When your home is damaged due to a natural disaster or other event or accident, filing a claim is critical to getting the money you need to make necessary repairs. When filing your claim, you will be working with an adjuster. In most cases, this means working with the insurance adjuster for the insurance company itself. However, you also have the option of hiring a public adjuster to help with your claim. What should you expect when working with a public adjuster? Here’s what you need to know.
Paying the Public Adjuster
When you hire a public adjuster to assist you with your claim, payment for their services will usually be a percentage of your claim amount. As a result, expect the public adjuster to work hard to maximize your claim, since the higher the claim, the more money they will make in the end.
Do Your Research
Before you decide to hire a public adjuster, always do your research to make sure you are getting a person who has the necessary experience and knowledge needed to help you with your claim. To do this, always examine their credentials and don’t be afraid to ask for references. By doing so, you will have an insurance adjuster who is skilled at assessing damages, can communicate well with the insurance companies and other parties involved with the claim, and is a member of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters.
Negotiating With the Insurance Company
Once you hire a public adjuster to help file your claim, be aware that they will not necessarily have the final say as to just how much the insurance company will pay you for your damages. Instead, once the public adjuster draws up their proposal as to the repairs needed and the costs involved, they will need to negotiate with the insurance company’s adjuster to reach an agreement on the claim’s final tally.
May Only Work on Major Claims
Finally, since they work essentially on a contingency-fee-basis, many public adjusters are reluctant to take on claims that are considered to be somewhat small. You may have to verify that the public adjuster will work with you if your claim is smaller than what they’re used to.
Once you know you will be filing a claim, make inquiries right away about hiring a public adjuster. By doing so, you can get the claims process moving forward, as well as position yourself to get maximum dollars for your damages.
