When Is A Claim Too Complex To Handle On Your Own?
Dealing with any insurance claim on your home can be a stressful experience. Residential housing damage is often expensive to address, and few families can afford to pay for these repairs out of pocket. As a result, restoring your home to its previous condition often means getting an adequate settlement from your insurance company.
If you handle this process yourself, you must deal directly with your insurance company's adjuster. While this may be an appropriate approach for some claims, having a public adjuster act as your advocate can be advantageous for more complex claims. Understanding when you need an adjuster can help save you time, money, and frustration.
Do You Always Need to Hire an Adjuster?
Public adjusters take a percentage of your insurance settlement as a fee, so hiring one is a decision that requires some consideration. You probably don't need to work with a public adjuster for straightforward claims. For example, you'll rarely need to call on an adjuster if you're replacing a damaged window or fixing minor water damage from a small pipe leak.
On the other hand, more complex claims are the reason public adjusters are available. These claims may involve substantial damage to the contents of your home or widespread damage to the structure. In these cases, assessing the damage to your home can be a complex and time-consuming process requiring numerous experts.
How Can an Adjuster Help With Complex Claims?
If you've never dealt with a complex homeowner's insurance claim, you might be surprised at how much work it requires. Most policies involve several discrete coverage types, including aspects such as your home's structure and your personal property. You may have to deal with multiple adjusters for each aspect of your claim, and you may even have a separate adjuster for your loss-of-use policy.
A public adjuster will be your advocate with these individual adjusters while acting as a single point of contact. Instead of dealing with multiple insurance company representatives, you can work with your public adjuster to handle the individual details of your claim. Having someone working for you to help you manage these complexities can make the process much smoother and more stress-free.
When Should You Hire a Public Adjuster?
Knowing when to hire a public adjuster can be as challenging as knowing if you need one. Generally speaking, you don't need to bring in an adjuster as soon as you make your claim. If you're unsure of the extent of the damage to your home, you can wait until you have more information. In fact, you can bring in a public adjuster at nearly any point during your claim.
However, there are some advantages to building a relationship with your adjuster sooner rather than later. For example, your adjuster may be able to work with your insurance company to arrange accommodations more quickly during repairs. These advantages mean that if you think you may be facing a major claim, you should consider hiring an adjuster as soon as possible.
For more info, contact a local public adjuster.