Managing damage to a Walton County home from out of town in Gonzalez
November 5, 2026 · PAJOE Public Adjusters
A second home can be hard to assess after you receive a brief photo from a caretaker. Ask for a safe overview of the address, each accessible area and the apparent damage. Have them mark rooms they could not enter. Tell the carrier who discovered the damage and when they last saw the property before discovery. Avoid presenting an assumed date or cause as a confirmed fact.
Choose one contact for access
Give your carrier a local contact who can meet inspectors, and confirm separately who may receive claim information or sign documents. Keep a list of keys, lockbox access, entry times and any repairs made while you were away. Share private access codes through a secure channel and rotate them when work ends. Have reports and approvals sent to an address or email you can monitor, particularly if normal mail delivery was disrupted.
Collect receipts with a property label
If a manager arranged temporary roof protection while you were traveling, ask for the address, date, photos and line items on the invoice. Ask for a written summary of what the inspector saw after the tarp was placed. Read occupancy and protective duties in the policy and ask the insurer to explain any conditions relevant to your property. Keep the approvals and the owner’s instructions with the receipts.
Official resource
Florida Department of Financial Services hurricane recovery resources: https://myfloridacfo.com/division/ica/storm
Ask PAJOE about your claim
For a free initial claim review, call PAJOE Public Adjusters at (850) 842-6424.
Florida Public Adjusting Firm License # W894577
Joseph Whitefall | Florida Public Adjuster
Individual License # E166230
Our public adjusting fee is contingent on a recovery. Before you retain PAJOE, we explain the agreed percentage and the payments to which it applies. Fee terms are set out in our signed agreement. Any outside expenses require separate written authorization consistent with applicable Florida law.
PAJOE provides public adjusting services and does not provide legal advice. Coverage and recovery depend on the policy, the facts of the loss, and supporting evidence. No particular decision, payment, additional recovery, or resolution timeframe is guaranteed.