Part of our series on the 10 most common mistakes homeowners make after a hurricane damages their screen enclosure, pool cage, screen room, or patio cover.

It usually sounds helpful. "Don't worry about the insurance company, we'll handle all that." "Just sign here so we can talk to your adjuster." "We'll make sure insurance pays for a whole new cage." After a storm, with a hundred things on your plate, letting someone else deal with the claim can sound like a relief.

It's one of the clearest red flags you'll hear from a contractor.

Why it's a red flag

In Florida, contractors can't interpret your insurance policy, advise you about your coverage, or adjust your claim on your behalf unless they also hold a public adjuster license. A contractor offering to "handle" your claim is offering something they generally aren't allowed to do.

And they can't take over your benefits either. For property policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2023, Florida law voids any agreement that signs your post-loss insurance benefits over to someone else. If a contractor hands you paperwork that sounds like it gives them rights to your claim or your insurance check, stop and don't sign.

Phrases to listen for

• "We'll handle your insurance company for you."

• "Sign this so we can deal with your adjuster."

• "We'll get insurance to pay for everything."

• "We'll take care of your deductible," or "You won't pay a deductible."

• "Just sign over the check and we'll take it from there."

That deductible offer deserves its own warning. You're responsible for your deductible. A contractor who offers to cover or waive it usually has to make up the difference by inflating the claim somewhere else, and that's insurance fraud. Florida insurers warn that both the contractor and the homeowner who goes along with it can face felony charges.

"If somebody offers to cover your deductible, they're not doing you a favor. They're asking you to put your name on something you don't want your name on." — Eric Vanheteren, Aluminum Building Systems

What a good contractor actually does

A reputable contractor's role is simple: assess the damage, give you a detailed written estimate, and do the work. If your adjuster calls or meets the contractor on site, the contractor can explain their own estimate: what's damaged, what the repair involves, and what it costs. That's where it stops. You own your claim. You decide what to submit and how to deal with your insurance company.

If you want professional help with the claim itself, the legal options are a licensed public adjuster or an attorney. You can verify a public adjuster's license through the Florida Department of Financial Services.

"We'll give you a detailed written estimate to send your insurance company. The claim itself is yours. Anybody who tells you otherwise is selling you something." — Eric Vanheteren, Aluminum Building Systems

If something feels wrong

If a contractor pressures you to sign over your claim, offers to cover your deductible, or suggests anything that sounds like padding the claim, walk away. You can report suspected insurance fraud to the state's Fraud Free Florida hotline at (800) 378-0445.

When you're ready

Next in this series: After Isaias: Don’t Rescreen Until Someone Checks the Frame