If your home or business suffered damage or was destroyed, you’ll need to file an insurance claim. Typically this is a long, tedious process that requires a lot of attention to detail, and can be very overwhelming to someone who doesn’t have intimate knowledge of the insurance process. Unfortunately, not filling out paperwork properly, or properly documenting a claim could cause you to miss out on owed funds and not receive a large enough settlement to cover your loss.
To avoid the stress and risk of messing up your claim, you should consider working with an insurance adjuster. They help negotiate with your insurance company on your behalf to ensure you get the insurance money you are entitled to. You can learn more about what an insurance adjuster does here, but the most important takeaway is this is someone you hire to advocate on your behalf, they are not a representative of your insurance company.
Hiring an Insurance Adjuster
As with any professional or company you are hiring, some are better than others. The last thing you need when you’ve suffered a major loss is more problems, so it’s important you take the time to carefully interview the adjuster and choose one who has your best interests at heart and can get the most insurance dollars for your claim. Don’t allow yourself to be pressured into hiring someone without doing your due diligence. To help with this decision, here are some things to consider when hiring an insurance adjuster.
Are They Licensed & Insured?
It’s important that you hire a licensed public adjuster, as they are required to hold a license in their state. A good, qualified adjuster will happily provide you with proof of their license and insurance, so don’t hesitate to ask.
What Is Their Experience?
You should ask potential public adjusters how many years have they been licensed, how long have they been working, and what their areas of expertise are. If you are dealing with a fire claim, for example, you need to know they are equipped to deal with your specific type of claim to ensure the best results.
Do They Have References?
Before hiring an adjuster it’s advisable to call and check 2-3 of their references. Ask each reference if they feel confident they got a better result than they would have gotten if they pursued their insurance claim on their own? Ask them about their experience working with the adjuster – were they communicative, helpful? Would they recommend them to family or friends? Along with speaking to their provided references, you should also read online reviews to see what others have to say about working with them.
What is Their Fee?
Most public adjusters work on contingency fees that equal a percentage of the monies the insurer pays on your claim. Some states cap these fees and some are negotiable. The fee you agree to pay should take into account the size and type of your loss and the current status of your insurance claim.
Furthermore, if you’ve already collected some money on your claim before hiring the public adjuster, you need to clarify whether that will affect the adjuster’s fee. Some public adjusters will only charge a fee on insurance funds they recover for you after you hire them. Get this answer before hiring them so there’s no confusion later.
What is Their Process?
It’s important you ask what their process is before you begin working with them. Ask them what steps they take initially with the insurance carrier. How will they value your claim? Will they review your insurance policy first? Are they going to come to visit your damaged property site? How often will they communicate with you? Getting the answer to these questions will help you understand the process and set expectations.
Who Will Work on Your Claim?
Is the insurance adjuster you meet with going to personally work on your claim? Or do they have a team that will be assisting them in the process? Again, the more you understand about the adjuster upfront, the more likely you will be happy with the process and end result.
Don’t Rush the Decision
While you may need to make the decision in a short period of time, don’t be so rushed that you make a poor decision. Ask all the questions you need to so that you can feel confident and comfortable with your choice.
Contact Maximum Public Adjusters Today
When you experience property damage to your business or home, having someone on your side to help you navigate the insurance claim process is to your advantage. Hiring a public adjuster saves time, reduces stress, and produces a better settlement from the insurance company. Contact us today to learn more or discuss your insurance claim.