Fla. Homeowners Have Money, But Contractors, Roofers Unavailable to Make Repairs

April 18 was the deadline for insurers to finish processing and paying off 1.69 million hurricane damage claims across Florida, but they still have nine days to go before they have to tell the state how many claims remain open. Companies that didn’t pay up by the deadline risk fines of $2,500 a day for each unresolved claim.

Florida homeowners have been receiving money for repairs in record numbers due to the deadline, but contractors and roofers are unavailable to do the repairs and say they are backlogged with work-orders placed months ago and say it will take from one to eight months to get caught up.

John Malafronte, area field representative for State Farm, the state’s biggest insurer, said that as of a week ago his company had closed out 96.6 percent of its 223,372 hurricane claims in Florida.
State Farm sent in 170 claims adjusters and support workers from other states last fall to help its six regular adjusters in Volusia County tackle the mountain of claims. Only 17 still remain on the job, mainly to field phone calls about claims already in the pipeline.

Sam Miller, executive vice president of the Florida Insurance Council, told the Daytona Beach News-Journal he believes virtually all routine claims have been taken care of. “I think most of the ones that are left are the ones being contested in court.”

Contractors received thousands of phone calls from people seeking repair estimates since Hurricane Charley tore through Florida last August. Homeowners who call for an estimate are told it will take four to six weeks for an estimate and three to four months after that before the repair job can begin.

“With another hurricane season quickly approaching, people are panicking, especially over on the beachside,” Neil Samuels, president of R&R Industries in Holly Hill told the News Journal.

Pat Cheesbro, owner of Wayne’s Roofing in Holly Hill, said her company’s waiting period has been whittled down to just one month, but some customers are “desperate” to get work started sooner. Some are turning to roofers from other states, even though the Volusia County Council has refused to recognize those roofers’ credentials.

“When they have a problem with their roof afterward, who’s going to be around to take care of the warranty?” Cheesbro asked. “Those guys will be long gone.”

While reroofing work remains in high demand, there’s an equally long waiting list for carports, pool enclosures and other aluminum structures, contractors said.

“We’re telling people there will be a six- to eight-month waiting period before we can see anyone new,” sadi Bob Perrone, operator of Bob’s Aluminum in Port Orange. “We’re looking at a backlog of 60 to 70 jobs right now, and a lot of those jobs aren’t simple ones because of all the damage that’s involved. What’s usually a one-week job is turning into a two-week job.”

Topics Florida Claims Hurricane Homeowners Contractors