If your Florida home has been damaged enough that you cannot comfortably afford repairs, you should consider filing a home insurance claim. It is particularly important that you maintain coverage in this state due to the occurrence of hurricanes and the resultant flooding. However, few standard home insurance claims apply to certain natural disasters, such as flooding and earthquakes, so you may have to add on coverage.
If you do not, though, you should still be protected against the damages that come with fires, theft, and vandalism, to name a few risks. Before you contact your agent for compensation after a loss, be sure that your policy includes the coverage you need. Additionally, before you make a claim, make sure the repairs would cost more than your deductible.
To do this, check your policy to find out what is covered, as well as what your deductible currently is. Then make a list of the items that are damaged, whether they are part of your house or personal belongings. If you have receipts to show what you paid for each item, collect them so you can turn them in with your home insurance claim. If not, write down an estimate of what you likely paid. You are also advised to obtain quotes from contractors to find out how much repairs would cost. Collecting quotes is usually free, and allows you to compare the repair costs to your deductible.
If it looks like it would be worth filing a Florida homeowner insurance claim, contact your agent to report the damage. Take notes of what he or she says, and then set up an appointment for an adjuster to check out the problem. If your home's condition is bad enough to require you to stay elsewhere, give your agent a phone number where you can be reached. Before you leave the home, you should know that homeowners insurance claims are usually strengthened by supporting evidence, so take photos of the damage. They may be useful when determining the money you will get for your belongings, especially if you have pictures of the items before they were ruined so you can compare them.
Florida homeowners insurance claims are not complete without a Proof of Loss form, which you can get from the adjuster or insurance agent. This is a sworn statement that must be submitted within 60 days of the damage. If you do not fill it out, you may not receive any compensation, so ask about it if it is not mentioned.
One of the advantages of filing a Florida homeowner insurance claim is that you will not have to pay for major repairs out-of-pocket. However, be aware that filing too many claims, such as a few in a year, may cause your insurance company to drop your policy. Therefore, be sure you actually need the financial help before asking your homeowner's insurance company for compensation.