Hurricane Insurance Estimate Too Low?
What Florida Panhandle Property Owners Should Know
As insurance adjusters inspect hurricane damage throughout the Florida Panhandle, homeowners and business owners are beginning to receive their first insurance estimates and settlement payments.
For many property owners in Pensacola, Navarre, Milton, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach and surrounding areas, the question is no longer whether to file a hurricane insurance claim. It is whether the insurance company’s estimate includes everything necessary to properly repair the damage.
An insurance estimate reflects the damage and repair scope identified during the carrier’s inspection. It does not necessarily mean every damaged component or required repair operation has been included.
Hurricane Damage Can Be Missed or Under-Scoped
Some hurricane damage is obvious, while other damage may be concealed or may not become apparent until repairs begin. An initial hurricane insurance estimate may overlook or under-scope items such as:
Roof damage
Interior water damage
Wet insulation or drywall
Flooring and cabinet damage
Paint, texture and trim
Detach and reset operations
Fences, sheds and other structures
Debris removal
Necessary access for repairs
Code-required work
Even when the insurance company agrees that a loss is covered, the scope and cost of repairs still need to be accurate.
A Covered Claim Can Still Be Underpaid
Coverage is only part of the insurance claim process. For example, an estimate may include replacing damaged drywall but omit the texture, sealing and painting required to properly finish the repaired area.
A roof estimate may include limited repairs without accounting for additional damaged materials or other work necessary to complete those repairs. These missing items can significantly affect the amount required to restore the property.
An Experienced Estimate Review Can Reveal What’s Missing
Insurance estimates can be difficult to interpret if you do not work with them regularly.
Twenty- to thirty-page estimates with hundreds of individual line items, measurements, quantities and repair operations are often presented in a way that makes it hard for a property owner to know whether the scope is actually complete.
At Banner Adjusting & Claim Consulting, we have over 40 years of combined experience writing insurance estimates, reviewing carrier estimates, and comparing those estimates with the actual damage at the property. We evaluate the damage included in the estimate, check measurements and quantities, identify missing repair steps, and look for items that may have been omitted or under-scoped.
We also look at whether the proposed repairs make sense in the real world. An estimate may include part of a repair while leaving out related work necessary to complete it properly.
If the carrier’s estimate is incomplete, additional documentation may support a supplemental hurricane insurance claim.
Florida Panhandle Hurricane Claim & Estimate Review
Banner Adjusting & Claim Consulting represents policyholders with hurricane and property insurance claims throughout the Florida Panhandle, including Pensacola, Navarre, Milton, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach and other communities throughout Okaloosa County, Santa Rosa County and Escambia County. We will review your damage and insurance estimate at no cost. Our consultations are always free.
We inspect damaged property, review carrier estimates, document missing or under-scoped damage, prepare detailed repair estimates and communicate with insurance companies on your behalf.
If you have received an insurance estimate and are concerned that your Hurricane Isaias claim may be underpaid, contact Banner Adjusting & Claim Consulting to discuss your claim.
The first estimate does not always tell the whole story. We represent you, not the insurance company. Call us at (850) 361-3966 for a free consultation.
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