People get insurance coverage to protect their property in case they suffer certain losses. These losses may be caused by water, fire, or even unpredictable weather such as hail or lightning. However, it can be incredibly difficult for policyholders to file claims on losses, especially large and complex ones. This is one of the many reasons people hire public adjusters to handle their claims.
In this blog post, we will help you understand the types of property claims a public adjuster can help you with.
Who is a Public Adjuster?
A public adjuster is a trained and licensed professional who handles your claim on your behalf. They handle the entire process of filing the claim, collating and submitting evidence, negotiating the settlement, and sometimes, restoration of your property.
Hiring a public adjuster helps to save you time as they can speed up the claims process. They have the knowledge and experience to deal with insurance companies which means they spend less time on certain issues. They also help to break down any complex terms in your insurance policy to enable you to understand your rights and benefits.
They help you evaluate the damage in order to get estimates for repairs and use this amount to negotiate your settlement with the insurance company. Insurance companies are notorious for offering low payouts but public adjusters can negotiate a higher settlement if it is necessary to do so. They will represent your best interests and help you get an equitable settlement.
What Types of Claims Can a Public Adjuster Handle?
Here are the claims a public adjuster can help you with as a property owner:
It is common for homes to run into some trouble with plumbing and develop water damage as a result. However, water damage is not limited to plumbing issues. Your homeowners’ insurance may also cover damage by rain, lightning, or flood. However, you will most likely have to buy additional coverage for damage caused by flooding.
Homeowners’ insurance usually covers common causes or effects of water damage such as malfunction of appliances, mold, and bad plumbing. This can manifest in several ways. For example, it is common for pipes to freeze and burst during winter or for drains to get clogged and then cause flooding in your home. Your insurance policy will most likely cover this.
Insurance coverage for water damage is often limited to accidental or unexpected damage. Damage caused by your negligence is usually excluded. For example, if you knew you needed to fix a pipe or tap and refused to until it caused your floorboards to rot, you will most likely not be compensated for the cost of repairs. This is because that damage is different from unexpected damage such as your toilet suddenly getting clogged and immediately flooding your home.
Water damage claims are notoriously difficult to deal with alone. This is because insurance companies can argue that the damage was pre-existing or as a result of your negligence. They can get away without paying a settlement in that scenario. Having a public adjuster can help you navigate these tricky issues and stop the insurance company from disputing your claim. The adjuster can also properly determine the extent of the damage because water damage often runs deeper than what you see on the surface. The cost of repairs will then be used to negotiate a higher settlement for you.
A standard homeowners’ insurance policy contains fire insurance which ensures that you are protected financially in the case of loss of or damage to property by fire. This policy often covers common causes of fires such as wildfire, grease, electrical appliances malfunctioning, and even candles.
Your policy will never cover arson which is deliberately setting your property on fire as it is a crime and contracts cannot be based on a crime. Furthermore, just like with water damage, the company may refuse to honor your claim if your negligence causes the fire.
Some policyholders believe they will always get a fair settlement for fire damage claims. However, insurance companies often exclude other benefits you are entitled to. For example, most fire insurance policies allow for additional living expenses which is the extra money you have to spend if your home is too damaged to live in for a period. Furthermore, the insurance company will send their adjuster to your home to determine the extent of the damage and the cost of repairs. Their estimate might be different from yours, so disagreements that slow down your home repair may ensue.
A public adjuster will first have a look at your policy to determine what kind of coverage you have and what damage you can claim. They will also explain the limitations of your policy. They will inspect your home to determine the damage or loss, collect any needed evidence to support your claim, and help facilitate negotiations with the insurance company. They will get quotes and estimates of repairs or replacements from professionals. They can then discuss with the insurance company if the settlement offered is too low.
Homeowners’ insurance is not limited to damage to property alone. It also often covers theft and vandalism of your property. This usually has three types of coverage. The first is personal property which covers the cost of replacing your personal belongings if they are stolen. These personal belongings could be your furniture, appliances, or even clothing.
You could have personal dwelling coverage which would cover instances where your home is vandalized. For example, you will be compensated if your window or door was broken down by a burglar.
Lastly, your coverage could extend to other structures such as your garage which means any damage to those structures will be covered.
You should know you will need a police report to file a theft or vandalism claim. You should also be aware of your policy’s limit because incredibly expensive items will require you to purchase extra coverage. Furthermore, find out if your policy is for actual cash value or replacement cost. Actual cash value considers the depreciation of your stolen property while replacement cost will entitle you to what it would cost to get a new item.
