About Florida Insurance Appraiser

Who we are

Florida Insurance Appraiser is an independent appraisal firm focused on one question that comes up again and again in Florida property claims: what is the covered damage actually worth? We serve policyholders throughout the state, from single-family homes in the Panhandle to condominium towers in South Florida and commercial buildings along the I-4 corridor.

We are not an insurance company, a law firm or a public adjusting firm. We do not sell policies, give legal advice or file lawsuits. When a client needs one of those services, we say so and step back.

How we work

Every file starts with the policy. We read the appraisal provision, the deductibles and the endorsements that were in force on the date of loss, then review the carrier’s estimate and any contractor or independent estimates. From there we give a candid view: whether appraisal fits, what it is likely to cost, and what documentation is still missing.

If appraisal goes forward, we inspect the property, build or refine a line-item estimate, and work through the other side’s estimate item by item. When the two appraisers cannot agree, we prepare the issues clearly for the umpire. Throughout, the client knows what is happening and why. See our appraisal process for the full sequence.

Who we help

• Homeowners with hurricane, roof, water, fire or sinkhole claims where the insurer accepts the loss but disputes the amount.
• Condo and HOA associations managing building-wide losses, shared elements and coordination with unit owners. See condo and HOA appraisal.
• Commercial property owners whose claims involve larger scopes, specialty systems and business considerations. See commercial claim appraisal.
• Contractors who want an independent estimate review or need a client referred to an appraiser who is not tied to the repair work.
• Attorneys and public adjusters who need a disinterested appraiser, an umpire or a detailed estimate review on a client file.

The common thread is a claim where the loss itself is accepted but the numbers are not. Whether the property is a two-bedroom bungalow or a mid-rise office building, the work is the same at its core: measure carefully, price accurately and explain the difference clearly enough that the other appraiser, or an umpire, can follow it. We can also serve as an umpire when appraisers on both sides agree to propose us, or provide a Xactimate estimate review before anyone decides whether appraisal is needed.

What appraisal is, and what it is not

Appraisal is a dispute-resolution process written into most property policies. It decides the amount of loss: the cost to repair or replace covered damage, often stated as both replacement cost and actual cash value. Two appraisers and, if needed, an umpire make that determination, and an award signed by any two of them usually sets the figure.

Appraisal is not a coverage ruling. It generally does not decide whether a peril is covered, whether an exclusion applies or whether policy conditions were met. It is also not a guarantee of a higher payment. A well-documented appraisal can confirm the carrier’s number as easily as it can increase it, and we tell clients that at the outset.

That is also why we encourage clients to look at the alternatives. A re-inspection request, a supplemental claim with better documentation or the Florida Department of Financial Services residential mediation program may resolve a modest gap faster and more cheaply than appraisal.

Our standards

We hold ourselves to a few rules on every file:

• Documented estimates. Every figure we stand behind is tied to a line item, a measurement or a photo.
• Industry-standard pricing. We build and review estimates in Xactimate or Symbility so both sides are working from comparable line items and price lists.
• Complete records. We keep organized photo sets, measurement notes and inspection records that an umpire or reviewer can follow.
• Disinterest. We do not perform repairs and do not take a percentage of the award when serving as an appraiser.

Statewide coverage

We work across Florida, including Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Fort Myers, Pensacola and the communities between them. Florida’s regions bring different building stock and different claim patterns, from tile roofs and wind-borne debris requirements on the coast to sinkhole questions in parts of west-central Florida. We adjust our approach to the property in front of us.

To talk about a claim, contact us by phone or email.

What we hold ourselves to