PA License Number for Florida P197242 | Wind Certified Umpire and Appraiser | IAUA Associate Appraiser | FAPIA Associates Member and Ambassador | Puerto Rico License 3000461294
PA License Number for Florida P197242 | Wind Certified Umpire and Appraiser | IAUA Associate Appraiser | FAPIA Associates Member and Ambassador | Puerto Rico License 3000461294
Reviewed by Raul Alconero, Florida Licensed Public Adjuster — License P197242, FAPIA Member
Founded in 2014 · 50+ years of combined experience
Last updated: July 15, 2026
Dealing with a property damage claim can become a second full-time job. You may have to interpret unfamiliar policy language, document every damaged area, compare repair estimates, answer repeated requests from the carrier, and decide whether a settlement offer actually covers the loss.
That is where my team and I come in.
As Florida public adjusters, we represent homeowners, business owners, landlords, condominium owners, and other policyholders—not the insurance company. We help prepare and present property damage claims, communicate with the carrier, and identify items that may be missing from the insurer’s estimate.
My goal is not to promise a particular payout. Every claim is different. My job is to build the clearest, most thoroughly documented claim possible and pursue the amount supported by the policy, the damage, and the available evidence.
A Florida public adjuster manages and documents a property insurance claim on behalf of the policyholder. The work may include reviewing the policy, inspecting the property, photographing and measuring damage, preparing an itemized estimate, organizing receipts and supporting records, communicating with the insurance company, and negotiating disputed parts of the claim. A public adjuster is different from the adjuster sent by the insurer because the public adjuster is retained by the insured. In my experience, one of the biggest problems in a property damage claim is not always the visible damage—it is the damage that was never properly measured, explained, or added to the scope. A strong claim connects the physical conditions at the property with the policy language, repair costs, photographs, reports, and other documentation needed to evaluate the loss. Florida law defines and regulates this role under section 626.854.
An insurer’s first inspection may not capture every affected room, material, fixture, or building component. Some losses also involve damage that becomes more apparent over time, such as moisture behind walls, deterioration beneath flooring, smoke residue inside mechanical systems, or damage discovered during repairs.
When I inspect a loss, I do not automatically treat the insurance company’s estimate as the final definition of the damage. My team and I examine the property independently, identify affected areas, take measurements, collect photographs and video, and compare our observations with the scope already prepared for the claim.
Insurance coverage depends on more than the type of damage. The cause of loss, exclusions, endorsements, deductibles, limits, duties after loss, valuation provisions, and deadlines may all affect the claim.
We review the available policy documents to understand:
A public adjuster can explain and adjust the claim within the policy, but cannot provide legal advice. Florida law expressly separates public adjusting from the unauthorized practice of law.
A useful property damage estimate should do more than show a total number. It should identify the work, quantities, materials, labor, equipment, and related costs supporting the requested amount.
Florida law generally requires a public adjuster to provide a written, itemized estimate within 60 days after the contract, subject to circumstances beyond the adjuster’s control.
Once retained, we organize communications, respond to claim-related requests, participate in inspections, submit supporting information, and work with the carrier to address disagreements involving scope, pricing, cause of loss, or documentation.
The policyholder still has the right to communicate directly with the insurer, an attorney, or other parties involved in the claim. Hiring a public adjuster does not remove that right.
A public adjuster represents the policyholder. A company adjuster is employed directly by an insurance company, while an independent adjuster is usually hired by an insurer or adjusting company to handle claims on the carrier’s behalf. The word “independent” can be confusing because it does not normally mean that the adjuster is independent of both sides. In most property claims, the company adjuster and independent adjuster are both working within the insurer’s claim-handling process. The public adjuster, by contrast, is retained by the insured and is paid according to a written contract. All three professionals may inspect damage, review documents, and prepare estimates, but they do so for different parties. Before a Florida public adjuster contract is signed, the insured must receive a disclosure explaining these three types of adjusters and confirming that hiring a public adjuster is optional.
| Type of adjuster | Who retains them? | Who do they represent? | Who pays them? | Main role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public adjuster | Policyholder | Homeowner, business owner, or other insured | Policyholder, usually through a regulated percentage of the recovery | Prepares and negotiates the insured’s claim |
| Company adjuster | Insurance company | Insurance company | Insurance company | Evaluates claims for the carrier |
| Independent adjuster | Insurance company or adjusting firm | Usually the insurance company | Insurance company or adjusting firm | Handles assigned claims for the carrier |
The difference does not mean that every company or independent adjuster acts unfairly. It means each adjuster has a different client and responsibility. Knowing who represents whom helps you evaluate the information and estimates you receive.
