Public Adjuster vs Insurance Adjuster

Insurance coverage is required by law when you own property. It is essential to protect both yourself and those that step foot on your property. Of course, no one likes to pay their monthly premiums for insurance coverage. The monthly costs add up quickly compared to the necessity to file a claim and benefit from the coverage. When you pay your insurance premiums, it is likely that you think that the insurance company is there for you, and will help you by any means necessary should an incident occur. It may be hard to comprehend that they may not have your best interests in mind throughout the claims process. When a representative comes out to inspect your damages, it is important to remember that they work for the insurance company. In turn, this means that they have the insurance company’s best interests in mind.

The adjuster that is sent to your property by the insurance company works on behalf of the insurance company. They will assess damages, and appraise them for the least amount possible to be paid out by the insurance company in your settlement. Sometimes, an insurance adjuster will call themselves an independent adjuster. Independent adjusters are still hired by the insurance company; therefore, they are working on their behalf as an independent contractor.

Insurance companies have to make a profit, while compensating their employees, keeping and keeping their clients happy. By offering higher claim settlement amounts, the company would have to increase the rates that they charge. This would be hard for them to stay competitive in the insurance market. So, they try to offer a minimal amount when their policyholders have damages to claim. In most cases, it works!

When a disaster occurs, policyholders tend to accept any amount that is offered by the insurance company. While the issue itself is stressful, the claims process can be even more stressful. Because of this, many policyholders receive much less than they are entitled to. Policyholders often do not even know what is and is not covered under their insurance policy. The small print and multitude of pages typically go unread. After being offered a settlement by the insurance company, it is important to take a step back and do some research on your own, or with the help of another professional.

This is where a public adjuster can be helpful. A public adjuster is hired by you, the policyholder, in order to ensure that you get a settlement amount that is reflective of a realistic cost of repair. The public adjuster can work directly with your insurance company, relieving a great deal of stress from the process. They know how to decipher your policy to see what you are entitled to, and what should and should not be covered under the policy that you chose.

Public adjusters work for you. Insurance/Independent adjusters work for the insurance company. Public adjusters are experts when it comes to the claims process, and they will do a thorough investigation to determine the damages that have occurred. They will appraise the damage to your property, negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, and get an appropriate settlement amount. 

If you have a complex claim, there could be damage that cannot be seen from the surface. Public adjusters are experienced and know exactly what to look for to make sure that no stone goes unturned. They help to make sure that nothing is missed during the claims process to reduce headaches down the road.

Public adjusters are skilled in all types of damage appraisals. The most common types of damages that public adjusters handle are:

• Flood Damage
• Wind Damage
• Roof Leak Damage
• Plumbing Damage
• Electrical Fire Damage
• Water Damage
• Sinkhole Damage

In addition to the above, public adjusters are capable of performing appraisals and assessments of damages for many other types of damage. 

The goal of the public adjuster is to reduce stress during the claims process, get the claim handled and settled in a timely manner, and to increase the amount of your settlement. The goal of an insurance/independent adjuster is to assess visible damages and to report back to the insurance company with the least amount that would fix the issue.