When to Hire a Public Adjuster

public adjuster at storm damaged building

As Midwesterners, we know the drill when it comes to seasonal weather challenges.  We’ve grown up with it.  If you’re too young to remember the Plainfield tornado of 1990, then you might remember the Snowstorm of 1999, a storm total of 21.3 inches fell making it the second biggest snowstorm ever in Chicago.

We’ve inherited an expectation of weather-related property damage (or any kind).  That said, when we do encounter property damage, it is only natural to be taken back. This is a time to consider how to make the best type of informed decision and to consider hiring a public adjuster.

When it comes to insurance claims, there are three types of adjusters a person might meet.  Staff adjusters work for the insurance company.  Working for the insurance company, it’s their job to keep the costs down.

There is also an independent adjuster who fills a similar role by working as a subcontractor for the insurance firm.  A Public Adjuster, on the other hand, works directly for you to ensure you get the maximum value from your claim and policy.

If you’re filing a property insurance claim, think about hiring a public adjuster, especially if the claim is for a high amount.  If you are a policyholder, you have nothing to lose.  Most public adjustment firms offer to visit a property loss free of charge to help a policyholder determine the severity of damage and whether they should file an insurance claim.

Even if you are confident in the dollar value of your property loss, it is still a good practice to get a second opinion.

Public adjusters frequently visit a home or business, finding that their loss estimate is far below what it should be.  Since public adjusters are independent and have third-party relationships to the policyholder and company, they are unlikely to leave out costs in their calculations, costs that a policyholder might forget or not know about. Here’s an example:  If part of your roof is destroyed by fierce winds, a homeowner may calculate the cost of a new roof…however, there is also the cost of removing the damaged roof.  A homeowner may risk miscalculating the complete cost of the project. A public adjuster will see that it is included.

Submitting an accurate, detailed claim is crucial to getting the right amount of money from an insurance company.  A public adjuster has accuracy and comprehensive experience that is not always seen with the insurance company adjuster.

Guardian Public Adjusters serves commercial and residential clients throughout the state of Illinois. If you have questions about working with us, call our team at (309) 267-4490 to learn more.

Sources:

https://www.valuepenguin.com/public-insurance-adjusters

https://www.weather.gov/lot/top20events_1900to1999