FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need a public adjuster?

The average consumer will only file a major property claim once or twice in their life. A public adjuster can make your insurance claim a much more productive and pleasant experience. They are trained, certified and experienced in the process. They deal with the claims process daily. Expertise matters when you only have so much time to file and settle a claim. Add to that all the complexity of policies and the claim’s process, it can quickly overwhelm a novice.

I’ve hired a public adjuster, now what?

Your adjuster will handle all of the interaction with the insurance company. You won’t have to worry about using the phone maze to reach the adjuster because that’s our job. We will come to your home or business, take photos and collect documentation of the damage, write up a formal Proof of Loss (POL) for you to review and approve, submit the POL to the carrier, and begin the negotiations based on the facts for a fair claim settlement. All communication with insurance will be done by us. And of course we will keep you updated along the way.

How long before my claim will be settled?

Each claim is different and unique in their own ways. Also each insurance carrier’s response times are also different. Less complex claims can be settled in about 2 months, but the more typical claim takes 2 to 6 months to fully settle once we are contracted. For larger claims and/or difficult carriers, the guideline is more like 6 to 18 months and will involve an attorney after your P.A. lays the ground work for your case.

What are your fees?

It’s no cost for a consultation and initial visit to the property to inspect the damage. If you decide to hire us, we charge 10% of the claim. We work on contingency, meaning, if we don’t get any additional settlement from the carrier for you, we charge no fee.

What’s the difference between an insurance adjuster and a public adjuster?

An insurance adjuster usually works for a insurance company. A public insurance adjuster only works for individuals, corporations or HOAs to fight for a fair settlement (indemnification) of their claim.

What is ALE/ALS?

Insurance policies usually have additional expense coverage to help when you have a significant Loss of Use due to a covered peril. Typically, your policy will refer to this coverage as Additional Living Expenses (ALE) or Actual Loss Sustained (ALS). This coverage part is used to pay for a place to stay or work while repairs are made to your covered location. It can also be used to cover additional meal expenses above your average grocery bill, if say, your kitchen is inoperative. This is most often needed with fire and flood claims. ALE payments are paid after you incur the actual expense.

What type of claims do you handle?

We work many types of claims including fires, floods, water leaks/backup, wind & hail, natural disasters, and vandalism. For large losses (ex. fire claims) we may help with the Personal Property valuation. We work on claims from small cottages, to estates, to large multi-family dwellings, to large commercial buildings.