The best place to find a good public adjuster is through the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. NAPIA provides recommendations for every state that licenses public adjusters. A Public Insurance Adjuster is the only type of adjuster that is qualified to represent the insured in the event of a property loss. Currently more than 43 states and the District of Columbia require an adjuster to hold this licensure to represent the insured.
A trained public insurance adjuster will serve as your advocate and help you navigate through the maze of insurance so you can collect the entire amount that you are entitled to under your policy. There are a few steps that must be completed before you are able to collect: valuing the loss, present it to the insurer and the negotiation of the settlement. Insurance policies can be complicated and conditional, full payment on the loss is not guaranteed.
A public adjuster can help identify the coverages and the causes of the loss to assess the insurer's offer or denial.
After a fire or other disaster, victims are often bombarded by offers and inquires from general contractors, public adjusters as well as others who offer to help. This is normal. If you're being solicited does not suggest that they are doing something wrong. However, you need to be careful and to do your due diligence before signing up to their services.
If the adjusters who represent you are not part of NAPIA, (National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters) be aware.. They may not possess the necessary legal or insurance knowledge to adequately represent you. Here are some warning indicators:
1. They make BIG promises without any guarantees.
2. The fees they charge are outrageous. Most legitimate Public Insurance Adjusters fees range between 5% and 12% with an average of around 10%. Certain public adjusters be more expensive on smaller claims or when employed midway through the process of settling claims.
3. If you feel pressured take a decision quickly take a break. Legitimate PAs recognize that this choice to have someone represent you in order to bring your life and home back in order is an important one. This is not a decision that should be made in haste. This could one of the biggest financial choices you'll make in your life. Make sure you take your time and be sure that you feel at ease with the adjuster you are hiring.
4. Go to their website and address. If they don't have any documents other than a business card, be extremely cautious. If the only address they have is a PO box, it could be a alarming sign.
5. It is generally Public Adjuster more beneficial to work with someone local. Someone who understands the local housing market and the costs of rebuilding, who knows the assets of the community and how to make use of these resources. A locally based PA may also have prior experience working with representatives of the major insurance firms in the region and may be in a position to cut through the bureaucracy and red tape in order to make sure you get what is owed to you quicker.