PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Finding affordable property insurance is becoming difficult as rates continue to soar in Florida. “People tend to assume that’s because of hurricanes, but we don’t really have a hurricane problem, we have a fraud and litigation problem.”“This problem has been getting worse over the last several years,” Hutt said.
He said a majority of the money paid out to insurance claims doesn’t even go to homeowners for repairs.Governor Ron DeSantis says he is stepping in, though.Hutt believes that will help. “Hopefully what we can do is get some meaningful reforms that will bring down costs and will help to eliminate the fraud,” Hutt said.
There are a few things the general public can look out for when finding a reliable property insurance agency. “Get a four-point inspection and a wind mitigation inspection and have that to give to the agent you’re shopping with,” Hutt said.If it can’t answer these questions, look elsewhere.