Here are a few key tips to make sure your property damage claim in the Pensacola area doesn’t make a bad situation worse.

1. Make sure your insurance company pays you first, not a roofing company or contractor. Never sign over your insurance payment to a 3rd party contractor.

2. Ask for an “advance payment” for the undisputed portion of your claim from the insurance company so you can at least start to make temporary repairs.

3. Understand the "damage repair estimate" that the insurance company adjuster provides you. If they have not provided one, ask for it right away!

4. When reviewing the repair estimate, make sure they are paying you the standard 10% extra for Overhead and 10% extra for contractor’s profit. Check for the “10 & 10” on the totals page of the estimate.

5. Understand the insurance company’s depreciation calculations and understand if your policy is an Actual Cash Value or Replacement Cost policy. Most insurance companies pay on an “Actual Cash Value” basis (Replacement cost minus depreciation (wear and tear) and will depreciate buildings 50%-70%, drastically reducing the final payment. This is open to negotiation and newer buildings should not be depreciated that much.

6. In disaster situations, the demand for building/roofing materials naturally increases. The estimated cost of repairs accounted for in the insurance companies "estimate" will most likely be lower as the demand/price of building materials increases. Make sure you are paid the full amount on the front end so you do not have to go back to ask the adjuster for more. The estimated wait time to have an adjuster re-inspect your home/business can be 2-3 weeks and you may not have the same adjuster as he/she will most likely go back home to the respective state they were flown in from. 

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