When Should I Hire a Public Adjuster?

If you’ve ever had to file an insurance claim, you know the stress, frustration, and anxiety they bring along with them. Unless you enjoy filing claims (hey, we’re not judging), for most people, there are about a million other things we’d rather be doing. Whether it’s for health insurance, auto insurance, and The Big Kahuna, homeowner’s insurance, they all cause some ruffled feathers at some point during the process.

While RoofCrafters is limited in the guidance we can provide you when it comes to health and auto insurance, we do have a bit of a knack for homeowners insurance, and are pretty keen on public adjusters. We’ve been working beside professional public adjustment firms for nearly 30 years now, and we appreciate and applaud the services they provide to our clients during the homeowner’s insurance claim processes.

If you’ve ever struggled to file a homeowner's insurance claim, or you’ve recently sustained roof damage of any kind and are unsure of where to start, it’s a good thing you’re here. In this article, you’ll be learning more about what a public adjuster is, how they can aid you in the claims process, and times you should consider hiring a public adjuster. Let’s get started, shall we?

What Is a Public Adjuster?

Think of a public adjuster as your personal superhero. According to the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, “​a public insurance adjuster is a licensed and bonded insurance professional who assists policyholders with the complicated insurance claim process when they suffer an insured loss. Public Insurance Adjusters who belong to the Florida Association of Public insurance adjusters adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and can take advantage of the best quality, public adjuster specific, continuing education in the country.”

A public adjuster's sole purpose is to fight for you. Their main responsibility is to protect you and your interests in claims against a loss with your insurance company. Pretty cool, right? If you and your family have seen better days, and you’ve just suffered through a hurricane or another Act of God that’s left your home in shambles, it’s safe to say you’re not in an emotionally sound place to learn the proper etiquette when it comes to presenting your insurance claim.

That’s where a public adjuster comes into play. While you can focus on what matters, such as taking care of your family, relocating yourselves and your things, and remaining calm, a trusted, qualified, and trained public insurance adjuster will help make sure you meet all of the policy conditions, document your loss and get your claim paid. They can alleviate your stress of understanding a multitude of technical and legal jargon, stipulations and regulations, and every other insurance-claim-related gibberish under the sun. 

When Should I Hire a Public Adjuster?

So, when is it time to hire a public adjuster? If you’re a homeowner facing a pretty hefty property insurance claim, you should consider hiring a public adjuster as soon as possible. Most public adjustment firms will provide you with a home visit to determine the severity of the damage free of charge, so as the policyholder, you have nothing to lose.

Although you may be confident in the out-of-pocket expenses you’ll be paying for the damage provided to you by your insurance, a second opinion never hurts. It’s like going to the doctor when you’re sick. Just because one doctor believes you’re in tip-top shape doesn’t mean that another doctor won’t dig deeper and find that there may be something more troubling.

Public adjusters often act as that second doctor in this scenario. Upon inspecting roof damage, they’ll find that the estimate given to the policyholder by their insurance is far too low, and they’re not being properly reimbursed. A public adjuster is willing to go to bat for you and provide a deeper look into your damages, oftentimes finding any damages that were overlooked, big or small.

Let’s say part of your roof has been blown off by a hurricane, which isn’t unlikely for us Floridians. As a homeowner, it’s pretty easy to miscalculate the cost of your new roof unless you’re guided by a professional. Not to mention, you may forget to factor in the costs of removing the other damaged parts of your pre-existing roof. By hiring a public adjuster, they will provide you with an in-depth inspection of the damage, as well as what your predicted costs and reimbursements should be. 

Other Times You Should Consider Hiring a Public Adjuster

Public adjusters are good for more than just storm damage inspections and documentation. Other times you should consider hiring a public adjuster include:

You’re having difficulty understanding your homeowner’s insurance policy. Unless you’re an insurance professional, these documents can be confusing, and leave you feeling frustrated and helpless, and turning to your insurance agent is oftentimes not as helpful as you’d hope. If you’re struggling to understand your policy, a reputable public adjuster is willing to review your damages as well as the documents you’re struggling with.

The damage to your home is severe. Extensive damages to your home and roof can create many different complicated issues when it comes time to file a claim. Sometimes damages and expenses are placed in the wrong claim category, causing your claim to be delayed or even denied. If you have severe damages, it’s best to get in touch with a professional who can properly assess and account for your home. 

You’re limited on time. This one’s pretty simple. Most homeowners have children and careers; their lives are full. If you have prior commitments and don’t wish to spend all of your downtime dealing with an insurance claim when you should be relaxing, a public adjuster will take care of it for you.

Your insurance carrier is delaying your claim. If your region has recently faced a natural disaster such as a tornado or hurricane, it’s not uncommon for your insurance carrier to delay your claim due to the sudden influx of business. Despite that, insurance carriers by law are still required to process your claim in a timely manner, no matter how busy they are. If you feel like you’re not punctually getting the help you deserve, it may be time to hire a public adjuster.

Should I Hire a Public Adjuster for My Insurance Claim?

At the end of the day, it all boils down to personal preference. If you feel comfortable with your organizational skills, and knowledge of legal terminology, and have documented every aspect of your claim, feel free to present it to your insurance company yourself. If the thought of that makes you sweat, it’s probably a good idea to hire a public adjuster.

Now that you know all the ways a public adjuster can be helpful to you, it’s important to put it to use. Always remember to keep track of your claims, be open and honest with your roofing contractor, and if you see fit, get in touch with a public adjuster as soon as possible.

RoofCrafters knows this stuff can be tricky, and we want to make sure you have all of the information necessary to make an informed decision about your roofing claim. For more information on insurance coverage, check out our article on what your homeowner’s insurance will and won’t cover. If you’d prefer to chat with an expert instead, feel free to drop us a line and we’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible.