Whether due to a major disaster or an everyday home issue like water damage or storm damage, having to file a home insurance claim can be stressful and confusing. You want to make sure you get all of the compensation you deserve to fully repair or rebuild your home. This is where working with a residential public adjuster can help.
What Is a Public Adjuster?
A public adjuster (PA) is a claims professional who works with insurance policyholders, not insurance companies. They advocate for the policyholder to assist in preparing, documenting, presenting and negotiating an insurance claim.
Residential public adjusters focus specifically on home insurance policies and claims. They have extensive experience, training and resources for getting homeowners maximum claim settlements from situations like fires, floods, hurricanes and more everyday issues like electrical failures, broken pipes, roof damage from storms, mold and anything else covered under a homeowner’s insurance policy.
Unlike an insurance company adjuster, public adjusters only get paid if they get their client, the policyholder, a larger settlement. So, they are motivated to document everything thoroughly and negotiate aggressively to maximize your claim benefits. Their fee is taken as a percentage of the overage they obtain beyond what the insurance provider initially offered.
Why Hire a Residential Public Adjuster?
Filing an insurance claim for home damage or loss can quickly become complex and stressful. Home policies have many nuances, exclusions and limitations that most homeowners don’t fully understand.
Residential public adjusters bring years of experience, training and resources to advocate on your behalf. They level the playing field between policyholders and insurance companies. Their goal is to strategically maneuver through policy conditions and claim processes to help homeowners recover losses faster and more completely.
Benefits of working with a residential public adjuster typically include:
- Thorough claim documentation and investigation – Finding all damage and sources to build strongest case
- Strategies for maximum coverage under policy terms
- Appraisals, estimates and inventories to establish real replacement costs
- Negotiating full repair/rebuild costs, additional living expenses, etc.
- Answering questions and explaining policy provisions
- Managing claim paperwork and filings
- Expediting claim processing and settlements
- Freeing homeowners to focus on recovery priorities
By thoroughly documenting a homeowner’s loss according to insurance policy provisions, residential public adjusters are able to negotiate much higher settlements. Most homeowners simply don’t have the expertise or experience to effectively handle the claim process on their own. An experienced PA levels the playing field and serves as an advocate to get policyholders everything they are entitled to under their policy.
Types of Home Insurance Claims a Public Adjuster Can Help With
Residential public adjusters have specialized expertise across many types of property insurance claims situations, including:
Water Damage: From broken pipes, sewer backups and appliance leaks to flooding disasters, water damage claims often have many nuances and exclusions in home policies. Public adjusters know how to document and build these cases for maximum coverage.
Fire Damage: Whether from a house fire, wildfire disaster or electrical issues and lightning strikes, fire damage claims need thorough documentation and planned negotiations to account for all recovery costs within policy limits.
Wind & Hail Damage: From hurricanes and tornadoes to thunderstorms, wind and hail damage can be severe but complex to evaluate. Public adjusters work with specialized experts like engineers and contractors to prove and quantify all structural damage for full replacement cost value.
Storm Damage: Powerful storms often bring high winds, flooding rains, tornadoes and damage from downed trees/debris. A residential public adjuster coordinates experts to document and evaluate all direct property damage and loss from a major storm or disaster.
Mold Damage: If moisture issues like leaks, flooding or sewer backups are not quickly and thoroughly remediated, mold infestation can happen. Public adjusters work with mitigation crews and testing labs to prove the damage and coverage for complete mold removal/rebuilds.
Other Covered Losses: Many other random issues like smoke damage from a neighboring fire, damage from fallen trees or vehicle impacts, even damage from wildlife, pets and pests might be covered. Public adjusters know how to clearly document and negotiate the claims process.
Why Public Adjusters Get Such Better Claim Settlements
There are several key reasons why residential public adjusters consistently get significantly higher claim settlements for policyholders:
- Thorough documentation – They take extensive photos/video, interview witnesses, research permit history, etc. to build indisputable evidence for all direct physical damage.
