| Being burglarized or losing your home to a fire or | | | | A public adjuster is a professionally licensed individual |
| other disaster is a stressful enough situation to be | | | | that specializes in these types of insurance situations. |
| facing. You may be left not only scared and in shock | | | | They will do an appraisal as to the extent of |
| from the accident itself, but also unsure of what the | | | | damages and calculate what you should be receiving. |
| future will hold and how you will rebuild. To add to | | | | They generally will take 5-15% of your settlement |
| this confusion, imagine the shock when you call your | | | | from your claim, but the benefit to this is that they |
| insurance agent, who has seemed to be your friend | | | | get more when you get more, so you can rest |
| until this point, and are met instead with an | | | | assured they would be doing everything in their |
| adversary. | | | | power to get you the most money possible. Because |
| In the blink of an eye, you've lost your home and or | | | | the public adjuster works for you instead of the |
| belongings, and the person you thought would help | | | | insurance company, they will not cut any corners and |
| you rebuild your life has turned into a monster. | | | | are under no obligation to help the insurance |
| Where do you go for help? | | | | company save money. |
| When you file your claim your insurer will send and | | | | You can find out who in your area is a licensed public |
| adjuster out to inspect the damage. They will return | | | | insurance adjuster by contacting the National |
| with a settlement offer. You do not need to accept | | | | Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. There are |
| this offer if you feel it is unfair, despite what your | | | | twelve states that currently do not require licensing, |
| insurance company leads you to believe. | | | | but those twelve states still maintain a list of those |
| Building your case is very important. As soon as | | | | who volunteered to take and pass the exams, |
| possible you should document what happened, gather | | | | making those individuals a better bet for your |
| the police reports and take photos and video of the | | | | investment. |
| damages. Document every conversation you have | | | | Keep track of all of your costs while you are outside |
| with your insurer and any professional involved in the | | | | of your home waiting on repairs or a settlement. |
| situation. You should then get three estimates from | | | | Keep receipts and be sure to present this to your |
| local contractors that have good reputations in your | | | | insurance company and adjuster, as they should be |
| area. If you find that the estimates do not match | | | | taken into account when determining what you |
| what your insurance company is offering, it is time to | | | | should be reimbursed for. |
| get professional help. | | | | |