Insurance Claims

What Your Matched Company Documents for Your Insurance Claim

A restoration contractor can document your loss and write a line-item Xactimate estimate your insurer can check line by line, but in Florida it cannot negotiate or settle your claim for pay. Only a licensed public adjuster or an attorney may do that (s. 626.854). Coverage and payment decisions stay between you and your insurer.

Updated Oct 2026

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PhotosLosses documented for your claim

MoistureReadings logged for your adjuster

XactimateLine-item estimates

AdjusterEstimate explained on request

How It Works

The Insurance Claims Process, Explained Simply

Most homeowners have never filed a major property insurance claim. Here's what happens after Ryan matches you with a company.

Stop the damage first

Your matched company starts mitigation to keep the damage from spreading. Insurers expect you to protect the property from further damage, and the state's Bill of Rights tells you to make necessary emergency repairs and keep the receipts.

Damage documentation

Affected areas are photographed, measured and logged. Moisture meters and thermal cameras can show where water went inside walls and floors.

Line-item estimate

Your matched company writes a line-item Xactimate estimate. Because both sides use the same line items, pricing disputes are less common.

Questions about the estimate

Your matched company can explain its own estimate to you or the adjuster (s. 626.854(16)). Coverage and settlement decisions stay between you and your insurer.

If more damage is found

If additional damage is found during the work, your pro documents it and submits a supplemental estimate for their scope. A supplemental claim to the insurer has its own 18-month deadline.

Before You Sign

Check Your Policy's Repair Rules

Citizens policyholder? Call Citizens first (866-411-2742); with other insurers, ask about managed-repair rules before you sign a repair contract.

Citizens water damage limits →

FAQ

Insurance Claims Questions Answered

It can explain its own estimate to you or the adjuster, and answer questions about the photos, moisture readings and line items it prepared (s. 626.854(16)). It cannot negotiate or settle your claim for pay; in Florida only a licensed public adjuster or an attorney may do that. Coverage and payment decisions stay between you and your insurer.

Xactimate is estimating software that many insurance adjusters and restoration companies use. When both sides write line items in the same format, pricing disputes are less common. Ask any company whether it will give you its estimate in Xactimate line-item form.

Possibly, depending on your insurer and your claims history. Ask your agent before you decide whether to file. Do not skip notice just to avoid the question: Florida bars a claim that is not noticed within 1 year of the date of loss (s. 627.70132), so read the deadlines before you wait.

Make the property safe, then photograph and video the damage before you touch it, and tell your insurer. Call Ryan if the damage is still active, and he matches you with a restoration company. Keep damaged materials until the adjuster has seen them, and keep every receipt for emergency work.

If additional damage is found during the work, your matched company documents it and submits a supplemental estimate for its scope. A supplemental claim to your insurer must be noticed within 18 months of the date of loss (s. 627.70132).

You choose your contractor. Some policies have managed-repair or preferred-vendor provisions, so read yours and call your insurer before signing a repair contract (s. 627.7142). Citizens, for example, has its own program for non-weather water losses.

Damage Happening Now? Call.

Call. Ryan matches you with a restoration company from CFDR's network and stays your contact from the first call to the final walkthrough.

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