Theft and vandalism claims can be stressful because there are usually several limits on what you can and cannot claim but a public adjuster can take that weight off your shoulders. Once they have ascertained the cause of the damage and made sure you have filed the police report, they will be able to break down the meaning of your policy for you. You will have clarity on what to expect and they will set to work, getting you the best settlement possible.
The weather can be unpredictable and this often causes property damage. Common extreme weather conditions such as hail, storms, wind, and hurricanes in certain areas are often covered under your homeowners’ insurance. This also applies if the weather affects an external object which in turn damages your property. For example, if a storm causes a tree to fall and damage your property.
However, there are certain natural disasters you need to purchase extra coverage for. Floods and earthquakes are often excluded from a standard homeowners’ insurance policy. The extra you have to pay will depend on the value of your property. Insurance providers in coastal areas such as Florida require extra coverage for hurricanes as well.
Furthermore, you may be required to provide the actual date the loss occurred when it comes to wind and hail damage. This is to help the insurance company determine whether the damage was caused by the weather or a weakened or poorly maintained home.
Your settlement may exclude the cost of clearing up the aftermath of severe weather. A public adjuster can ensure you get the best deal possible to help prevent any financial and emotional strain after your property has been damaged by forces beyond your control.
- Structural Damage Claims
Homeowners’ insurance policies usually cover damage to the structure of your home. However, the damage must be caused by a specific event that is ordinarily covered by your policy. For example, if your policy covers fire damage and a fire breaks out in your home that significantly erodes the integrity of your home, your insurance policy will cover it.Structural damage could also include foreign objects causing damage to your home such as a car hitting your home or an object falling from the sky or a tree falling on your home.
Structural damage coverage is designed in this way because it is difficult for insurance companies to cover general damage that may be caused by wear or tear or even the policyholder’s negligence. Therefore, for structural damage to be covered under your policy, you must be able to prove that it was caused by an event your policy covers.
Furthermore, the structural damage must be significant which means that it must require extensive work to be done on the property to avoid rot or collapse. Contact a public adjuster if you are unsure of whether or not the damage is significant or covered by your policy. The answers will be present in your policy and the adjuster will also discuss with your insurance provider on your behalf to determine what benefits you are entitled to. They will do this quickly to avoid your home falling into disrepair from the damage.
What Is the Claims Process Like?
The claims process is usually kick-started by contacting your insurance provider regarding the damage. This is because it is your duty as the policyholder to inform the insurance company when you suffer a loss. Filing your claim usually entails filling out a claims form and attaching any required documentation or evidence. For example, you might be required to provide a police report.
You may need to seek temporary accommodation for a little while if your home requires extensive repairs. Ensure you are documenting your additional living expenses during this period and informing your insurance provider.
The insurance adjuster will most likely pay you a visit to inspect the damage and provide the insurer with an estimate. Your insurer will offer you a settlement but if you believe it is too low, you can reject it and request a higher settlement. This negotiation could go on for months. Once there is an agreement, they will write you a check for the agreed amount.
A public adjuster can handle the entire claims process faster and more efficiently than the average policyholder can. You can hire one if you want a higher settlement or do not want to deal with the stress of processing and pursuing a claim.
Why Hire a Public Adjuster?
Here are some reasons you should consider hiring a public adjuster to handle your claims:
Faster Settlements
Remember that public adjusters are trained professionals. They are knowledgeable about insurance policies and laws and are familiar with the claims process. They will be able to fly through any issues that might trip a policyholder up.Negotiation
Public adjusters are skilled negotiators which means they will continually discuss with the insurance company to make sure your settlement is fair and enough.Representation and Advocacy
Hiring a public adjuster means you automatically have a representative who will advocate for your best interests. Your adjuster will prevent the insurance company from sidelining your interests when they calculate your settlement.- Intepretation of Complex Policies
Insurance policies are often bulky and filled with industry jargon. However, a public adjuster can simplify them and help you understand what your policy contains.
Conclusion
There is no claim too complex or difficult for a well-seasoned public adjuster to handle. Public adjusters can handle property claims that cut across different insurance types. You should consider hiring one to save you time, increase your chances at a higher settlement, and eliminate the stress of handling a claim. The cause of the damage is irrelevant because public adjusters handle water, fire, weather, and structural damage claims for you.
That property claim looks heavy, allow us to take it off your hands and give you some relief. We offer a free consultation for first-timers at On-Site Adjusting. Contact us here to get started today.
