When you’re buying a home in South Tampa, there’s more to due diligence than the inspection, appraisal, and title search. Insurance history can tell you something important about how a property has performed over time—and what it may cost to insure going forward.
At The Lewkowicz Group, Emeri and Joe Lewkowicz have spent more than 40 years combined helping buyers, sellers, and investors understand the realities of Tampa real estate. In a market like ZIP code 33611, where buyers may encounter everything from established homes to extensively renovated properties, they encourage clients to look beyond what a home looks like today.
One of the questions they often recommend asking is: What does this property's insurance claims history tell us?
What Is an Insurance Claims History?
A property's insurance claims history records losses previously reported to insurance companies. One important source is the CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) report, which can contain information such as the date of a loss, type of loss, and amounts paid. The Florida Department of Financial Services notes that CLUE generally contains up to seven years or more of personal-property and auto claims information.
For a prospective buyer, this can provide another layer of information that isn't necessarily visible during a showing.
For example, a property may look beautifully renovated, but a previous claim could reveal a history involving water damage, roof damage, fire, or another type of loss. That doesn't automatically mean there is a problem today—but it gives you something specific to investigate.
Why Does This Matter in 33611?
"In South Tampa, we want buyers to understand the whole property, not just the finished product," says Emeri Lewkowicz.
A claims history can help buyers identify questions that deserve additional attention. If there has been a previous water-related claim, for example, a buyer may want to understand what caused the damage, what repairs were completed, and whether the underlying issue was permanently addressed.
For a roof-related claim, you might want to review the roof's age, permits, invoices, warranties, and current condition.
Joe Lewkowicz emphasizes that the claim itself is only the starting point. A claim does not necessarily mean the property is currently defective. What matters is understanding what happened, what was repaired, and whether appropriate documentation exists.
Can Claims History Affect Your Insurance?
This is particularly important because insurance is a major part of the cost of owning a Florida home.
Insurance companies may use claims information when underwriting or pricing coverage. The Florida Department of Financial Services specifically advises consumers to review CLUE information for accuracy because incorrect claims information can potentially affect insurance costs.
That's why Emeri and Joe recommend that buyers investigate insurance early in the transaction—not after everything else is finished.
Ask the seller to provide the property's claims history, then discuss the findings with an insurance professional who can evaluate the specific home and your circumstances. A buyer generally cannot independently obtain the seller's property CLUE report; the current owner must request it.
What Should Buyers Look For?
When Emeri and Joe help buyers evaluate a property in 33611, they encourage them to connect the dots between the claims history and the rest of their due diligence:
What type of loss occurred?
When did it happen?
What caused the damage?
How extensive was the repair?
Who completed the work?
Are permits, invoices, warranties, or inspection records available?
Has the issue occurred again?
Can an insurer provide acceptable coverage at a cost that fits the buyer's budget?
The goal isn't to automatically eliminate a property because it has a claim. Instead, the goal is to understand the story behind the claim.
A More Complete Picture of the Property
For buyers considering a home in South Tampa's 33611 ZIP code, insurance claims history can be another valuable piece of the due-diligence puzzle. Combined with a professional inspection, seller disclosures, repair documentation, permitting information, and an early insurance review, it can help you make a more informed assessment of the property.
With more than four decades of combined experience in the Tampa market, Emeri and Joe Lewkowicz know that successful real estate decisions often come down to asking the right questions before closing—not discovering the answers afterward.
Thinking about buying in 33611 or another South Tampa neighborhood? The Lewkowicz Group can help you evaluate not only the home you're considering, but the practical ownership considerations that come with it.
