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State insurance adjusters offer tips ahead of the storm

State insurance adjusters offer tips ahead of the storm Submitted by The Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters

Posted 9/28/22

CLAY COUNTY – Hurricane Ian is expected to hit Florida next week, so are homeowners ready?

While stocking up on non-perishable goods, batteries and topping off your gas are important, reviewing …

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State insurance adjusters offer tips ahead of the storm

State insurance adjusters offer tips ahead of the storm Submitted by The Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters


Posted

CLAY COUNTY – Hurricane Ian is expected to hit Florida next week, so are homeowners ready?

While stocking up on non-perishable goods, batteries and topping off your gas are important, reviewing and printing a copy of your property insurance policy is just as essential. The Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA) recommends:

• Checking what your policy does and does not cover. Not all insurance policies are the same. Your policy may contain restrictions or exclusions on windstorm damage or caps on a water-related loss. Be sure to review your deductible as well, as this represents the out-of-pocket expense you will have to be prepared to absorb if you have a loss.

Reviewing the “Duties After Loss” section of your policy. If you need to file a claim, failure to follow the provisions listed in this section could result in non-payment.

• Making a visual record of your home and possessions. Take pictures or shoot video to document the condition of your home and belongings before any damage possibly occurs.

• Preparing a detailed list of your personal property. This will help document your claim after a loss. If you still have them, gather up receipts for large items such as major appliances, furniture and electronics; make copies to include with your property inventory.

• Creating a disaster supply kit that includes copies of your insurance policies, family medical information, deeds and wills, etc. Place the originals of those important documents in a safe deposit box, safe or in a tightly sealed container in your car and make a digital copy to keep on the cloud for easy reference.

• Checking your flood insurance. This is especially important to have purchased by now if you live in a flood zone. Flood insurance typically has a grace period of 30 days before it goes into effect. That means you should purchase it well before any major storm. If you purchase it less than 30 days before a flood, you might not be able to file a claim.

• Knowing where to turn for help if your home is damaged. If you’re struggling to know what to do first, public insurance adjusters can help, but be sure to only hire a licensed public adjuster. Public insurance adjusters are licensed by the state and trained to ethically advocate for and help policyholders throughout the complex claims submission process. Unfortunately, there are bad actors out there misrepresenting themselves, so take care to only work with a state-licensed public adjuster. You can find a FAPIA member adjuster at fapia.memberclicks.net.