You should consider hiring a public adjuster when a property claim is significant, difficult to document, delayed, denied, or valued below the apparent repair cost. It may also make sense when the insurer’s estimate omits affected areas, when contractors identify damage not included in the carrier’s scope, or when you do not have the time or experience to manage inspections, estimates, inventories, and repeated communications. Hiring a public adjuster is not necessary for every small or straightforward claim. I recommend first identifying the real source of the disagreement. A low payment may be caused by a deductible, depreciation, an exclusion, missing documentation, a pricing difference, or an incomplete scope. A professional review can help determine whether the claim needs more evidence, a supplemental estimate, a coverage discussion, or legal advice from an attorney.
A common warning sign is a large gap between the insurer’s estimate and the detailed proposals obtained from qualified contractors.
The difference may involve:
The goal is not to assume the higher estimate is automatically correct. The goal is to compare both scopes line by line and determine why they differ.
Florida insurers generally must pay or deny a property claim, or a portion of it, within 60 days after receiving notice, unless factors beyond the insurer’s control prevent a decision. The facts of each claim matter, and the statutory timeline does not necessarily mean every dispute must be fully resolved within 60 days.
A public adjuster can help keep the file organized, respond to requests, document communications, and identify what may still be preventing a decision.
A denial should be reviewed alongside the policy, the denial letter, inspection findings, photographs, repair history, and evidence regarding the cause and timing of the damage.
A public adjuster may be able to help when the disagreement concerns the scope or documentation of a property loss. When the dispute turns primarily on legal interpretation, litigation, alleged misrepresentation, or rights outside the adjustment process, an insurance attorney may also be necessary.
You may still have options after receiving a payment. A public adjuster can review the prior estimate, identify omitted damage, and determine whether a reopened or supplemental claim may be appropriate.
Florida law prohibits a public adjuster from charging a fee on claim payments received before the public adjuster contract. For reopened or supplemental claims, compensation must be based on new payments obtained through the adjuster’s work after the contract is signed.
Learn more about our approach to underpaid home insurance claims.
The process generally begins with a consultation, policy review, and property inspection. If the claim is appropriate for public adjusting and the policyholder signs a compliant contract, the adjuster documents the loss, prepares an itemized estimate, notifies the insurer of the representation, and submits relevant supporting information. The carrier must still be given reasonable access to inspect the property and interview the insured. The public adjuster then communicates with the insurer, addresses questions, compares estimates, and presents additional documentation when there are disagreements. Some claims are resolved through ordinary adjustment, while others may involve supplemental review, mediation, appraisal, or legal counsel. The duration depends on the type of damage, policy terms, complexity, availability of records, inspections, expert reports, and the insurer’s response. No ethical adjuster should guarantee a specific payment or completion date.
We begin by discussing:
Not every claim should be accepted. If I do not believe our involvement is likely to add meaningful value, I would rather explain that clearly than enter into an unnecessary contract.
My team and I inspect affected areas, take measurements, record conditions, and look for connections between the reported event and the damage.
The inspection is not a guarantee of coverage. It is an evidence-gathering step that helps us understand the apparent scope and determine what further documentation may be required.
We review the policy, carrier correspondence, prior estimates, invoices, photographs, inventories, repair records, and relevant reports.
For larger or specialized losses, additional professionals may be needed. Any third-party service that creates a cost for the policyholder should be explained and authorized in writing as required by the contract and Florida law.
We prepare an itemized scope based on the observed damage and available documentation. Depending on the claim, the submission may include:
The insurer must have an opportunity to inspect the property and obtain information needed to investigate the claim. A public adjuster may attend the inspection, but cannot obstruct timely access. Florida law also requires the public adjuster and insurer to communicate in an effort to reach agreement on the scope of the covered loss.
After comparing positions, we address disagreements involving measurements, line items, pricing, documentation, and the apparent scope of covered damage.
Some claims are resolved through direct negotiation. Others may require mediation, appraisal, engineering review, accounting support, or legal representation. A public adjuster should explain when an issue has moved beyond ordinary claim adjustment.
Florida public adjusters are licensed and regulated by the Florida Department of Financial Services. State law controls contracts, disclosures, ethical conduct, fee limitations, cancellation rights, estimates, communications, advertising, and other aspects of the relationship. A public adjuster must work for the policyholder under a written contract and may not give legal advice. The contract must identify the adjuster, firm, insured, loss, claim type, fee percentage, and other required information. Fees are capped according to the type and timing of the claim, but the cap is not necessarily the fee charged by every firm. Florida also imposes short deadlines for reporting new, reopened, and supplemental property claims. Because statutes and policies can change, the date of loss and policy period should always be reviewed before relying on a general deadline. The information below was reviewed against the 2025 Florida Statutes available online on July 15, 2026.
