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Should I Work With a Public Adjuster or an Attorney?

Before one can comprehend the various disparities between a public adjuster and a lawyer, one must understand the job functions that are performed by a public adjuster and how they help their clients in ways that an attorney may not be able to. When an individual is faced with property loss or property damage due to several reasons such as natural disasters, and even structural damage of their property, they might spend an enormous part of their time arguing with them insurance companies to be compensated for all the losses that they sustained, and that could be quite frustrating. At the end of the day, insurance companies do not want to pay them customers the maximum amount that they deserve for their losses; they try to avoid it at all cost; that is where a public adjuster steps in. Public Adjusters VS. Company Insurance Adjusters A public adjuster is an expert with insurance policies; they are professionals who do not...

What’s the Difference Between Public Adjusters and Insurance Company Adjusters

If you’re filing an insurance claim, one of the first things that you need to understand is the difference between public adjusters and insurance company adjusters. The jobs performed by adjusters for the general public and insurance company adjuster is fairly similar in that both kinds of adjusters manage insurance claims in order to come to a settlement and eventual payout. Of course, only one of them is in your corner. Public adjusters are on the side of the insured party – you and your company – the party that is making the claim after a loss and want to maximize the payout for their clients, while insurance adjusters are on the side of the insurance company and generally want to pay out the lowest sum possible. Insurance staff adjusters, insurance appraisers, or company adjusters have an obligation to do what’s best for the company. Note that at times, insurance companies hire an independent adjuster on a contractual basis for...

How to Speed Up your Claim & Get Back To Business

Once you’ve experienced a loss or property damage, there’s a limited window of time to file and negotiate an insurance claim and accept a settlement. This is yet another reason to hire a public adjuster – they can help you file a claim quickly along with helping with any necessary inspections. A public adjuster can even go back and help amend or renegotiate a claim. Public adjusters can also make sure that your claim stays at the top of the list of your insurance company’s priorities instead of ending up at the bottom of the pile. This is particularly important during a major natural disaster like a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake when the insurance companies may be overloaded and you may have had to have temporarily close your business or part of your business. Your public adjuster will be your advocate and keep negotiating a settlement with the insurance claims adjuster. What’s more, it’s likely that you are filing a...

How Do I Find a Public Adjuster That’s Right For Me

Common Sense Tips for Hiring the Best Public Adjuster for You OK, so you’ve made the decision to hire a public insurance adjuster. Most likely, if you’ve experienced major damage (like fire or smoke damage) or been caught up in extensive damage from a windstorm, then you probably are being solicited by several public adjusters. Like any business, all adjusters are not created equal. They have different experience levels, handle different types of claims and have various levels of experience with different insurance carriers. Screening for adjusters that have experience handling your type of claim and most importantly that you are comfortable turning your claim over to should not be taken lightly. Always remember that you are the client and do not be intimidated by high pressure tactics or industry lingo. If you’re uncomfortable with someone, there is probably a good reason for it. So it’s just as important to trust your intuition. Consider the following criteria when hiring...

The Value of Hiring a Public Insurance Adjuster After Home Damage

You’re at a disadvantage when you have major house damage or a total loss of your home. You face a home insurance claims process that could easily stretch out for more than a year, require reams of paperwork and leave you mentally and physically exhausted. Unless you’ve already run the gauntlet of a major home insurance claim, you don’t know what to expect. We asked Ron Reitz, President of Quality Claims Management Corp. in San Diego, to give us an inside look at what, many times, is an eye-opening process for policyholders. Reitz helps policyholders work through the insurance-claim process and shows them how to recoup their losses. He has nearly 17 years of experience in the insurance industry and is a licensed public insurance adjuster in nearly every state that has licensing regulations. “Most people don’t learn much about insurance until they have a loss,” sums up Reitz. Public adjusters work on behalf of policyholders to help people get...

How to Deal with Water Damage In Your Home or Business in South Florida?

