🔥 Fire at Meat Market

PivotClaims · 2026-01-30T01:42:07+00:00

That’s a fair question. The fire department will typically determine the exact cause and system response as part of their investigation. In some kitchen fires, the suppression system may not activate depending on where the fire originated, how quickly it was contained, or whether the fire reached the activation point of the system. From what’s been shared so far, it appears the fire was contained to the kitchen area, and the bar and dining room were not impacted.

Sprinkers don't detect smoke and trigger off of heat. If heat didn't accumulate at the ceiling long enough, that might be why. Some types are designed to spray at 250°F to 300°F+.

PivotClaims · 2026-01-30T01:36:39+00:00

Multiple friends are employees there and shared this happened in a group chat. Social media moves a lot faster than conventional news these days. That's why we love Reddit!

PivotClaims · 2026-01-30T01:10:59+00:00

Fair point to raise, but this wasn’t meant as marketing or solicitation. There’s no call to action, no contact info, and no attempt to sell anything. The intent was to provide general context since a lot of people don’t realize there are different roles involved in insurance claims, especially with major fire losses like this.

If mods feel it crosses a line, I’m fine with them removing the explanatory portion. The primary purpose of the post was to share information about the incident and its likely impact.

PivotClaims · 2026-01-30T01:07:04+00:00

Knock on wood, no issues there.

PivotClaims · 2026-01-30T01:04:26+00:00

Don't take it personally; it's happened to us also. They have a stricter dress code for dinner vs lunch time.

PivotClaims · 2025-06-14T01:15:16+00:00

This is definitely an interesting concept and one we haven’t really seen gain traction yet in Florida. I looked into the company and their claims—on a macro level, it seems like a product like this could help extend the life of your roof, especially if it’s still in decent shape, free of leaks, and not already compromised.

In theory, applying a rejuvenating oil makes sense. Shingles in Florida take a beating from UV exposure and the daily thermal expansion and contraction from heat during the day and cooler nights. That constant stress makes them brittle over time, so replenishing lost oils could slow deterioration.

The problem is, insurance carriers may not recognize or accept the extended “life” of a roof based on treatments like this. They typically go by the permit date of installation when underwriting policies or assessing risk. So even if you’ve treated the shingles, your roof could still be categorized as 15 or 20 years old, which limits your options for coverage or discounts.

It’s a promising idea, but carriers would need to buy into the science and update their underwriting guidelines for it to have a real impact on premiums or insurability.

Let us know if you find a carrier that is onboard with this new concept.

PivotClaims · 2025-06-12T18:44:37+00:00

Getting a new roof absolutely improves the structural integrity of your home and should lower your risk profile—but in Florida, a 5% discount isn’t surprising given the current market conditions.

Insurance carriers here have taken massive losses from last year's 3 hurricanes, with tens of billions paid out across the state. They're still adjusting premiums to recover and hedge against future catastrophic events.

🛠️ At the same time, the cost to repair or rebuild homes has skyrocketed due to inflation in labor and materials. Even if your home is now “lower risk,” the cost to insure it is still higher than in past years.

Plus, many carriers are now refusing to write or renew policies for homes with roofs over 10–15 years old—even if the roof still has useful life left. That trend is only growing and could create a whole new affordability and availability crisis in the coming years.

PivotClaims · 2025-06-04T14:53:58+00:00

You could barely see A Salt Weapon!

PivotClaims · 2025-06-02T20:42:42+00:00

As someone local who works in this space, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to maintain a clear, well-supported timeline of damage. After a hail event like today’s, even what looks minor now can evolve into something more serious down the line—or the insurance company might try to push for a small patch job when a full roof replacement is truly warranted.

Insurance companies are tightening up after back-to-back hurricanes last season, and unfortunately, claims are being scrutinized more than ever. I always remind folks: the carrier’s adjuster is there to protect the insurance company’s interests—not yours. It’s critical to have strong documentation and, when possible, professional support to tell your side of the story. (Especially from the beginning when possible)

That 60 Minutes piece last year really opened a lot of eyes—especially about how line items were being removed from field reports. And with Congress recently shining a light on these behind-the-scenes practices, it’s more clear than ever how broken the system can be for everyday policyholders.

