Name: Florida Insurance Appraiser
Address: FL, US
Telephone: +18445371427
Price range: $$

A C D H L M N O P R S U W X

Actual cash value (ACV): The value of damaged property at the time of loss, usually calculated as replacement cost minus depreciation. Many first payments on Florida claims are made on an ACV basis.
Additional living expense (ALE): Coverage, often called Coverage D or loss of use, that pays reasonable extra costs of living elsewhere while a covered loss makes your home unlivable.
All other perils (AOP) deductible: The deductible, usually a flat dollar amount, that applies to covered losses other than hurricane, such as fire, theft or plumbing leaks.
Appraisal award: The written decision that sets the amount of loss, signed by both appraisers or by one appraiser and the umpire.
Appraisal clause: The policy provision that lets either party, depending on the wording, demand appraisal to resolve a disagreement over the amount of loss.
Assignment of benefits (AOB): An agreement transferring a policyholder’s claim rights to a third party, such as a contractor. Florida law generally prohibits AOBs for property policies issued on or after January 1, 2023.
Catastrophic ground cover collapse: A narrowly defined sudden collapse of the ground that creates a depression, structural damage and condemnation of the building. Florida homeowners policies generally must cover it, unlike broader sinkhole loss.
Citizens Property Insurance: Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the Florida state-created insurer intended to provide coverage when private-market coverage is not available.
Coverage A: Dwelling coverage for the main structure of the home. Florida hurricane deductibles are commonly calculated as a percentage of this limit.
Coverage B: Other structures coverage for detached structures such as fences, sheds and detached garages.
Coverage C: Personal property coverage for contents such as furniture, clothing and electronics.
Coverage D: Loss of use coverage, including additional living expense and, in some forms, fair rental value.
Depreciation: A reduction in value for age, wear and condition. Insurers subtract it from replacement cost to arrive at actual cash value.
DFS mediation: A residential property mediation program run by the Florida Department of Financial Services that uses a neutral mediator to help resolve disputed claims. It is non-binding.
Disinterested appraiser: An appraiser with no financial stake in the outcome beyond a fee for services. Most appraisal clauses require one.
Hurricane deductible: A deductible that applies to hurricane losses, commonly 2%, 5% or 10% of Coverage A in Florida, and for many policies applied once per calendar year.
Line item: A single entry in an estimate describing one task or material, with a quantity, unit and price.
Matching: The requirement, generally recognized under Florida law, that repairs produce a reasonably uniform appearance with undamaged adjacent areas.
Mitigation: Reasonable steps to protect property from further damage after a loss, such as tarping a roof or drying a water loss. Policies generally require it.
NFIP: The National Flood Insurance Program, a federal program that writes flood insurance. Flood coverage is separate from homeowners wind coverage.
Ordinance or law coverage: Coverage for added costs of complying with current building codes when repairing or rebuilding after a covered loss, up to the limit stated in the policy.
Overhead and profit (O&P): Charges a general contractor adds for business costs and profit, typically calculated as a percentage of the job, when a job requires coordination of multiple trades.
Proof of loss: A sworn statement of the amount claimed, which some policies require the policyholder to submit within a set time after the insurer requests it.
Recoverable depreciation: Depreciation withheld from an initial payment that the policyholder may recover after completing repairs, under a replacement cost policy.
Reopened claim: A claim that was previously closed and is reopened, for example because new information comes to light. Florida law generally sets a deadline for reopening.
Replacement cost value (RCV): The cost to repair or replace damaged property with materials of like kind and quality, without deducting depreciation.
Roof surface payment schedule: A policy feature, now generally permitted in Florida, that pays a declining percentage of roof replacement cost based on the roof’s age and material.
Sinkhole loss: Structural damage caused by sinkhole activity. In Florida it is often optional coverage available by endorsement, separate from catastrophic ground cover collapse.
Supplemental claim: A claim for additional amounts on an existing claim, such as newly discovered damage. Florida law generally sets an 18-month window for many residential supplemental claims.
Symbility: Estimating software used by some insurers and appraisers to build line-item property damage estimates.
Umpire: A neutral third party who decides items the two appraisers cannot agree on. The umpire’s signature plus one appraiser’s usually makes an award.
Wind mitigation inspection: An inspection documenting wind-resistant features such as roof-to-wall connections and opening protection. Florida insurers use it to calculate premium credits.
Wind-borne debris region: Areas defined by the Florida Building Code, generally near the coast or in high wind zones, where buildings require impact-resistant openings or protection.
Xactimate: Widely used estimating software that produces line-item property damage estimates with regional pricing. Many Florida carriers and appraisers use it.

Florida property claim glossary

Disputing an insurance estimate in Florida?