Hurricane property damage in Florida is unavoidable so it’s a good idea to educate yourself on the what to do if your home or business has damage from a hurricane.
In this article, we’ll talk about different types of hurricane damage claims and how to get help from a public adjuster. Dealing with hurricane damage and an insurance claim can be stressful and we’ll help you through the process.
Common Types Of Hurricane Damage Claims
The most common types of damage after a hurricane is roof damage. You may not be able to see the damage unless you are able to get on your roof and see if there are broken tiles, missing shingles or debris under the tiles or shingles. Another tell sign of roof damage is if you see water stains on your ceiling. It’s best to take photos of your home or business, indoor and outdoor before the storm as proof to the damage from the hurricane.
Another common type of property damage after a hurricane is flying debris. Trees, branches, fallen fences can fly into or on your home and cause major damage. This is due to the high winds so this kind of damage can happen many miles inland. Per NOAA, a category 1 hurricane has sustained winds of 74-95 mph, category 2 hurricane has sustained winds of 96-110 mph, category 3 hurricane has sustained winds of 111-129 mph, category 4 hurricane has sustained winds of 130-156 mph and category 5 hurricane has sustained winds of 157 mph or higher. Any of these types of hurricanes will cause damage to your home.
Other types of damage are fire, water and mold. Power surges and outages can cause appliances to malfunction or water leaks can cause electrical fires, damage to dry wall, flooring and other parts of your home. Water leaks can lead to mold and may be in your walls or places you may not be able to see it right away. It’s very important call Ocean Point Claims and schedule an appointment to do a free inspection as soon as you see the damage. We will be able to spot the different types of damages to your home or business and do a roof inspection with no upfront costs.
One Of The Main Questions Homeowners Have Is: What Is Covered?
What is covered all depends on what kind of insurance policy you have. Most homeowner’s insurance policies will cover hurricane damage, but not damage from flooding. Another thing to consider is policy limits since you may have coverage, but it might not be enough to cover the damage caused by the hurricane. Ocean Point Claims is experienced with policy language, policy limits and will do a free policy review to see what is covered.
How To Deal With Damage After A Hurricane
Once the storm has passed and you’ve returned to your home (if you evacuated), start taking pictures of the damage. Then call Ocean Point Claims to have us come out and do a free inspection immediately. The property insurance claims process can be long and if there’s a dispute, the pictures will show as proof to the damage. You may be tempted to throw out damaged items but it’s best to keep them until your public adjuster has had time to inspect them. This will prove the validity of your hurricane damage claim.
When looking for contractors for repairing the damage, be aware that some contractors try to get you to sign an invoice or contract that doesn’t have an exact cost. Some shady contractors will write something like “for insurance proceeds” on their invoice, then try to get the whole value of the claim, instead of just the cost of their own work.
How Can A Public Adjuster Help?
A public adjuster is a claims adjuster who represents you instead of the insurance company. Public adjusters understand how the claims process works and have the experience and knowledge to get you the maximum settlement you deserve. Oftentimes, insurance adjusters will lowball repair estimates by using prices for the cheapest possible materials. Sometimes, they’ll even avoid going to damaged areas of the house to avoid having to make a note of the damage. A public adjuster works with you to find and document every bit of damage, and advocates for you with the insurance company. The insurance companies have their own representatives and you should too. We have your best interests in mind and negotiate on your behalf.
Call us today (888) 824-1306 to get the help you need. Our team of adjusters has the experience and knowledge to get you the maximum settlement. Focus on repairing your home and your life and leave the stress and paperwork to the experts.
