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In the First Days
- Take photos and video of all damage before starting repairs.
- Make reasonable temporary repairs to prevent further damage, and keep your receipts.
- Write down the date and time of the damage and when you discovered it.
- Keep damaged materials, or photograph them before disposal and keep samples where practical.
Reporting and Deadlines
- Report the damage to your insurance company promptly and save your claim number.
- A new or reopened claim must be reported within one year of the date of loss. Fla. Stat. § 627.70132.
- Additional damage found later must be reported as a supplemental claim within 18 months of the date of loss. § 627.70132.
- Request a certified copy of your full policy, including endorsements and declarations pages.
While the Adjuster Is Involved
- Keep a written log of every call, email, and inspection, with dates.
- Ask for a copy of the adjuster's estimate and compare it with contractor bids. The insurer must send any detailed estimate within 7 days after its adjuster generates it. Fla. Stat. § 627.70131(3)(e) (2026).
- Ask for the claim log. The insurer must record all claim activity, including inspections, communications, and decisions. § 627.70131(4)(a).
- Ask questions in writing if anything in a decision letter is unclear.
- Respond to information requests within 10 days. Deadlines pause if material information isn't provided. § 627.70131(8)(b).
What to Avoid
- Permanent repairs before you have documented the damage.
- Discarding damaged materials before the estimate is settled.
- Accepting a verbal explanation in place of a written one.
- Treating the first payment as final. A partial payment must state that the insurer may issue more. § 627.70131(6)(b).
- Signing a release you haven't read.
When to Have the File Reviewed
If repairs cost more than the estimate, if the insurer stops responding, or if new damage turns up once work begins, the file is worth a review before you sign anything. The guides above cover each situation, and Property Insurance Claims explains how the firm handles these matters.
