Dealing with an Adjuster from a Homeowners’ Insurance Company

So, you’ve filed your homeowners’ insurance claim with proof of loss. Therefore, you are in the claims process. Then, you get a call from an insurance claims adjuster for the homeowners’ company. He would like to come to your home to inspect the water damage from the burst pipes in your basement. However, this will be your first experience dealing with an adjuster from a homeowners’ insurance company.

An Insurance Adjuster is Coming to My House. How to Deal with a Loss Adjuster Tips

Once you have filed a claim with your insurance agent or the company, you should begin to collect evidence to support your claim. Therefore, take pictures of all the damaged areas in your home. In addition, if you have to remove damaged furniture or other personal property, take pictures.

Moreover, if you have had plumbers or carpenters inspect the damaged property, get their written estimates to share with the adjuster.

To be sure, the more supporting documentation you can provide the home insurance adjuster the better. It will increase the chance you will get a good insurance settlement.

Dealing with an Insurance Adjuster

Insurance companies are regulated by the state’s insurance commissioner. Your homeowner’s insurance policy is actually a contract between you and the insurance company. And under state law, the insurance company and its adjusters are required to deal with insureds in good faith.

Therefore, the insurance company must write the insurance policy in plain language. In addition, they must promptly and fully investigate the covered event that caused the damaged property.

They cannot deny coverage without a valid reason. Moreover, if they do deny coverage, they must have a valid reason.

Likewise, if they make a low offer on a claim, they have good reasons for doing so.
You, as the insured, also have obligations under the policy. For instance, you have to cooperate with the home insurance adjuster as he investigates the claim. But you don’t have to do everything they request.

As an example, they may recommend certain contractors to do the repair work on your home. Notwithstanding that, you are not required to use that contractor. Instead, you may use a contractor you pick.

Instead, You May Want to Hire a Public Adjuster

The adjuster who the insurance company sent to inspect your damaged property could have been a company adjuster. Therefore, he is a salaried employee of the company.
Or the adjuster was an “independent” adjuster. Independent adjusters are not directly employed by homeowners’ insurance companies. Rather, they work as independent contractors for the carrier. An insurance company might use independent adjusters for large claims.

Similarly, they might use independent adjusters if a tornado struck a large area of a state.

However, independent adjusters never work for the owners of the damaged property.
Additionally, independent adjuster firms have ongoing business relationships with insurance companies. And they want to keep those relationships intact.
On the other hand, public adjusters only work for the owners of the damaged property. Public adjusters are also known as private insurance adjusters, public insurance adjustors or private adjusters.

They are licensed by the state in which they work. Importantly, they are experts on insurance contracts, property damage claims, building standards, etc. The company adjuster may ask to take a recorded statement from you. Consequently, a public adjuster can prepare you and sit in when the adjuster questions you
Furthermore, if you are not happy with the settlement offers from the company, the public adjuster can negotiate a better offer.

In case you are not sure of the difference between replacement costs and actual cash value, a public adjuster can explain it to you.

Notably, the primary difference between public adjusters and independent/staff adjusters is that independent adjusters and staff adjusters work for the insurance company. Conversely, public adjusters only work for insured policyholders. A public adjuster is not beholden to insurance companies.

If You Have Questions About Dealing with an Insurance Adjuster, Call AllCity Adjusters

If you have questions because you are dealing directly with a home insurance adjuster, give AllCity Adjusters a call. The first thing to remember is that we are experts on all types of home insurance policies. If there is a question about insurance coverage or a final settlement offer, it is a good idea to talk with a public insurance adjuster.

Policyholders are entitled to be fully reimbursed for losses when filing their property insurance claims. Remember, insurance companies are not in the business of settling claims to make insureds happy. Rather, they are in the business of collecting premiums and paying out as little as possible to settle claims.

We Know How to Deal with Insurance Adjusters

At AllCity Adjusting we work to ensure you get 100% of your claim value. Indeed, with over 50 years of combined adjusting experience, we know insurance companies and understand where they cut corners. Moreover, when filing a claim, we help you build a larger claim. In addition, we help you maximize your claim value.

Lastly, we get you back to normal fast.

Don’t get fooled, get the company that gets you more. Call us today at 844.692.3587 or visit our website to find an office near you.