Under section 626.854, a public adjuster generally may not charge more than:
Those are the limits. What they add up to on a real claim is a different question, and we work it through with figures in what a public adjuster costs.
The fee may not be based on the deductible, and special rules apply to reopened claims, supplemental claims, additional living expenses, and policy-limit payments.
Our firm works on a contingency basis for qualifying claims: no recovery, no fee. That means the fee is generally earned from qualifying insurance proceeds recovered through our work, subject to the written contract and Florida law. It does not mean that every possible third-party expense is automatically free, so all contract terms should be reviewed before signing.
A policyholder generally may cancel a Florida public adjuster contract without penalty within 10 days after execution.
For a contract based on an event covered by a governor’s declaration of emergency, the cancellation period is the longer of:
The insured may also have a cancellation right if the required written estimate is not provided within 60 days, unless the delay results from circumstances beyond the adjuster’s control. The cancellation process and address should appear in the contract.
Florida Statute 627.70132 currently provides that:
For weather events, the statute contains rules defining the date of loss. Some exceptions and special circumstances may apply.
These reporting deadlines are not necessarily the same as the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit. Section 95.11 generally provides a five-year limitations period for breach of a property insurance contract, running from the date of loss, but legal deadlines can depend on the claim, cause of action, policy, and procedural history. Speak with a qualified Florida attorney about litigation deadlines.
An Assignment of Benefits, or AOB, transfers certain post-loss insurance benefits to a service provider. It is not the same as hiring a public adjuster.
Under Florida’s current statute, a policyholder generally may not assign post-loss benefits under residential or commercial property policies issued on or after January 1, 2023. The statute expressly excludes public adjuster fees from its definition of an assignment agreement. Older policies may be subject to different rules.
When an insurer attributes damage to negligence, deterioration, maintenance, or an excluded cause, the issue usually requires a careful review of:
In my experience, broad labels can hide several separate questions. Was there a sudden event? Was part of the damage gradual? Did the policyholder take reasonable steps to prevent further damage? Are covered and uncovered causes both involved?
A public adjuster can document the facts and present the property claim. We cannot give legal advice or decide legal causation. When the disagreement depends on legal interpretation, I recommend involving a qualified insurance attorney.
My team and I handle residential and commercial property claims involving sudden damage, catastrophic events, hidden moisture, business interruption, theft, and other insured losses. The type of damage is only the starting point. We also examine the cause, timing, policy language, repair scope, prior condition, mitigation efforts, and supporting records. A roof leak caused by storm damage may be evaluated differently from a leak caused by long-term deterioration. Flooding may require separate flood coverage, while water entering through storm-created openings may involve different policy provisions. Mold coverage often depends on the cause and applicable limits. Commercial claims may include building damage, inventory, equipment, extra expense, and lost income. The following resources provide more detail about the individual claim types we manage.
Florida storms can damage roofing, windows, doors, exterior finishes, interiors, electrical systems, and personal property.
Water can travel far beyond the point where it first becomes visible. Documentation may need to address flooring, drywall, cabinetry, insulation, electrical components, contents, and resulting mold.
Our related services include:
Fire and smoke losses may affect structural materials, contents, mechanical systems, odor-sensitive finishes, and areas far from the source. Flood claims require special attention because standard homeowners insurance does not automatically provide the same coverage as a separate flood policy.
Commercial losses may involve more than the building. Equipment, inventory, tenant improvements, extra expenses, continuing payroll, and interrupted revenue can all require separate documentation.
Alconero & Associates serves homeowners, business owners, landlords, condominium owners, and other policyholders throughout Florida. Local representation matters because construction methods, storm exposure, property types, repair markets, and common causes of loss vary across the state. South Florida properties frequently face wind-driven rain, roof damage, plumbing leaks, mold, and hurricane-related losses. Southwest Florida continues to manage complex storm, water, and commercial claims. Central Florida properties may experience wind, roof, water, and interior moisture damage even when a storm makes landfall elsewhere. Our statewide pillar connects each reader to a more specific local resource while keeping the central explanation of Florida public adjusting in one authoritative place.
We serve policyholders through our local resources for:
Our Southwest Florida resources include:
Results matter, but they need context. A dramatic increase between an initial estimate and a final recovery does not mean every claim will produce the same result. It may reflect previously omitted damage, new documentation, different repair scopes, policy-limit issues, additional coverage, expert findings, prolonged negotiation, appraisal, legal involvement, or a combination of factors. When I share a case result, I want the reader to understand that it demonstrates what happened in one claim—not what is guaranteed in another. The most useful case studies identify the original position, the problems discovered, the work performed, and the final outcome. They should also be published only with appropriate client permission and after the numbers have been verified against the claim file.
