Fort Walton Beach Public Adjuster
Storm damage to a condo, home or rental in Fort Walton Beach? 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
Your Fort Walton Beach Public Adjuster, based in Pensacola
Otero Property Adjusting & Appraisals Inc represents condo owners, homeowners, landlords and business owners in Fort Walton Beach and across Okaloosa County. We work only for policyholders, never for insurance companies.
Our office is on West Michigan Ave in Pensacola, about 47 miles west of Fort Walton Beach. We come to you: every inspection happens at your property. 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 about the damage. We will follow up to schedule your free, no-obligation inspection.
Claims we handle in Fort Walton Beach
With Santa Rosa Sound on one side and Choctawhatchee Bay on the other, most claims here involve wind, water or both. Choose a claim type to see how we handle it.
Hurricane damage
On buildings that face the Sound or the bay, hurricanes go after roofs, siding, windows and balconies. We document the whole loss, including damage that only shows up on a close look.
Wind damage
Gusts peel shingles, tear soffits and crack sliding doors before a storm even makes landfall. Rain the wind drives inside is usually part of the wind claim.
Flood damage
Storm surge and rising water from the Sound or the bay fall under a separate flood policy. We document the flood side and the wind side separately, so each is presented under the right policy.
Water damage
In a condo, a leak in one unit often ends up in the unit below. We sort out which policy responds: yours, your neighbor's or the association's.
Commercial property claims
Hotels, restaurants, shops and rental buildings along Miracle Strip Parkway face lost income on top of building damage.
Mold damage
Coastal humidity can turn a small leak into a mold problem quickly. Many policies cap mold coverage, so the cause and the timing need to be on record.
Roof leaks
Salt air wears roofs faster, and insurers use that to call storm damage "wear and tear." We document the damage with a close inspection and detailed photos.
Fire and smoke damage
Kitchen fires, electrical fires and lightning can leave smoke damage in units that never saw a flame, especially in shared buildings.
Where Fort Walton Beach claims come up short
Here, most disputes come down to which policy pays. These are the problems that cost Fort Walton Beach owners the most.
Master policy vs. your unit policy
The association's master policy usually covers the building and common areas, and your HO-6 (condo unit) policy covers the inside of your unit. After a storm, each insurer can point at the other. We match each piece of damage to the policy that owes it.
Special assessments months later
After a big loss, the association may vote a special assessment. Loss assessment coverage on your own policy may pay part of it, and Florida gives you until the later of 1 year after the loss or 90 days after the vote to report it.
Wind or water
Homeowners and condo unit policies exclude flood, while wind-driven rain is usually covered. Near the Sound or the bay, the way the damage is documented decides which policy pays.
Owners who aren't here
Some units are vacation rentals, and some owners are military families at Hurlburt Field or Eglin who may get new orders. Someone still has to inspect, document the damage and meet the insurer's adjuster. We can do that for you.
A whole county filing at once
When Hurricane Opal hit in 1995, storm surge overwhelmed Okaloosa Island and at one point about 95% of Okaloosa County lost power. After storms like that, insurance adjusters are stretched thin, and quick inspections miss hidden damage.
How we handle your claim
The insurance company sends its own adjuster, who works for the insurer. A public adjuster works only for you. Here is how we handle a Fort Walton Beach claim from start to finish.
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 Fort Walton Beach
From our Pensacola office we cover Fort Walton Beach, the rest of Okaloosa County and the Panhandle, and we handle claims throughout Florida. See all service areas.
- Fort Walton Beach
- Shalimar
- Niceville
- Destin
- Navarre
- Gulf Breeze
- Pensacola
Your rights in Florida
Florida law sets ground rules that protect you during a claim.
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. Condo loss assessment claims have until the later of 1 year after the loss or 90 days after your association votes the assessment.
This is general information, not legal advice. Your policy and the facts of your claim decide what applies to you.
Fort Walton Beach Public Adjuster FAQs
My condo was damaged. Do I claim on my policy or the association's?
Often both. The master policy generally covers the structure and common areas, and your unit policy covers the interior, upgrades and your belongings, depending on your association’s documents. We read both and file each part where it belongs.
The association voted a special assessment after the storm. Can my insurance help pay it?
If your policy includes loss assessment coverage, it may pay part of your share. Report it by the later of 1 year after the loss or 90 days after the vote.
I'm stationed at Hurlburt Field or Eglin and may get new orders. Can you handle my claim if I move?
Yes. A public adjuster can handle inspections, paperwork and meetings with the insurer’s adjuster while you’re away. Tell us your timeline on the first call.
Do you come to Fort Walton Beach, or do I need to go to Pensacola?
We come to you. The inspection happens at your property, and you don’t need to visit our office.
Do you handle rental and vacation properties?
Yes. Rental properties are often insured under landlord or commercial policies, some with lost rental income coverage. We check what yours includes.
Can you help if my claim was denied or underpaid?
Yes. We review the denial or payment, re-inspect, document what was missed and, within Florida’s deadlines, pursue a reopened or supplemental claim.
Do you cover the rest of Okaloosa County?
Yes, including Shalimar, Niceville and Destin. We also handle claims throughout Florida.
Storm or water damage in Fort Walton Beach?
Get a free, no-obligation damage inspection and policy evaluation. We work for you, not your insurance company.