The adjuster is coming Thursday. The tarp went up yesterday. You’ve called four roofers and two of them already asked you to sign something before they’d even look at the roof.
This is the moment that separates homeowners who come out of hurricane season okay from the ones who spend the next eighteen months fighting their insurance company.
Here’s what to do — in order — before anyone touches your roof.
Step 1: Document Everything Before Any Tarp Goes On (First 24 Hours)
Your phone camera is the most valuable tool you have right now. Insurance companies are trained to look for gaps in documentation. The more you capture before anything is covered or disturbed, the stronger your claim.
What to photograph before the tarp:
- Wide shots of the entire roof from all four sides of the house — these establish baseline condition and show where damage begins and ends
- Close-ups of every damaged area — missing shingles, punctures, lifted flashing, cracked ridge caps, gutters torn away
- Interior water intrusion — wet insulation in the attic, water stains on ceilings, any standing water; document the spread, not just the source
- Storm debris still on or near the roof — fallen branches, neighbor’s fence section, anything that caused impact damage should be photographed in place before removal
- Your home’s exterior at street level — shows overall storm impact on your property
- Neighbor properties — if surrounding homes also sustained damage, this supports that a weather event caused it (not pre-existing neglect)
Shoot video too. A slow walkthrough narrated in your own words — “I’m looking at the northeast corner of the roof, you can see three shingles completely gone here, and the felt paper is exposed” — creates a timestamped record that photos alone can’t match.
Back everything up to the cloud immediately. Don’t rely on a phone that might get damaged in a second storm.
Step 2: File Your Claim — But Know What You’re Filing
Call your insurance company within 24–48 hours of the storm. Florida law requires insurers to acknowledge claims promptly, but the clock runs on your end too — delayed reporting gives adjusters room to question whether the damage is storm-related.
When you call:
- Note the date, time, and the name of every person you speak with
- Ask for your claim number in writing (email confirmation)
- Ask when your adjuster is scheduled and whether it’s a company adjuster or an independent adjuster hired by your carrier
- Ask specifically what documentation they’ll need at the visit
Your insurer will send an adjuster. That adjuster works for your insurance company — not for you. Their job is to assess the damage accurately, but they’re also trained to look for reasons a claim might be reduced or denied: pre-existing wear, improper previous repairs, lack of maintenance.
That’s not cynicism — it’s preparation. The more documentation you bring to that adjuster visit, the less room there is for disagreement.
Step 3: Understand What Assignment of Benefits Means — And Why You Probably Shouldn’t Sign One
Within hours of a major storm in Volusia County, you will be approached by contractors — sometimes door-to-door, sometimes showing up while the debris is still wet — asking you to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB).
An AOB transfers your insurance rights to the contractor. Once signed, the contractor can negotiate directly with your insurance company, file supplemental claims, and in some cases, sue your insurer — all without your involvement or consent.
This sounds convenient. In practice, it often means:
- You lose control over the scope of work and what gets claimed
- Disputes between the contractor and your insurer can delay your repairs by months
- You may be left legally responsible if the contractor overbills or the claim is disputed
- Your insurer can non-renew your policy based on AOB claim history
Florida has passed legislation restricting AOBs, but they still circulate. The rule of thumb: don’t sign anything that transfers your insurance rights before speaking with your insurer and a licensed, local contractor you trust.
A legitimate contractor will give you a written estimate and work with your insurance company on your behalf — without requiring you to sign away your claim rights first.
Step 4: Tell the Difference Between a Storm Chaser and a Local Roofer
After every major storm in Central Florida, out-of-state roofing crews flood the area. They’re fast, they’re aggressive, and they disappear just as quickly — often before the job is fully done or warranted.
Red flags for storm chasers:
- Unsolicited door-knocking immediately after the storm
- No local address — just a cell number and an out-of-state license plate on the truck
- Pressure to sign immediately, often with clipboard in hand on your doorstep
- Asks you to sign an AOB before providing a written estimate
- Can’t produce a Florida roofing license number on request
- No Volusia County or Central Florida references you can actually call
- Unusually low estimate with vague scope of work
What a legitimate local contractor looks like:
- Licensed in Florida — you can verify at myfloridalicense.com
- Has a physical local presence and verifiable history in Volusia County
- Provides a written, itemized estimate before any work begins
- Willing to meet with your adjuster to walk the damage together
- Carries liability insurance and workers’ comp — and will provide certificates
- Offers a written warranty on labor (a contractor who won’t be around in five years won’t offer one)
Affordable Roofing & Construction has been serving Volusia County and Central Florida for over 20 years. We hold active Florida Roofing License CCC 1327602 and General Contractor License CGC 1509441. We’re not going anywhere — and we back every roof we install with a 5-year labor warranty.
Step 5: Get a Contractor on Your Roof Before the Adjuster Visit
This is the step most homeowners skip — and it’s often the most important.
Having a licensed local roofer inspect your damage before your insurance adjuster arrives accomplishes three things:
- You get an independent damage assessment — documented by someone whose job is to find everything wrong, not minimize it
- Your roofer can be present during the adjuster visit — pointing out damage that might be missed or undervalued (missing flashing, punctured underlayment, damaged decking beneath shingles)
- You start the contractor relationship before any pressure exists — you’re choosing your roofer calmly, not in a panic after the adjuster visit
A good roofing contractor won’t charge you for a storm damage assessment. That pre-adjuster walkthrough is part of how we serve homeowners — you should know what you have before you negotiate with your insurance company.
What Happens If Your Claim Is Underpaid or Denied?
Florida homeowners have options. If you believe your claim was underpaid:
- Request a re-inspection — you have the right to ask your insurer to take another look
- Hire a public adjuster — they work for you (not your insurer) and typically work on a percentage of the settlement; Florida has licensed public adjusters who specialize in storm claims
- Invoke the appraisal process — most homeowner policies include an appraisal clause that allows both sides to bring in independent appraisers if there’s a dispute over the amount of loss
- Contact the Florida Department of Financial Services — they regulate insurance companies in Florida and handle consumer complaints
A licensed local contractor who has worked insurance claims in Volusia County before can help you understand what a fair scope of repair looks like and whether your settlement covers the actual work required.
The Bottom Line for Volusia County Homeowners
Hurricane season runs June through November. July and August are historically the highest-activity months for storms affecting Central Florida. If your roof is more than 15 years old, or if it has never been inspected since you bought the home, now — before the next storm — is the right time to know what you have.
We offer free roof estimates throughout Volusia County — Daytona Beach, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach, DeLand, Deltona, and surrounding areas. If a storm has already caused damage, call us before your adjuster arrives. We’ll walk the roof with you, document what we find, and be there when it matters.
Call Affordable Roofing & Construction: 386-392-8952
Licensed. Insured. 20+ years serving Volusia County. We’re local — and we’ll still be here when your warranty matters.