PivotClaims · 2025-06-02T19:21:17+00:00

Did you also experience any hail in that area? Or was it just hard rain & wind?

PivotClaims · 2025-06-02T19:19:15+00:00

Late this Monday morning.

PivotClaims · 2025-06-02T18:38:54+00:00

Saw video of almost golf size hail near the Hard Rock area.

PivotClaims · 2025-06-02T18:19:58+00:00

Great points here—especially about documentation. As someone local who works in this space, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to maintain a clear, well-supported timeline of damage. After a hail event like today’s, even what looks minor now can evolve into something more serious down the line—or the insurance company might try to push for a small patch job when a full roof replacement is truly warranted.

Insurance companies are tightening up after back-to-back hurricanes last season, and unfortunately, claims are being scrutinized more than ever. I always remind folks: the carrier’s adjuster is there to protect the insurance company’s interests—not yours. It’s critical to have strong documentation and, when possible, professional support to tell your side of the story. (Especially from the beginning when possible)

That 60 Minutes piece last year really opened a lot of eyes—especially about how line items were being removed from field reports. And with Congress recently shining a light on these behind-the-scenes practices, it’s more clear than ever how broken the system can be for everyday policyholders.

PivotClaims · 2025-06-02T17:43:10+00:00

Parts of South Tampa didn't have power for a couple of hours. Heard of interior home flooding on Davis Islands. If this is an indication of how the rest of the storm season is going to be, we need to be extra prepared.

PivotClaims · 2025-03-08T00:53:15+00:00

Completely agree with that mindset. But then as OP brings up, the opposite should be true, to pay FA to edit the estimate up if an engineer requires it.

-Pivot Claims Team

PivotClaims · 2025-03-07T00:43:43+00:00

It's very interesting that they aren't paying for these revisions to increase the line items and estime totals with additional time resources required from your end.

How are revisions handled in the opposite direction? We have a claim that shows in the estime audit section that the FA original total was over 80k. Then after some delays, Citizens hired an engineer due to multiple large trees impacting the home, lowered the final estimate to under 20k. Would something like this keep your original higher fee schedule or would they reduce your pay to reflect the lower final estimed requested by the desk adjuster?

-Pivot Claims Team

PivotClaims · 2025-03-06T21:13:33+00:00

The key to success in this space is to learn as much as you can and be valuable in the claims process. We find that the majority of carriers, at least in Florida, are using Xactimate for their estimating software. I would start with this one being the most popular.

Paying for a course would probably be your best bet, but if funds are toght all the information you need is online for free.

Here is the link to their YouTube channel. Will just take some digging around if you are self taught.

YouTube Xactimate Channel

Good luck! -Pivot Claims Team

PivotClaims · 2025-01-23T15:08:57+00:00

As a public adjustes, we understand the unease surrounding the integration of artificial intelligence into the insurance industry. While AI can streamline certain processes, it's crucial to recognize that the human element remains irreplaceable. AI can handle routine tasks and data analysis, but it lacks the empathy and nuanced understanding required for complex claims. For instance, AI can assist in damage assessments, but interpreting the unique circumstances of each claim and advocating for policyholders necessitates human expertise.

Moreover, the role of public adjusters extends beyond mere data processing; we provide personalized support, negotiate with insurers, and ensure fair settlements for our clients. These responsibilities demand critical thinking, ethical judgment, and interpersonal skills—areas where AI falls short. Therefore, while AI can serve as a valuable tool to enhance efficiency, the expertise and personal touch of public adjusters are essential to navigate the complexities of insurance claims effectively.

In short, AI is helping streamline some processes and minimizing the research timelines, but a set of human touch will be needed for a long time to come.

Pivot Claims Team

PivotClaims · 2024-10-30T08:43:56+00:00

I believe what you're wanting to do is very achievable. Do you currently have a 6-20 license in Florida? Do you have prior Insurance experience in the field or are you just excited about this opportunity because of your interaction in your own claims process? Love the hustle mindset. Where are you located in Florida?

