Crestview Public Adjuster
Crestview is miles from the Gulf, but its storms still bring tornado warnings, straight-line winds and trees on the roof. We work for you, not your insurance company. Free, no-obligation damage inspection and policy evaluation.
David Otero, President
Licensed Florida public insurance adjuster
7+ years of claims experience
- License W605057
- FAPIA member
- Windstorm Insurance Network member
- Rated 5.0 on Google
- Free inspection
A Crestview Public Adjuster, about an hour away
Otero Property Adjusting & Appraisals Inc represents homeowners, landlords and business owners in Crestview and across Okaloosa County. We work only for policyholders, never for insurance companies.
Our office is on West Michigan Ave in Pensacola, about 53 miles from Crestview, roughly an hour by car. We come to your property for the inspection. When you call, you talk to our Pensacola team, and David Otero oversees your claim.
- 3105 West Michigan Ave, Pensacola, FL 32526
- (850) 285-0405
Tell us what the storm did and roughly how old your roof is. That second detail matters more than most people think.
Claims we handle in Crestview
Inland claims usually start at the roof. These are the most common around Crestview.
Roof and wind damage
Thunderstorm gusts lift shingles and tear flashing loose. Rain that gets in through that damage is part of the wind claim.
Tornado damage
A tornado's damage follows a narrow track, so the claim has to show exactly what reached your property and how.
Water damage
A failed supply line or water heater can spread under floors before anyone notices. The source and the timeline both go on record.
Hurricane damage
Hurricanes still reach Crestview as wind and heavy rain after landfall. Hurricane losses come with their own deductible.
Mold damage
Water left behind after a storm can turn into mold within days. Many policies cap mold, so the cause has to be tied to the storm.
Flood damage
Water rising from creeks and low ground is flood, which a homeowners policy doesn't cover. A separate flood policy handles it.
Fire and smoke damage
Smoke reaches every room through the air system. Cleaning and contents belong in the claim with the rebuild.
Commercial property claims
Shops and offices along the main corridors lose business while they're closed for repairs. Repairs and lost income both belong in the claim.
Where Crestview claims come up short
On May 10, 2024, an EF2 tornado with peak winds near 115 mph touched down near Munson in Santa Rosa County and tracked 12.25 miles into northern Okaloosa County, according to the National Weather Service in Mobile. The same storms’ straight-line winds stripped an awning from a gas station canopy and stucco from a church in Crestview. That’s the kind of weather Crestview gets, and here’s where the claims that follow tend to go wrong.
No tornado rating, no claim?
Not true. Straight-line wind is still wind, and wind damage is covered under most homeowners policies whether or not a tornado was confirmed. Photograph the damage the day it happens, before an insurer can call it wear and tear.
The tree on the house
A fallen oak or pine leaves two bills: fixing what it broke, and hauling it away. Policies often treat the hauling under a smaller, separate limit, so list the two apart.
"Your roof is too old"
After a wind claim, an older roof can bring a letter saying replace it or lose the policy. Florida limits how far an insurer can push that, and an inspection showing years of life left can keep your coverage in place.
Rain that shows up days later
Ceiling stains and wet insulation often appear after the storm has passed. Tie that water back to the wind damage that let it in, or it can get written off as a maintenance problem.
Water from the creek
When rain pushes creeks and low ground over their banks, that's flood. Your homeowners policy won't pay it, so check now whether you have flood coverage.
How we handle your claim
From the first call to the final payment, a Crestview claim goes through the same six steps as every claim we handle.
Policy review
We read the whole policy, including endorsements and exclusions, before the inspection, so we know what it says about the type of damage you have.
Inspection
We inspect the property ourselves and photograph the roof, attic, interior and exterior, so every area of damage is documented.
Our estimate
We write a line-item estimate for the full repair at current local prices.
Working with your insurer
We communicate with your insurer on your behalf, answer its requests and present the documentation that supports your claim. Anyone inspecting for the insurer must give at least 48 hours’ notice before an on-site inspection (§626.854), so we can be there with you.
Appraisal, if it comes to that
If you and the insurer still disagree on the amount, many policies let either side demand appraisal. Each side picks an appraiser, and those two choose an umpire. An award signed by any two of them sets the amount of the loss. Check your policy first, because not every policy has this clause.
Through the close of the claim
We handle the paperwork, supplements and deadlines through the end of the claim. Florida generally gives your insurer 60 days after it receives notice of a claim to pay or deny it, with limited exceptions (§627.70131).
What our clients say
Areas we serve near Crestview
We handle claims across Okaloosa County and the western Panhandle from our Pensacola office, and we come to each property for the inspection. See all service areas.
- Crestview
- Milton
- Niceville
- Fort Walton Beach
- Destin
- DeFuniak Springs
Your rights in Florida
If your insurer is pointing at your roof’s age, start here.
- Roof age and your policy: an insurer can’t refuse to issue or renew a homeowners policy solely because the roof is less than 15 years old. For a roof 15 years or older, it has to let you get a roof inspection by an authorized inspector, at your expense, before requiring a replacement to issue or renew. If that inspection shows 5 years or more of useful life left, the insurer can’t refuse to issue or renew solely because of the roof’s age (§627.7011).
The inspection and policy review are free.
Deadlines to know (§627.70132). A new or reopened claim has to be reported within 1 year of the date of loss. A supplemental claim, for more damage found later on a claim you already filed, has 18 months.
This is general information, not legal advice. Your policy and the facts of your claim decide what applies to you.
Crestview Public Adjuster FAQs
The storm wasn't rated a tornado. Can I still file for wind damage?
Yes. Straight-line winds cause wind damage too, and most homeowners policies cover wind regardless of whether a tornado was confirmed. What matters is showing the damage came from the storm.
An oak came down on my roof. Is removing it covered too?
The roof and anything else the tree broke are usually claimed under your dwelling coverage. Removal is often a separate, smaller amount, so check that part of your policy before you sign with a tree crew.
My insurer says my roof is too old to renew. What are my options?
If the roof is under 15 years old, the insurer can’t refuse to renew solely because of its age. If it’s 15 or older, you can have an authorized inspector check it. An inspection showing at least 5 years of useful life left means the insurer can’t refuse to renew solely because of age.
How is my roof's age figured?
From the last date the whole roof was built or replaced under the building code in effect at the time. Partial replacements don’t reset the clock until all of the roof has been redone.
You're in Pensacola. Do you come to Crestview?
Yes. Our office is about 53 miles away, around an hour’s drive, and we inspect at your property.
What does the free inspection include?
We walk the damage with you, read your policy, and tell you what we think the claim should cover. You decide afterward whether to hire us.
Is there a time limit on filing?
Yes. Report a new or reopened claim within 1 year of the date of loss. A supplemental claim, for damage you find later, gets 18 months. Hurricane losses count from the day the storm made landfall.
Do you also work in Niceville, Fort Walton Beach and Destin?
Yes, along with the rest of Okaloosa County and anywhere in Florida.
Storm or water damage in Crestview?
Get a free, no-obligation damage inspection and policy evaluation. Call (850) 285-0405.