For many, hiring a public appraiser means that they have someone to think and negotiate on their behalf. The public assessor becomes your advocate and acts as your representative, particularly if you have experienced a major loss, such as a fire in your home. Some public adjustment firms send one appraiser to make an estimate and another to track and thoroughly analyze a claim. As a policyholder, you may prefer to work personally with a single appraiser, but it may be beneficial for a company to send more than one person.
A particular appraiser might take charge of the claim simply because they have more experience with certain types of damage, such as fire or flood. A public appraiser looks out for your interests and not those of your insurance company. By hiring a public appraiser, you can level the playing field by having someone on your side who can fight for what you're entitled to. One of the main advantages of using a public appraiser is the likelihood of receiving a higher settlement offer. They understand the fine print of your homeowners insurance policy.
They have the skills, knowledge, and experience to negotiate with insurance adjusters. You probably don't have much experience processing an insurance claim, you don't know the local laws on insurance claims very well, and you don't have any training to help you process the claim to maximize your settlement. However, a public appraiser does, and they will use their expertise and training to help you get a better agreement. Many public appraisers work on a contingent basis, which means they don't get paid until an agreement is reached. Generally, a public appraiser processes the entirety of a claim on behalf of its customers, including communicating with the insurer, but some policyholders may prefer a certain degree of participation.
By allowing a reputable and experienced public appraiser to handle your claim, you can save yourself a lot of headaches.
Unlike an insurance company's appraiser, a public appraiser advocates exclusively for policyholders
, says Tim Cornett, president of the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. In the case of any homeowners insurance claim, a public appraiser may be able to tell you what money you are entitled to that you didn't even know about. After all, it is unrealistic to expect an average homeowner to be an insurance expert. A policyholder may forget or not know all the costs they can include in a claim, but public adjusters are professionals and are unlikely to overlook any costs.You'll have to pay a fee to hire one of these licensed professionals, but a public appraiser can save you a lot of money by making sure your insurance company pays the full amount you're entitled to, depending on your coverage. A public insurance adjuster is an independent, trained insurance professional who helps people with the homeowners insurance claim process. It is also possible for an insurance company to refuse to negotiate with a public appraiser or to refuse to pay the desired settlement. An experienced public appraiser often deals with insurance companies or their adjusters on a daily basis. Your public adjuster will work hard to maximize the amount of money you will receive for your claim. Public appraisers can file and negotiate claims for damage from floods, fire, smoke, wind, and hurricanes, as well as for damage due to other hazards and even for the loss of business revenues if caused by property damage.
As an independent insurance professional, a public appraiser works for the policyholder to ensure that their claim is resolved fairly and efficiently. A public appraiser is someone who is licensed and trained to help homeowners and businesses alike get the most money for damage to their property. Anyone who wants to file a property insurance claim should consider hiring a public appraiser, especially if the claim is for a large amount.
