What to look for
Florida license
All contractors doing significant work in Florida must be state-licensed. Verify at:
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
- License type appropriate to the work (general contractor, roofing contractor, plumbing, etc.)
- Active (not lapsed or suspended)
- No disciplinary actions in recent history
Insurance and bonding
- General liability (minimum $1M recommended)
- Workers compensation for employees
- Bond for specific trades
- Certificate of insurance available on request
Florida claim experience
- Works regularly with Florida insurance carriers
- Understands Xactimate
- Can prepare estimates in carrier-comparable format
- Knows Florida Building Code
- Understands matching statute and code-upgrade requirements
References and reputation
- Recent completed jobs in your area
- Google, Better Business Bureau, Angi reviews
- Trade association membership (Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association, etc.)
- Willingness to provide references
Written scope and pricing
- Detailed line-item estimate
- Comparable format to Xactimate
- Specifies materials (brand, model, grade)
- Specifies methods
- Addresses code upgrades
- Includes all trades coordinated
No AOB demand
- Contractor paid from your settlement
- No transfer of claim rights
- Contract between you and contractor, not insurance and contractor
Red flags
Storm chaser indicators
- Door-to-door solicitation post-storm
- Out-of-state license plates
- No local office address
- Pressure to sign "before the window closes"
- AOB as condition of work
Financial red flags
- Requires large up-front deposits (more than 10% typical)
- Cash-only
- No written contract offered
- Won't provide license or insurance information
Performance red flags
- Rushed inspection or estimate
- No physical inspection before estimate
- Can't answer specific questions about scope
- No references provided
- Vague timeline
The multiple-quote approach
Get 2–3 quotes on significant work:
- All from licensed Florida contractors
- All to the same scope
- Compare line-by-line
- Compare pricing
- Compare timelines
- Compare qualifications
Lowest price isn't always best. Align on scope and quality first; price second.
How the contractor interfaces with the claim
Scope alignment
Contractor's scope should match your claim's Xactimate estimate. Gaps mean either you're getting less than the claim authorized, or the contractor's scope misses recoverable work.
Payment flow
Typical flow:
- Initial deposit (10-25%)
- Progress payments as work completes
- Final payment on substantial completion
- Holdback (10-15%) for punchlist and final inspection
Mortgage holder coordination
If mortgaged, the lender typically holds funds in escrow and releases in draws. Your contractor needs to work within this.
Change orders
Written and signed for any scope change. Informal changes create disputes.
After completion
- Final walk-through with punchlist
- Warranty documentation (typically 1–10 years depending on work)
- Certificate of completion from building department
- All permits closed
- Release to the lender
How Ocean Point works with contractors
- We don't require specific contractors; you choose
- We work with your contractor on scope alignment
- We facilitate Xactimate-contractor interface
- We don't accept referral fees from contractors (ethical requirement)