Hiring A Public Adjuster After A Natural Disaster
A natural disaster can leave a house in shambles on the interior and exterior. Getting everything back in order is a complicated task unless you can afford to hire professionals to handle all of the work. If you have homeowners insurance and feel as though the claim amount being offered to you for repairs is unfair, something can be done about it. The public adjuster that was sent to your house from the insurance company may have not performed a thorough inspection. Browse this article to learn why hiring your own public adjuster is a good idea.
1. Assess the Amount of Damage that Was Done
After you speak to a public adjuster about the condition of your house and your situation, a date will be set for an inspection to be performed. The adjuster will stop by your house to look at all of the damage that was caused by the natural disaster. He or she will not only assess damage to the structure of the house, but also to the landscape. Feel free to point out anything that you would like to bring to the attention of the adjuster. Upon completing the inspection, he or she can provide an estimate of how much money is needed to repair everything.
2. Read Through Your Insurance Policy
No matter how much damage was caused by the natural disaster, you are only able to file a claim that is within the boundaries of your insurance policy. For instance, if your house was damaged due to a flood, you must have coverage for flood damage in order to file a claim for the damages it caused. A public adjuster will basically read every detail of your policy to find out what you can file a claim for. He or she can find out if the reason you were offered a claim that is lower than expected is due to the type of coverage that you have. The adjuster can also determine if you deserve to receive a larger amount of money from the insurance company.
3. Speak to the Insurance Company About the Claim
After assessing the damage and reviewing your policy, a public adjuster can speak to the insurance company on your behalf. He or she will try to negotiate to get you more money. The perk of the adjuster negotiating is that he or she will know the correct things to say, as well as provide evidence that more money is deserved. Attempting to negotiate on your own might only lead to you being stressed. The claim can be settled in a satisfactory manner and without taking long when it is handled by a public adjuster.