Living in Florida (especially north and central) means that you could be at risk for sinkhole damage to your home. If your home was previously damaged because of a sinkhole you may find it harder to insure. Consider these questions and their answers before seeking coverage.
The first question you’ll need answered is: are homes with prior sinkhole damage even insurable? The short answer is: it depends. Each situation is different. If your home has been repaired there is a chance of obtaining home insurance again. During the buying process it is important to know whether a previous owner filed an insurance claim and used the money entirely for repairs or if only a part of the settlement was used.
Other questions you should consider and get answers to.
- Was the damage caused by sinkhole or just natural settling?
- The difference between settling and sinkhole damage can be easy to tell. While sinkhole damage can appear and become disastrous quickly, settling damage usually appears over a long period of time. If you live somewhere where the bedrock is not limestone or there is no salt-based rock then you are most likely dealing with settling. If you find hairline cracks in the walls of your home and live in an area where the
- When did the damage happen?
- What was the method of repair? Was any cosmetic work done to the house?
- Was an engineering report done on the house, if so can you get a copy of the report?
- Was an insurance claim filed and was damage was paid by the insurance company?
Once you have gathered all of this information call our office, 352-371-7977, and we can discuss your options for securing insurance.