You filed a property insurance claim, an adjuster inspected your Orlando home or business, and the insurance company sent you an estimate or payment.
Case closed?
Not necessarily.
Property damage can be complicated, and an initial insurance estimate may not always account for every affected area or necessary repair. This can be especially important after hurricanes, thunderstorms, roof leaks, pipe bursts, fires, and other significant losses.
Here are seven signs that your Orlando property insurance claim may deserve a closer look.
1. The Insurance Estimate Is Much Lower Than Your Repair Estimates
A substantial difference between an insurance estimate and estimates from qualified contractors deserves attention.
However, don’t compare only the final dollar amounts.
Look at the actual scope of work.
For example, your contractor may include replacement of damaged drywall, insulation, baseboards, flooring, and paint while the insurance estimate addresses only part of the affected area.
Understanding why the estimates differ is more useful than simply comparing totals.
2. Entire Areas of Damage Are Missing
Review the insurance estimate room by room and area by area.
Does it include everything that was damaged?
After a significant property loss, overlooked areas could include:
- Attics
- Closets
- Adjacent rooms
- Flooring
- Baseboards
- Cabinets
- Insulation
- Exterior components
- Personal property
Photographs taken immediately after the loss can help you compare the original damage with what appears in the insurance estimate.
3. Only the Visible Damage Was Considered
What you can see may only be part of the property loss.
Consider a roof leak during one of Central Florida’s heavy storms. You may notice a ceiling stain, but water could have traveled through roofing materials, decking, insulation, and drywall before becoming visible inside the home.
Likewise, a pipe burst may affect areas underneath flooring or behind cabinets and walls.
A thorough evaluation can help determine whether additional areas were affected.
4. Your Contractor Says Necessary Work Isn’t Included
If a qualified contractor reviews the insurance estimate and identifies necessary repairs that are absent, investigate the discrepancy.
The issue could involve quantities, materials, labor, or entire portions of the repair.
Save written estimates and supporting documentation rather than relying solely on verbal conversations.
Detailed records can help demonstrate why additional work may be necessary.
5. You Discover Additional Damage After the Inspection
Sometimes additional damage becomes apparent after the insurance company’s initial inspection.
You may later discover:
- Water beneath flooring
- Additional roof damage
- Wet insulation
- Damaged cabinetry
- Moisture behind walls
- Electrical problems
- Additional personal property damage
Document newly discovered damage immediately.
Do not assume that something discovered later must automatically be excluded from consideration. Whether it is covered will depend on the policy and circumstances of the loss.
6. The Payment Doesn’t Appear Sufficient to Complete Covered Repairs
Insurance claim payments and contractor pricing do not always line up perfectly.
However, if multiple legitimate repair estimates substantially exceed the amount allowed for covered repairs, it may be worth examining the claim more closely.
Review exactly what the insurance company included.
There could be differences involving:
- Materials
- Labor
- Measurements
- Repair methods
- Required removal
- Replacement quantities
- Associated repairs
Understanding the cause of the difference is the first step toward determining whether additional claim documentation is appropriate.
7. You Don’t Understand How the Insurance Company Calculated the Settlement
Property insurance estimates can be difficult to interpret.
Depreciation, deductibles, replacement cost, actual cash value, coverage limitations, and other policy provisions can affect what you initially receive.
If you cannot determine why your settlement was calculated a certain way, ask questions before considering the matter finished.
Understanding the estimate and policy can help you determine whether the claim accurately reflects the covered loss.
What Should You Do If You Think Your Claim Is Underpaid?
Start by gathering your documentation.
Collect:
- The insurance company’s estimate
- Photographs and videos
- Contractor estimates
- Repair invoices
- Emergency mitigation invoices
- Receipts
- Inspection reports
- Relevant insurance correspondence
- Your policy documents
Then compare the insurance company’s scope with the actual property damage.
Look for missing areas, differences in measurements, or repairs that have not been accounted for.
Can an Orlando Public Adjuster Review an Existing Claim?
Yes, depending on the circumstances.
You do not necessarily have to hire a public adjuster before filing an insurance claim.
An experienced Orlando public adjuster may be able to evaluate an existing property claim and determine whether additional covered damage or repair costs should be documented and presented to the insurance company.
A public adjuster represents the policyholder rather than the insurance carrier.
What Can a Public Adjuster Do for an Underpaid Claim?
Depending on the circumstances, a licensed public adjuster may assist by:
- Inspecting the property
- Reviewing existing claim documents
- Evaluating the insurance company’s estimate
- Documenting potentially overlooked damage
- Preparing a detailed scope of loss
- Organizing supporting documentation
- Communicating with the insurance carrier
- Negotiating covered property damage
The objective is to accurately document the loss and pursue the settlement available under the insurance policy.
Property Claims We Help With in Orlando
Florida’s Best Public Adjusters assists Orlando and Central Florida property owners with qualifying claims involving:
- Hurricane damage
- Wind damage
- Roof damage
- Water damage
- Pipe bursts
- Fire and smoke damage
- Commercial property damage
- Underpaid claims
- Denied claims
Whether you are filing a new claim or questioning an existing settlement, understanding the complete scope of your loss is important before considering your claim resolved.
Get an Orlando Property Insurance Claim Reviewed
If something about your insurance settlement does not seem right, you do not have to simply assume the initial estimate accounted for everything.
Florida’s Best Public Adjusters works exclusively for policyholders, not insurance companies.
Our team helps Florida homeowners and business owners document property losses and navigate the insurance claim process.
If your Orlando property insurance claim appears underpaid, delayed, or incomplete, contact Florida’s Best Public Adjusters to discuss the loss and learn whether we may be able to assist.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my Orlando insurance claim was underpaid?
Missing damaged areas, major differences between repair estimates and the carrier’s scope, newly discovered damage, or an amount that appears insufficient for covered repairs can all be reasons to review a claim more closely.
Can I question an insurance settlement after receiving a payment?
Receiving an initial payment does not necessarily resolve every claim in every circumstance. Your available options depend on the policy, claim status, applicable deadlines, and facts of the loss.
Can a public adjuster review an insurance company’s estimate?
Yes. A public adjuster can review property damage documentation and the carrier’s estimate as part of evaluating a qualifying property insurance claim.
Does a public adjuster work for my insurance company?
No. A public adjuster represents the policyholder during the property insurance claim process.
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