer to generally review and acknowledge communications regarding a claim within seven calendar days, subject to certain exceptions.

You may receive:

• Your claim number
• Adjuster’s contact information
• Forms to complete
• Instructions for submitting documents
• Requests for photographs
• Proof-of-loss information
• Information about the next steps

Create a folder — either physical or digital — specifically for the claim.

Save everything.

Step 7: A Claims Adjuster Is Assigned

The insurance company will generally assign an adjuster to evaluate the loss.

Depending on the circumstances, the insurer may conduct an in-person inspection or use other methods to document the property.

If a physical inspection is required, Florida law includes requirements involving the adjuster’s identification and the timing of the inspection after proof-of-loss documentation is received.

During the inspection, the adjuster may:

• Photograph the damage
• Measure affected areas
• Inspect the roof
• Review damaged materials
• Ask questions about what happened
• Review temporary repairs
• Discuss damaged personal property
• Request additional documentation

Be cooperative, but do not feel that you need to guess when you do not know an answer.

It is perfectly reasonable to say:

“I’m not sure.”

Accuracy is more important than speculation.

Step 8: Keep a Claim Log

Claims can involve a lot of phone calls, emails and documents.

Keep a simple record containing:

• Claim number
• Adjuster’s name
• Adjuster’s phone number
• Adjuster’s email
• Date of each conversation
• What was discussed
• Documents requested
• Documents submitted
• Contractor estimates
• Receipts
• Inspection dates

If you send important documents electronically, keep copies.

Florida’s Division of Consumer Services also recommends keeping detailed records of communications with the insurance company if a claim issue later needs to be reviewed.

Step 9: Understand Your Deductible

A covered insurance claim does not necessarily mean the insurance company pays the entire amount of the loss.

Your deductible generally represents the amount you are responsible for before applicable insurance payments are calculated.

Florida property policies may have different deductibles for different types of losses.

For example, a homeowner might have:

• A standard all-other-perils deductible
• A separate hurricane deductible

The applicable deductible depends on the policy and circumstances surrounding the loss.

Check your declarations page or ask your insurance company if you’re uncertain which deductible applies.

Step 10: Hurricane Damage Can Involve More Than One Type of Insurance

This is especially important in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and coastal Southwest Florida.

People often use the phrase “hurricane damage” as though it were one type of insurance claim.

It isn’t always that simple.

Imagine a hurricane causes:

Wind to damage the roof

while

storm surge enters the house from the ground.

Those losses may involve different coverage.

Homeowners insurance may provide coverage for certain wind-related damage depending on the policy, while flooding and storm surge are generally addressed through separate flood insurance.

That means one property can potentially have:

A homeowners/wind claim

and

A flood claim

associated with the same storm.

If you are unsure which policy may apply, report the circumstances accurately and let the appropriate insurance companies evaluate the loss.

You can also learn more about hurricane insurance and wind coverage.

Step 11: The Insurance Company Evaluates Coverage

An adjuster’s inspection does not automatically mean the claim will be paid.

The insurance company must determine whether the loss falls within the coverage provided by the policy.

That evaluation can involve:

• Cause of loss
• Policy coverage
• Exclusions
• Deductibles
• Coverage limits
• Endorsements
• Condition of the damaged property
• Documentation
• Repair estimates

The insurance company may request additional information before making its final determination.

This is one reason it is important to avoid assuming:

“There was damage, so everything must be covered.”

Insurance coverage depends on both what happened and what the policy says.

Step 12: You May Receive an Insurance Estimate

After inspecting the property, the insurance company may prepare an estimate of covered repairs.

Review it carefully.

Compare the estimate against:

• The actual areas damaged
• Contractor estimates
• Materials required
• Repairs being recommended
• Your deductible
• Depreciation, when applicable
• Policy limits
• Any excluded items

Florida’s Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights provides that policyholders generally have the right to receive a copy of a detailed insurer estimate within seven days after that estimate is generated by the insurer’s adjuster.

If you believe something was missed, communicate that information to the insurance company.

Step 13: What Happens if Additional Damage Is Discovered?

Sometimes damage is not obvious during the initial inspection.

A contractor may open a wall and discover additional water damage.

Roof repairs may reveal hidden damage underneath.

If you discover additional damage related to the original loss, document it immediately and contact your insurance company before simply assuming it is included in the original estimate.

Florida DFS specifically advises consumers to communicate additional damage discovered during the claim process to their insurer.

How Long Does a Florida Property Insurance Claim Take?

There is no single timeline for every claim.

A small water loss and widespread hurricane damage affecting thousands of Southwest Florida homes obviously may not progress in exactly the same way.

Florida law does, however, establish several important claim-handling timeframes.

For residential property claims, current Florida law generally provides for:

• 7 days: acknowledgment of the reported claim
• 14 days: delivery of the Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights
• 30 days: certain coverage-status information after a complete proof-of-loss statement, upon written request
• 60 days: payment of the claim or undisputed portion, or denial, subject to applicable exceptions

Florida’s statutes recognize exceptions when circumstances outside the insurance company’s control prevent compliance with certain deadlines.