- Specialized expertise – Their deep knowledge of the claim investigation process allows them to find all possible damage issues that might be overlooked by a homeowner.
- Establish true cost of repairs – They bring in experts to provide credible repair/replace cost estimates reflecting current market prices for labor, materials, code compliance, etc.
- Master claim negotiations – Experienced public adjusters know how to present compelling evidence and negotiate assertively but fairly within insurance policy provisions.
- Avoid underinsurance – Knowing replacement cost values, they negotiate sufficient settlements so policyholders don’t pay out-of-pocket due to inadequate coverage limits.
- Get claims paid quickly – By handling all documentation, communications and negotiations, they expedite complex claims so policyholders get settlements faster.
What Does a Public Adjuster Cost?
Reputable public adjusters work on a contingency fee basis. They only get paid if they recover more for the policyholder than the initial insurance claim offer. Fees are taken as a percentage of the overage they obtain for you.
For residential public adjusters, contingency fees typically range from 7% to 12% if it goes to appraisal or lawsuit, while 10% is common for more straightforward negotiated claims. Reputable firms offer free consultations and initial claim reviews before any obligation so homeowners can learn what their services fully entail.
Keep in mind that insurance providers have whole staffs of highly trained claims professionals working to minimize what they pay each claim. Having an expert public adjuster on your side levels the playing field and typically results in significantly higher settlements even after their fee. In the end, the policyholder still pockets far more in recovered losses.
Choosing the Best Public Adjuster for Your Situation
With the immense volume of home insurance claims after a major disaster like a hurricane or series of tornadoes, lots of public adjusting firms might descend on the area from neighboring regions. However, homeowners need to watch out for unqualified or unscrupulous adjusters just looking to take advantage of victims for easy fees.
Here are tips for choosing a trustworthy, skilled residential public adjuster:
- Seek local established firms: Look for offices and adjusted actually based fully in your state, not just temporary locations set up after a crisis. They will best know state insurance regulations and local repair contractors.
- Ask about licensing and certifications: Most states require licensing for public adjusters and additional designations like Senior or Certified Claims Adjuster demonstrate higher qualifications through testing and continuing education.
- Discuss their level of experience: The firm should have ample cumulative expertise across a high volume of claim situations specific to your type of loss and home insurance coverage.
- Request client references: Any reputable public adjuster will be able to provide extensive lists of satisfied homeowner clients you can contact to ask about their claim experience.
- Confirm fair contingency fee terms: Standard fee rates range from 7% to 12% based on claim complexity, with the rate taken from the overage the adjuster obtains above original insurer offers.
- See if they have connections to get reputable repair work: Many public adjusters have contractor networks and trusted partners who provide high quality, reliable repair services once insurance settlements come through. This protects against shoddy contractors who further victimize homeowners.
By thoroughly vetting residential public adjusters on criteria like these, homeowners can feel confident they will have the best support through confusing insurance claim processes to maximize their recovery.
Residential Public Adjusters Get Homeowners Top Claim Settlements
After severe home damage, pursuing fair insurance compensation is vital but can be extremely complex for the average homeowner. Residential public insurance adjusters’ level the playing field against the insurer’s team of claim professionals by acting as an advocate for policyholders.
Rather than risky self-handling of involved insurance claims, hiring a skilled residential public adjuster typically pays for itself several times over through significantly higher settlements to fully repair or replace a damaged home.
If you or your loved ones are navigating the complexities of a home insurance claim, remember that you don’t have to do it alone. CCA Public Adjusters operates on a contingency basis, meaning there are no upfront fees for their services.
They are dedicated to protecting your rights and ensuring that you receive the compensation you rightfully deserve for your property damage. With expertise in handling residential claims, especially in challenging situations like those often faced in Orlando and Charlotte, CCA Public Adjusters is your ally in securing a fair settlement.
Contact (407) 565-7642 or email [email protected] for a free consultation. Their team is ready to provide the support and guidance you need during this critical time.
