A Public Adjuster's 6-Step Process
If you're considering hiring an insurance claims adjuster in the aftermath of a natural disaster or other large-scale property loss, it's important to understand the process they'll use to assess your claim and determine whether you're eligible for compensation. The type of adjuster will affect this process, public adjusters in Arizona are independent contractors who represent policyholders in disputes with insurance companies and other commercial entities, while private adjusters work directly for insurers, but there are some similarities among all types of adjusters' work. To learn about the six steps that claim adjusters go through when assessing claims, read more!
6-Step Process for Hiring Independent Adjuster:
Step 1: Interview
Step 2: Examine the property
Step 3: Discuss the value
Step 4: Research comparable properties
Step 5: Prepare your proposal
Step 6: Get it in writing (and signed!)
Step 1: Interview
The first step in the process is to interview the client. This interview allows the public adjuster to better understand the scope of damages and get a more detailed understanding of how events unfolded. The public adjuster should ask questions such as: What happened? Who were you with at the time of your loss? Where was your property located when it was damaged? Did you have any insurance coverage on that property at that time? How did you and others respond to this event?
Step 2: Examine the property
If you are going to hire a roof damage public adjuster in Mesa AZ, make sure that you examine the property thoroughly. This is to know whether or not there has been any storm damage or something that could have caused the roof to leak and become damaged. If it does look as though something went wrong, then you'll need an inspection done. The public adjusters will come out and do this for you. They will check for all of the necessary repairs that need to be made so that your home can be back to its pre-damage condition once again!
Step 3: Discuss the value
The next step is to discuss the value of the claim and what damages you are seeking. You should have a clear understanding of what losses you will incur as well as how much they will cost. For example, if your car was totaled in an accident, you need to know how much it would cost to replace it with a comparable vehicle.
It’s important to be thorough, but don’t make your conversations too long or tedious. You have a limited time and you will want to get through all of your issues quickly. The more you discuss at once, however, is how much easier it will be for you to explain exactly what happened and how it impacted your finances. Knowing exactly what you want from an insurance claim will go a long way toward ensuring that you get it.
Step 4: Research comparable properties
The next step in the process is to research comparable properties. This will give you a good idea of how much your property is worth, and what it should sell for. The more recent comparables you find, the better. You will also want to research how long similar properties have been on the market and how many offers they had. The numbers may vary depending on location, so it is important to keep these things in mind when researching comparable properties.
In general, you will want to look at similar properties that have sold recently, and that are located in your area. More recent sales will generally be more relevant than older sales. It is also important to remember that depending on where you live, property values vary significantly. While a comparable property may sell for $100,000 in one part of town, it may only sell for $70,000 or even less in a less desirable neighborhood or area.
Step 5: Prepare your proposal
Once you've completed your inspection, it's time to prepare a proposal. The proposal will outline what repairs or replacement work is necessary, as well as how much the project will cost. You may also want to include images of the damaged area so the customer can visualize what you're proposing. Keep in mind that this document is for your customer and not for an insurance company, it should have all of the information they need to make their decision about whether or not they'll accept your estimate.
Step 6: Get it in writing
Once you've walked the client through the steps and they're satisfied with their decisions, it's time to get them to sign on the dotted line. A lot of public adjusters will have clients sign a contract that spells out what work is being done and for how much. This document also lays out any penalties or fees if the client doesn't follow through with what they agreed to do.