How to Make a Claim With Homeowners Insurance in Florida: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Make a Claim With Homeowners Insurance in Florida: A Step-by-Step Guide

A burst pipe, a roof torn open by a storm, a kitchen fire. When damage hits your Florida home, the last thing you need is a fight over paperwork. But what you do in the first days after a loss often decides how much you are paid. This guide walks you through how to make a claim with homeowners insurance in Florida, step by step, so you can protect your home and your rights.

Step 1: Make the Home Safe and Prevent Further Damage

Your first job is safety. If the home is structurally unsafe, or you smell gas or see exposed wiring, leave and call the proper emergency services.

Once it is safe, take reasonable steps to stop the damage from getting worse. Shut off the water, tarp a damaged roof, and board broken windows. Most Florida policies require this, and an insurer can point to neglect as a reason to reduce or deny a claim. Keep every receipt for tarps, plywood, emergency plumbers, and hotel stays. These costs are often reimbursable as part of your claim.

Do not throw away damaged items or tear out materials until they have been documented and, if possible, inspected.

Step 2: Document Everything Before You Clean Up

Evidence is the backbone of a strong claim. Before any cleanup or repairs:

• Take photos and video of every damaged area, wide shots and close-ups, inside and outside. Include the roof, ceilings, floors, and walls.
• Build a room-by-room inventory of damaged belongings with the brand, age, and approximate price of each item. Receipts and bank statements help.
• Write down the timeline: when the damage happened, when you found it, and when you reported it.
• Save related records, such as weather reports, photos of the neighborhood, texts with neighbors, and prior repair invoices.
• Get at least one estimate from a licensed contractor so you know what repairs may truly cost.

Keep a simple claim log with the date, time, name, and summary of every conversation with your insurer.

Step 3: File the Claim and Know Your Florida Deadlines

Call your insurance company or use its claims app or website, and ask for a claim number. Follow up with an email so there is a written record of the date you reported the loss.

Do not wait. Under Florida law, you generally must give notice of an initial or reopened claim within one year of the date of loss, and a supplemental claim within 18 months. Your policy may also require prompt notice, and a delay can give the insurer an argument to deny you.

Also check your policy for these items:

• Your deductible. Many Florida policies have a separate hurricane deductible, often 2% to 10% of your dwelling coverage, that applies to named storms.
• Your coverage limits for the dwelling, other structures, personal property, and additional living expenses.
• Exclusions, such as flood damage, which standard homeowners policies typically do not cover.

Step 4: Prepare for the Adjuster's Inspection

Your insurer will send an adjuster to inspect the damage. Remember that this adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you.

Be present for the inspection. Walk the adjuster through every affected room and the roof, and point out damage that may not be obvious, like moisture behind walls or cracked tiles. Hand over your photos, inventory, and contractor estimate. Do not guess at the cause of damage, downplay problems, or sign anything you do not fully understand.

Afterward, ask for a copy of the adjuster's report and estimate. If you want help, you can hire a licensed public adjuster to prepare and negotiate your claim. Florida law caps what they can charge, but you should read any contract carefully before signing.

Step 5: Know What Your Insurer Must Do, and When

Florida law sets timelines for insurers. In general, your insurer must acknowledge your claim within 7 days, begin investigating promptly, and pay or deny the claim within 60 days of receiving notice, unless circumstances outside its control prevent it. Any undisputed amount must be paid within that window. Request every decision in writing.

When the estimate arrives, compare it line by line with your contractor's. At Louis Law Group, we regularly see these warning signs of an underpaid claim:

• A low estimate that does not cover the full cost of repairs
• Roof repair offered when replacement is needed
• Hidden water or mold damage left out of the scope
• Heavy depreciation deductions on your payment
• Long silence, missed deadlines, or repeated requests for the same documents

If something looks wrong, do not accept the payment as final without understanding what you may be giving up.

Step 6: What to Do If Your Claim Is Denied or Underpaid

A denial or low offer is not the end of the road. Start by asking the insurer for a written explanation that cites the specific policy language it relied on. Then consider these options:

1. Submit a supplemental claim with new evidence, such as a second estimate, an engineer's report, or additional photos.
2. Request mediation. The Florida Department of Financial Services offers a free mediation program for many residential property claims.
3. Talk to a property insurance attorney before the deadlines pass. The sooner a lawyer reviews your policy and claim file, the more options you have.

Louis Law Group helps Florida homeowners challenge unfair denials, lowball estimates, and delayed payments. We review your policy, your insurer's file, and your damage evidence so you know where you stand and what your claim may truly be worth.

You pay premiums for years so that help is there when disaster strikes. You deserve a fair claim process, not a runaround.

If your Florida property damage claim was denied or underpaid, Louis Law Group fights for your full compensation. Call us for a free case review.