A public adjuster is a licensed professional who represents you — the policyholder — in an insurance claim. The adjuster assigned by your insurance company is either an employee or contractor of the insurer, whose role is to investigate and evaluate your claim on behalf of the company. A public adjuster's exclusive duty is to you, and their compensation is tied to your recovery. This fundamental difference in allegiance is what makes representation so valuable.

Public adjusters charge a percentage of the final settlement amount — typically between 5% and 20%, depending on the complexity of the claim and applicable state regulations. This percentage is disclosed in writing before we begin work, and you pay nothing upfront. If we do not increase your recovery, you owe us nothing. The contingency structure means our financial interests are perfectly aligned with yours.

Studies consistently show that policyholders represented by public adjusters receive settlements significantly higher than those who negotiate alone — often more than enough to more than cover the adjuster's fee, resulting in a larger net recovery for the client.

Yes — in most cases. You can engage a public adjuster at almost any stage of the claims process: before filing, after filing, or even after receiving an offer that you believe is inadequate. The key exception is if you have already signed a full and final release accepting the settlement. Prior to signing any release document, you retain the right to dispute the insurer's valuation and seek additional recovery. If you are unsure whether an agreement you've signed forecloses your options, contact us for a free review.

A denial is rarely the final word. Insurers deny claims for a range of reasons — some valid, many not. Common grounds for overturning a denial include: misapplication of an exclusion, inadequate investigation by the insurer's adjuster, failure to consider all relevant policy language, or procedural errors. We review denial letters against the policy and applicable state law to identify grounds for a formal written appeal, re-inspection, or invocation of the appraisal clause. Be aware that state statutes of limitation apply — so the sooner you contact us after a denial, the more options you have.

This is a common concern — and one that insurance companies occasionally encourage. In practice, hiring a licensed public adjuster signals that you are a serious, informed claimant and are unlikely to accept an undervalued settlement. Insurers deal with public adjusters routinely. Professionally managed claims with thorough documentation tend to move more efficiently and result in higher settlements precisely because they are harder to dispute. Your right to representation is legally protected, and a carrier cannot penalize you for exercising it.

Most standard property insurance policies contain an appraisal clause — a formal dispute resolution mechanism that allows either party (you or the insurer) to demand an appraisal when there is a disagreement about the amount of the loss (as opposed to whether coverage applies at all). Each party selects a competent appraiser, and the two appraisers agree on a neutral umpire. The appraisers then each submit their damage estimates; any item agreed upon by any two of the three parties becomes the binding settlement amount. Appraisal is often faster and far less expensive than litigation, and is a powerful tool when an insurer's valuation is significantly below the actual damage.