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My Property has Sustained Damage – What do I do?

Dealing with the aftermath of property damage can be a stressful and exhausting ordeal. If this is your first time handling this type of situation, you are likely scrambling to figure out how to proceed in a way that restores your home or business as quickly as possible. A Public Adjuster can help you through this process, preparing all the necessary documentation and negotiating with your insurance company on your behalf. There are a few steps you can take immediately following the damage occurrence which will help expedite the preparation of your claim. First, you should take photographs of the damage sustained by your property. Make sure to take both wide shots and close ups that clearly display all aspects of the damage. It is better to have too many photos than not enough, and with cell phone cameras and cloud storage it is easy to take a plethora of pictures to support your insurance claim. If you have any...

How to Determine if a Public Adjuster is Right for You

Now that you have decided it is in your best interests to retain a Public Adjuster you must decide which firm to employ. There are many companies to choose from, all with varying specialties and degrees of experience in the field. You should seek out a Public Adjuster whose expertise aligns with the specifics of your situation. There are several questions you should ask as well as things to look out for when determining which Public Adjuster is right for you. Here are a few tips to help you identify the right firm for your situation. First, you should be very wary of any Public Adjuster soliciting you immediately following a loss which should be covered by your homeowner’s policy. These predatory practices are common among less reputable firms who will make all kinds of promises before they even review the damage you’ve suffered or the terms of your homeowner’s insurance policy. It is best to rebuff any advances from...

Options for Business Owners Suffering Closure due to Pandemic

Many business owners today are suffering at the hands of the CoVID-19 pandemic. Forced storefront closures, reduced maximum capacities, and increased expenses due to additional health and safety requirements are pummeling small business owners with added costs and lost revenues. In these uncertain times any assistance is welcome, and many commercial insurance policies cover the loss of revenue due to government-mandated closures. Commercial coverage in these situations is often confusing and mired in legal terminology designed to discourage the average business owner from attempting to file a claim. A Public Adjuster can make sense of this legal verbiage and ensure you receive all the benefits outlined in your policy. Typical commercial property policies include coverage for both physical loss or damage to property as well as loss due to actions of civil authority. Physical loss or damage to your property is not limited to visible structural damage – if your property has been found to be contaminated with CoVID-19 and...

Why you Should Consider a Public Adjuster for your Commercial Claim

As a business owner, your primary concern is the successful operation of your business so you may provide for your family and your employees. When your business suffers a loss as a result of property damage, you should be able to focus on getting back to business as usual rather than getting sidetracked trying to handle the insurance company and claims process. A Public Adjuster can take the arduous and time-consuming claims process of of your hands, leaving you to focus on the restoration of your business to normal working order. Hiring a Public Adjuster also ensures your claim is handled properly and you receive all the benefits you are entitled to as outlined by your commercial insurance policy. The day-to-day operation of your business has likely been significantly impacted by the property damaged you are currently working through. You want to be able to focus on expediting repairs and minimizing the amount of revenue lost as a result of...

How Much Does a Public Adjuster Cost?

People hire public adjusters because they streamline and simplify the insurance claim process. They are also trained to negotiate with insurance companies as well as provide valuable information to their clients throughout the entire claim process. However, the most important reason why people hire public adjusters is that they trust them. The interests of an average public adjuster is almost always aligned with those of their clients, and this is because public adjusters charge commissions instead of fixed fees. So the more money their clients receive in damages, the more money public adjusters are able to make. But just how much money do public adjusters make, and more importantly, what’s their standard commission rate? If you’re asking these kinds of questions then the following information will tell you what you need to know. How Public Adjusters Charge Their Fees Public adjusters calculate their fees based on a percentage of their client’s total claim. This payment scheme incentivizes public adjusters to...

Can Public Adjusters Help with Water Damage

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage? Weather-related damage to homes account for over half of all homeowners insurance claims, and that includes water damage — but weather isn’t the only way your home can be damaged by water. Spills, water leaks, overflows, and seepage can all make it seem like monsoon season inside your house or give you the indoor pool you never wanted. We thought the best way to walk you through the sometimes complex process of claiming a water damage coverage would be presenting an in-deep look into what types of water damage could be -or not- covered by your insurance, understanding your coverage claim and what to take into consideration to place a water damage claim properly, so you can recover from the already calamitous and unfortunate water accident you might just suffered. TYPES OF WATER DAMAGE There are three main types of water damage that refer to the kind of contaminants in the water. Understanding which...

Will Hiring a Public Adjuster Help Get More Money for My Claim?

If you’ve suffered a property loss to your home, it has undoubtedly caused you substantial stress and grief. Dealing with your insurance company should not compound your worries but, unfortunately, all too often a claim is mishandled and as the insured, you can be left feeling your insurer is not living up to its policy’s promises or is in bad faith. In that case, it may be time to consider hiring a public adjuster to assist you with your claim. When you seek the help of a public adjuster, there are three main points to keep in mind: The public adjuster works for you, the homeowner, not for the insurance companyThe public adjuster is paid a percentage of the claim recovered usually around 10 percent.Insurance settlements are consistenly larger when a public adjuster manages your claim. What is a Public Adjuster? Public adjusters are insurance claims experts who specialize in interpreting insurance policies so they can assist you in preparing...

Finding Public Adjusters for Fire Damage

Understanding Fire and Smoke Damage Fire losses are often the most devastating occurrences that can happen to a family or business. Fire damage requires important short-term decisions from individuals that are under a tremendous amount of stress and confusion. Unfortunately, our fire claim adjusters see many mistakes being made regarding how to handle a restoration company or what contracts to sign. These can have lasting consequences on what you recover from your fire insurance claim. Just view this investigative report about getting the most out of your insurance claim after a fire. The fire adjusters at PICC will apply our years of practical and professional experience to your fire loss claim. We have the knowledge and expertise to help you negotiate the complicated process required by your insurance carrier to get your fire claim paid in a fair and honest manner. So, should you hire a public adjuster when you have a fire? Read what Consumer Reports has to say about filing...

Understanding Public Adjuster vs Contractor

Who is best suited to assist you with your Insurance Claim when you suffer property damage, a Professionally Licensed Public Adjuster or Contractor? Many people are unsure of who to hire to represent their interest in an insurance claim, professionally licensed Public Adjuster or Contractor. BE CAREFUL! In the aftermath of any natural disaster you are sure to have a knock at you door by a contractor that only is asking for you to assign your insurance proceeds to them and for that they will ‘Represent’ your claim to the insurance company. BE CAREFUL – This is not legal in most cases! BEWARE of Contractors Acting as Public Adjusters when you suffer a loss. Although the contractor may understand the rebuilding process they most likely do not fully understand your insurance policy and this is very dangerous for you as the property owner. There are many different ways to look at a loss and I can tell you from experience,...

How to File a Claim with a Public Adjuster

Understanding the Claims Representation Process & How it Works A loss to your commercial property or home creates an unfamiliar environment and poses excessive demands on your time. Decisions involving thousands and sometimes millions of dollars must be made and often made quickly with little margin for error. A decision must be made early on whether this process is to be undertaken by the policyholder or whether the professional expertise of a public adjuster should be brought in. Time and again it has been demonstrated that when dealing in an area that is unfamiliar, the end result can be a loss in valuable time and money. Large or small, commercial or residential, properly handling a claim involves a structured process that when followed, will ensure it is processed properly and given the best chance of being honored and paid by your insurance carrier. The main services an adjuster will perform for you include: Analyze your policy to get the maximum...