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What costs the United States $91 billion annually?
Natural disasters!
Hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters cost the U.S. $91 billion a year or more. If you’re recovering from a natural disaster, we’d like to help make the process easier. By hiring a public adjuster, you can speed up your recovery process, while also ensuring you get a fair claim payout.
However, not all adjusters are equal, so you have to know how to tell the good ones apart from the ones that will waste your time and money. To help you out, we’ve created this short but complete guide, all about hiring the best adjusters for your claim.
Read on to learn 9 questions to ask before hiring an adjuster.
1. Do You Have Any References?
One of the best places to start looking for adjusters is by asking friends and family members for references. If your family and friends don’t have anyone to refer, go ahead and do a quick online search for a “public adjuster near me”. Next, read several online customer reviews to get a good feel for how the adjuster’s current clients feel about the service they received.
2. Why Are You a Good Fit for My Claim?
Moving on, you’ll want to find out what experience your adjuster has working with home insurance claims that are similar to yours. If they normally specialize in helping with hurricane insurance, but you’re dealing with vandalism, they’re probably not the best route to take.
Instead, you’ll want to find an adjuster who’s handled multiple claims that are almost identical to yours. The more experience an adjuster has handling your type of claim, the more tips and tricks they’ll know to help speed up the claims process.
3. Do You Offer Free Inspections?
If you’re worried about paying for an adjuster, the good news is that a lot of them offer free inspections. For instance, this public adjuster specializes in hurricane claims and offers all of their client’s free inspections.
During the inspection, the adjuster will take pictures, and gather documents that help support your claim. Next, the adjuster will use an estimating platform to determine how much they believe your claim’s worth. Find out what type of estimating platform the adjuster plans on using, and then do a quick online search to see if it’s a good one.
4. How Will the Fee Contract Work?
Another way to help pay for an adjuster is to find one that’s willing to work on a contingency basis. By setting up a contingent pay plan, you’ll only have to pay the adjuster if they’re able to help you receive a claim payout. If there isn’t a recovery for your claim, then you won’t have to pay anything for the adjuster’s services.
If you’ve already received a portion of your claim payout from your insurance company, let the adjuster know this ahead of time. When you’ve already received a part of the payout, adjusters will usually adjust their contingency fee to keep things fair.
5. What Happens if I Terminate The Contract Early?
Next, find out what happens if you decide to terminate your contract with the adjuster before you receive any payout. Sometimes, homeowners decide to give up on the recovery process for one reason or another. Make sure you find out exactly how much you’ll owe the adjuster, in the event you need to terminate the contract.
6. Are You Licensed?
Most states require public adjusters to carry an active license. However, to play it safe, you should always ask adjusters if they’re currently licensed. By choosing a licensed adjuster, you’ll be able to rest assured that you’re dealing with a true professional who’s familiar with the insurance adjusting field.
7. How Will You Be Updating Me?
Unfortunately, even with a wonderful adjuster in your corner, the claims process can take weeks, months, and even years! That’s why it’s crucial for you to get along well with the adjuster you’re choosing, especially when it comes to things like communication.
Before hiring any adjuster, find out how they’ll be communicating with you. Will they be updating you about your case through email, text messages, or over the phone? It’s important that you feel comfortable with your adjuster’s preferred communication style.
8. Explain My Policy Please
Instead of having to decipher all of the insurance jargon on your own, let your adjuster help out. An adjuster will be able to help outline what type of damages you are and aren’t covered for. You can prepare for speaking with an adjuster by getting a copy of your insurance policy’s declaration.
9. Have I Made Any Filing Mistakes So Far?
Did you already start filing your claim, before calling an adjuster? Home insurance claims are complex, and it’s easy to make a mistake. While you’re hiring an adjuster, take a moment to explain every action you’ve already taken regarding the claim.
Next, let the adjuster know you’re open to constructive feedback. Is there anything you shouldn’t have done that could hurt your claim? What type of things should you avoid doing or saying to your insurance company moving forward? Let your adjuster be a trusted guide and claims coach as you work towards a fair resolution.
Hire the Best Public Adjuster Today
We know it seems like there’s a ton of questions to ask before hiring a public adjuster. However, you’ll be so glad you took the time to find an adjuster who’s both reliable and effective!
Home insurance claims are a time-sensitive matter and the faster you act, the easier it’ll be for you to reach a swift resolution. Since a lot of adjusters are willing to perform free inspections, go ahead, and schedule one for your home today. For more ways to set yourself up for success, check out the rest of this site.
