The Importance of Insurance

Getting Assistance From A Public Adjuster After A House Fire

28 April 2022

Katrina Terry

Are you the victim of a fire that caused a substantial amount of damage to your home? If you have homeowner's insurance, the incident is likely covered under your policy, which means that you can be compensated. If you have already filed a claim with your provider and an adjuster was sent to your home, it isn't wise to accept the first offer that is presented to you by the insurance company. The reason is that your insurance provider might not have your best interest at heart when settling the claim. To ensure that you are paid a fair amount of money, it is important to hire a public adjuster—such as Anthony Ricciardi Licensed Public Insurance Adjuster, for example—to assess the fire damage that was done to your home.

How Can a Public Adjuster Assist a Homeowner?

A public adjuster is helpful in several ways, including making sure the assessment that was performed by your insurance provider's adjuster is fair. A public adjuster will perform a new assessment and create a detailed document of the damage that was caused by the fire. For example, if the fire only damaged a portion of your roof, it does not mean that the entire roof does not need to be replaced. A public adjuster can consider how a single area of damage has affected the structural integrity of the roof in general. They will also pay attention to small details, such as damaged electrical outlets, smoke stains, and water damage that was caused by extinguishing the fire.

Can an Insurance Company Disagree with a Public Adjuster?

Although it is wise to hire a public adjuster, it does not mean that your insurance provider will agree with the assessment that is made. However, it is difficult for an insurance company to disagree with a professional assessment that is highly detailed. A public adjuster will show your insurance provider why the settlement offer should be adjusted to a larger sum of money. If your insurance provider continues to disagree with the public adjuster, you can take the case to court. The assessment made by the public adjuster can be used as evidence in a court of law.

How Does a Homeowner Pay a Public Adjuster?

It is common for public adjusters to charge homeowners a fee that is based on a percentage of the insurance settlement. The percentage charged can vary between adjusters, but it is usually only a small percentage of money. As for the assessment of damaged property, it isn't uncommon for public adjusters to perform that aspect of the job free of charge, but it is dependent upon who is hired.

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