These timelines are worth knowing, but they should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every aspect of every claim will be completely resolved within a particular number of days.

What Is the Florida Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights?

Florida has a Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights for personal-lines residential property insurance claims.

Insurance companies generally must provide it within 14 days after receiving the initial claim communication.

The document summarizes important rights during the claims process, including certain timelines involving:

• Claim acknowledgment
• Coverage decisions
• Estimates
• Claim payments
• Claim denials

Keep this document with the rest of your claim paperwork.

Should I Immediately Hire a Contractor?

You may need a contractor quickly to prevent additional damage.

However, there is a difference between:

Emergency mitigation

and

Signing a major permanent repair contract.

Before signing a contract, understand:

• Exactly what work will be performed
• How much it costs
• Who is responsible for amounts insurance does not pay
• Whether the contractor is properly licensed
• Whether your insurance policy contains managed-repair requirements
• Whether the insurer needs to inspect the property first

Florida DFS recommends contacting the insurance company before entering into permanent repair agreements and verifying contractor licensing and insurance.

After hurricanes and other disasters, homeowners should be particularly cautious about signing contracts they do not fully understand.

Should I Throw Away Damaged Property?

Usually, don’t rush.

Your insurance company may need an opportunity to inspect damaged belongings.

Take photographs and preserve damaged property when reasonably possible.

There are obvious exceptions.

Food, contaminated materials or other items creating a legitimate health or safety hazard may need to be discarded.

Document those items thoroughly before disposal whenever possible.

What if I Disagree With the Insurance Company’s Decision?

Start by communicating with the insurance company.

If you believe:

• Damage was missed
• An estimate is incomplete
• Coverage was incorrectly evaluated
• Additional damage has been discovered

provide the insurer with documentation supporting your concern.

That could include:

• Photographs
• Contractor estimates
• Inspection reports
• Receipts
• Repair documentation
• Other relevant records

Florida’s Department of Financial Services provides insurance-consumer assistance and offers a residential property mediation program for eligible disputes. DFS recommends contacting the insurer first and allowing it an opportunity to address the issue.

What Should You Avoid After a Property Loss?

A few simple mistakes can make an already stressful situation more difficult.

Try to avoid:

• Waiting unnecessarily to report significant damage
• Throwing damaged items away before documenting them
• Beginning major permanent repairs before the insurer can inspect
• Losing receipts for emergency repairs
• Failing to photograph damage
• Signing contracts you do not understand
• Allowing someone else to initiate your insurance claim without understanding what they are doing
• Guessing about the cause of damage
• Assuming all hurricane-related damage falls under the same insurance policy
• Failing to keep records of conversations with the insurer

The goal is simple:

Protect the property, document the damage and communicate clearly.

What Does Your Insurance Agent Do During a Claim?

Insurance agents and insurance adjusters perform different roles.

The insurance company and its claims adjusters investigate the loss and make decisions regarding coverage and payment.

Your independent insurance agency can still be a valuable resource.

At Wilcox Family Insurance, we can help customers:

• Identify their insurance company
• Locate claims contact information
• Understand where to report a loss
• Locate policy information
• Understand general insurance terminology
• Communicate with the appropriate carrier when assistance is needed

Our insurance carrier directory includes many of the companies we work with.

Our website and phone system can also help customers connect with their insurance carrier for claims assistance.

After the Claim: Review Your Coverage

A claim can reveal things about an insurance policy that homeowners may not have noticed before the loss.

Once the immediate claim is resolved, it may be worth reviewing:

• Dwelling coverage
• Hurricane deductible
• Roof coverage
• Water-damage limitations
• Personal property coverage
• Flood insurance
• Liability limits
• Additional living expense coverage
• Other policy endorsements

The middle of a claim is generally not the time to start shopping for coverage for damage that has already occurred.

But afterward, understanding what worked — and what didn’t — can help you make better insurance decisions going forward.

Learn more about homeowners insurance or contact our team if you would like help reviewing your coverage.

Insurance Claim Help in Southwest Florida

Property damage can be overwhelming, particularly after a hurricane or major storm affects thousands of homes throughout Fort Myers, Cape Coral and the surrounding Southwest Florida area.

Remember the basic process:

1. Make sure everyone is safe.
2. Prevent additional damage when safely possible.
3. Photograph and document everything.
4. Report the claim promptly.
5. Save your claim number and adjuster’s information.
6. Keep receipts and records.
7. Allow the insurance company to inspect the damage.
8. Review the insurer’s estimate and coverage determination.
9. Report additional damage if it is discovered.
10. Ask questions when something does not make sense.

If you are a Wilcox Family Insurance customer and aren’t sure which company to contact, visit our carrier directory or contact Wilcox Family Insurance.

Our team can help point you in the right direction.