If you live in Miami, you better have property insurance that comprehensively covers the wide variety of possibilities for damage caused by living in a wet, tropical climate. That’s because water damage is one of the most common types of property damage that owners deal with nationally. And the issue is intensified here in South Florida, particularly during the rainy season from May to October. From severe storms to hurricanes, bursting pipes to leaking appliances to roof damage and leaks – it is clear that water damage is a reality that many citizens of the greater Miami area face. And, with such a massive potential for finding yourself in the unfortunate position of having to deal with the burdensome and potentially hazardous consequences of water damage, it should be easy to see why water damage is a serious problem that should not be ignored. Water damage can result in: How A Public Adjuster Can Help With Your Water Damage Insurance...

Tips From Our Public Adjusters For Florida Hurricane Season

The time of extra rain, wind, and empty grocery store racks is back: hurricane season. If you’ve never experienced a Florida hurricane season before, it’s important to be aware of what you’ll need in order to be ready. If you’re asking yourself, ‘when is hurricane season?’ For us that are concerned with the Atlantic hurricane season, it officially begins June 1 and ends November 30. The National Hurricane Center is predicting a 70% likelihood of 10 to 16 named storms in total and 5 to 9 hurricanes, which includes 1 to 4 major hurricanes. We At Stellar Adjusting know it only takes one major storm to leave behind heavy damage to your home or business. We want everyone to be as safe as they can while we watch for storms. So, even if this isn’t your first hurricane season in Florida, it’s never too late to learn some new tips to keep you secure and prepared. Hurricanes in Florida usually...

Water Damage Insurance Claims

Are Public Adjuster’s Worth It?

Filing an insurance claim after a disaster is a stressful process. To avoid having to deal with the hassle, and with hopes of getting more money from the insurance company, many homeowners seek the help of a public adjuster. A public adjuster is an insurance claims specialist who interprets the homeowner’s policy, assesses the damage and how much it will cost to repair, and negotiates with the insurance company on behalf of the homeowner until the claim is settled. Public adjusters market themselves as professionals who act solely on behalf of the policyholder and help ensure homeowners get the money they are entitled to under the policy. They differ from adjusters hired by the insurance companies to assist with the claim because their compensation comes out of the homeowner’s pocket, not the insurance company’s. Homeowners don’t always need the help of a public adjuster, says David Barrack, executive director of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters in Potomac Falls,...

When Is It Time to Call a Public Adjuster?

Not long ago, I was attending a deposition when the insurance company’s lawyer questioned my client about why he had hired a public adjuster. The non-verbal reaction of my client spoke volumes. With wide eyes, he leaned closer to the attorney and explained that his world was turned upside down the day of the loss and he was not just completely overwhelmed by the destruction to his home, but, more than that, he was concerned for the wellbeing and care of his family. He knew he needed professional assistance because of the magnitude of the loss and his experience in dealing with his insurance company on a prior loss. As more was learned about the circumstances of the loss, the sincere appreciation and respect the insured held for his public insurance adjuster was clear. At the time of the loss, he had more questions than answers and did not know where to turn until he hired his public adjuster. Recently,...

4 Signs You’ll Need a Public Adjuster

Following an unexpected property damage loss, you can expect your insurance company to come prepared with experts. A fire, earthquake, flood, winter storm, hurricane, or other natural disaster can turn your life upside down without a moment’s notice. As an insured policyholder, you have rights and obligations. One of which is the ability to hire a public adjuster to advocate on your behalf. So, how can you tell when you need to bring in a professional to represent your interests? Following an unexpected property damage loss, you can expect your insurance company to come prepared with experts. A fire, earthquake, flood, winter storm, hurricane, or other natural disaster can turn your life upside down without a moment’s notice. As an insured policyholder, you have rights and obligations. One of which is the ability to hire a public adjuster to advocate on your behalf. So, how can you tell when you need to bring in a professional to represent your interests?...