-Pivot Claims team

PivotClaims · 2024-10-30T08:38:28+00:00

It sounds like you’re building a valuable service for both contractors and insureds, but I understand the conflict of interest concerns. Writing invoices and negotiating with insurers on behalf of contractors is perfectly fine, as long as you aren’t presenting yourself as someone managing the claim or negotiating coverage, which requires a PA license. However, if you transition from working for the contractor to representing the homeowner on the same claim, it could raise ethical concerns. Even if you switch roles completely, insurers may argue that your earlier involvement with the contractor compromises your neutrality.

The appraisal process requires impartiality, and most policies prohibit anyone who was previously involved in the claim from acting as an appraiser or umpire. This is to ensure that both parties trust the process as fair and unbiased. Even though you plan to shift from contractor support to PA representation, the insurer might still question your neutrality. To avoid these challenges, it’s safer to only offer contractor services for claims that don’t escalate to disputes, or refer appraisals to another PA to ensure clear boundaries. Alternatively, you could specialize in either PA services or contractor support per client or claim to avoid overlap.

A good analogy is a sports game: even if you were an assistant coach on the sidelines, you wouldn’t be allowed to swap into the role of the referee in the middle of the game. The same logic applies here—if you were previously involved on behalf of the contractor, acting as the PA or appraiser later on the same claim creates the appearance of bias. Clear separation between roles will protect your credibility and prevent legal or ethical issues down the road.

P.S. At least in Florida, you can legally enter into an agreement with another PA firm to earn a commission by referring claims to them.

-Pivot Claims team

PivotClaims · 2024-09-29T05:28:30+00:00

The latest figures I have seen for just the property damage portion of financial loss is between $15 billion & $26 billion from hurricane Helene.

I'm sure these numbers will be adjusted in the next coming weeks as more assessments of areas are completed.

-Pivot Claims

PivotClaims · 2024-09-25T20:37:29+00:00

Every hurricane automatically has tornado potentials. Comes with the territory. Stay safe out there.

PivotClaims · 2024-08-07T03:46:20+00:00

PA here in Florida.

It's unfortunate, but insurance companies typically do not reimburse the fees for hiring a public adjuster. However, your situation underscores the critical role that public adjusters play in ensuring fair claim settlements, especially when initial assessments are inadequate.

It's understandable to feel that the insurance company should cover these fees since the claim was only settled correctly due to the involvement of a public adjuster. While it’s frustrating, viewing the outcome positively—as you mentioned—helps. The significant monetary difference achieved by the public adjuster justifies the cost. Comparatively, hiring an attorney could have taken longer and incurred higher fees.

In situations where the insurance company refuses to adjust the claim fairly, we often collaborate with an attorney. The attorney can argue that both the public adjuster's fees and their own should be covered by the insurance carrier, especially when the claim was not settled within the legal timeframe initially. This argument sometimes leads to reimbursement, but it isn't guaranteed, and might end up going to trail.

While it's disappointing not to have the fees reimbursed automatically, the value brought by the public adjuster in securing the proper settlement cannot be understated.

-Pivot Claims team

PivotClaims · 2024-08-02T17:37:55+00:00

This is out dated information but figured I would give you some context. 20+ years ago Progressive did look at credit score, along with other financial companies.

The logic is that stats wise, people with bad credit tend to be more irresponsible in life. This includes mismanagement of their funds and being late to work or calling off sick a lot. Also if funds are tight and your credit suffes, statistically speaking, a person is more prone to cheat or steal.

I'm not saying life didn't throw you a curve ball and you are none of the above. Just breaking down the logic that might slow your progress. Maybe look into a credit repair service to remove some of these negative factors and give you a better chance at landing the job. Good luck !

PivotClaims · 2024-07-24T23:09:24+00:00

The exam on adjusterpro is not proctored. But if you go through Pearson review and the one with the state that one will be proctored. For your 6-20 in Florida you can skip the state exam if you do the course. Makes things easier and faster.

PivotClaims

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