In Magaly’s case, the initial amount presented for the loss was approximately $24,000. After the claim was more fully documented, developed, and pursued, the total recovery reached $500,000.
That difference is why I tell property owners not to evaluate a claim by looking only at the first total on an estimate. The real questions are:
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every insurance claim depends on its policy, facts, evidence, damage, carrier decisions, and applicable law.
Choose a Florida public adjuster by verifying the individual’s license, reviewing the written contract, understanding the fee, and confirming who will personally inspect and manage the claim. Ask about experience with your type of loss, communication practices, estimating methods, supporting experts, and how documents will be shared. A reputable adjuster should explain both the potential value and the limits of the service. Be cautious of anyone who guarantees a settlement, tells you to exaggerate damage, pressures you to sign immediately, offers improper incentives, or discourages you from communicating with an attorney or insurer. I encourage every property owner to compare the adjuster’s license information with government-issued identification and use the Florida Department of Financial Services license search. The DFS also recommends reviewing the adjuster’s code of ethics and contract requirements before signing.
Raul Alconero is listed by Alconero & Associates as a Florida licensed public adjuster under license P197242. The license number should also appear in the contract and may be verified through the Florida Department of Financial Services.
Before signing, ask:
The agreement should clearly show the compensation percentage, claim type, signatures, license information, cancellation language, and other required disclosures.
Do not rely only on a verbal explanation. Read the actual contract and keep a complete, unaltered copy.
No adjuster can ethically guarantee that a claim will be paid, predict the exact final settlement, or promise that hiring them carries “no risk.” Florida law specifically restricts deceptive or misleading public adjuster advertising.
Florida generally caps public adjuster fees at 20% of qualifying claim payments, with a 10% cap for certain claims connected to a declared state of emergency during the first year after the declaration. Other limits apply to prior payments, policy-limit payments, reopened claims, supplemental claims, deductibles, and additional living expenses.
It may be worthwhile when a claim is large, complex, underpaid, delayed, denied, or difficult to document. For a small and straightforward claim, the potential benefit may not justify the fee. A reputable adjuster should evaluate the claim before recommending representation.
It generally means the public adjuster’s contingency fee is earned from qualifying insurance proceeds obtained through the adjuster’s work. The exact definition, percentage, exclusions, and treatment of possible third-party expenses should be stated in the written contract.
Yes. A public adjuster can compare the insurer’s estimate with the observed damage and other available estimates, identify missing or disputed items, prepare additional documentation, and pursue a reopened or supplemental claim when appropriate and timely.
A public adjuster may help when a denial involves damage documentation, scope, pricing, or factual questions about the property loss. When the dispute depends mainly on legal interpretation or litigation, an insurance attorney may also be needed.
Yes. A public adjuster may review a previously paid claim, but cannot charge a fee on payments received before the public adjuster contract. Compensation for a reopened or supplemental claim must be based on qualifying new payments obtained after the contract.
There is no single timeline. The process depends on the damage, policy, inspections, documents, experts, carrier response, and level of disagreement. Some claims resolve through ordinary adjustment, while others require supplemental review, mediation, appraisal, or legal action.
Use the Florida Department of Financial Services license search and compare the listed name and license number with the adjuster’s identification and contract. You may also review disciplinary history and confirm that the adjusting firm is properly licensed.
Generally, yes. Florida provides a 10-day cancellation period, with a potentially longer period for contracts connected to a declared emergency. Another cancellation right may apply if the required estimate is not provided within 60 days.
No. A public adjuster documents, prepares, and negotiates a property insurance claim. A public adjuster cannot provide legal advice. An attorney may be necessary when the dispute involves litigation, legal interpretation, bad faith, examinations under oath, or other legal issues.
Start by preserving the evidence and organizing the file. Keep your policy, declaration page, correspondence, estimates, photographs, videos, inventories, receipts, invoices, repair records, and a log of every conversation with the insurance company. Take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, but avoid discarding damaged property or completing unnecessary permanent repairs before the relevant inspections can occur. Review the insurer’s estimate and decision letter carefully. Identify whether the disagreement concerns coverage, cause of loss, scope, pricing, depreciation, documentation, or the deductible. Then obtain qualified help before a reporting, supplemental-claim, contractual, or legal deadline expires. My team and I can review qualifying Florida property claims, inspect the damage, explain the public adjusting process, and determine whether our involvement is likely to add value.
Call Alconero & Associates at 305-791-9704 or request a free property damage inspection.
This page provides general information about property insurance claims and public adjusting. It is not legal, financial, or insurance advice, and reading it does not create a public adjuster-client relationship.