Frequently Asked Questions
Answered!
We Offer Completely Free Claim Reviews!
Q: How much does a Public Adjuster Cost?
As a Houston Public Adjuster that is licensed and works throughout the state of Texas, we charge a small percentage of what your insurance company will be paying. There are no upfront costs to you and we don’t get paid until you do. With years of claims experience and thousands of claims closed you can rest assured we will work diligently to ensure that all of your damages are addressed.
Q: Will I get a higher settlement amount with a Public Adjuster?
While we can’t guarantee anything, studies have shown that using a public insurance adjuster can increase payout on your claim by as much as 700%.
Q: What is a Public Adjuster?
A public adjuster is a professional claims handler licensed by the state department of insurance to handle claims on behalf of the property owner. A Houston Public Adjuster will advocate on behalf of the property owner to make sure policy provisions and requirements are adhered to while advocating for the property owner for full indemnity. A claim that is professionally documented, appraised and negotiated will ensure that you receive the maximum settlement according to your policy.
Houston, Texas Fire Claim- Fire claims can be exceedingly complicated. Many restoration contractors will try to convince the property owner that they can return them to their pre-loss condition without telling them they are part of the insurance companies’ vendor network. These networks were created by insurance companies to regulate what contractors are allowed to put on their estimates in order to get paid.
Q: Won’t the insurance company provide an adjuster?
Insurance adjusters are employed and paid by your insurance company. As a result, they are loyal to the company, not you. Adjusters paid and trained by insurance companies are not allowed to pay for everything your policy will allow for in most cases. Hiring your own public adjuster will ensure that your claim doesn’t get underpaid because of “Company Guidelines”. This will result in a higher settlement amount for your claim in most cases.
Q: How long do I have on my claim?
In Texas you have 2 years to report your claim. Most companies now have specific language in their policies that try to limit that to 1 year for late reporting. This can make it very difficult to file older claims and have them properly adjusted by the insurance company. That’s why we always recommend getting a public adjuster involved as soon as possible so you don’t lose any benefits due to “technicalities”.
Q: Can the insurance company drop me for using a public adjuster?
In Texas insurance companies have to have very good reasons for dropping your policy. If your claim history is based on weather events that are beyond your control, they are not supposed to be able to drop you. Unfortunately that does not mean that they won’t try to. That’s why we always recommend having a public adjuster review your claim with you in order to avoid unexpected issues.
Houston Wind Claim- This wind claim was a result of a small tornado or micro burst. The area that was affected was small, with about 50 homes. The insurance company just couldn’t find any weather reports that matched the damage. Insurance companies will often deny claims from their offices hundreds or even thousands of miles away despite an overwhelming amount of physical evidence confirming damage.
Q: Can I get help with my denied claim?
Yes, you can get help as long as you haven’t signed a full and final release of some sort. You should definitely be aware of the statute of limitations for your claim, though. In Texas that statute of limitations is 2 years. So, in most situations you should be able to get help if your claim is less that 2 years old depending on what documents you have signed. We highly recommend reaching out to us for a free claim review to get your options in these situations. The sooner the better usually.
Q: Can I hire a public adjuster if I started the claim myself?
Yes, you can. You can hire us even if you had a contractor that started your claim with you. Many contractors will help get your claim started, but may give up when the insurance company puts up too much of a fight. Some contractors won’t even try to help with certain insurance companies because they know the fight will be “too much” to make it worth it. Each claim is different, of course. Reach out to us to see about a free claim review. We can help develop a plan for recovery!
Q: Are there any upfront fees for your services?
No. We don’t get paid until you are paid by the insurance company. Depending on the claim, we will put in the work to document and try to resolve your claim before we get paid. Some Residential & Commercial claims may require experts, and other special costs and those are handled on an as incurred basis. Our claim reviews are completely FREE without any obligation.
Nebraska Hail Claim- This hail claim was the result of 2-3″ hail. Many insurance companies will address the “obvious” damage- roof, siding, glass, overhead doors – and overlook the water intrusion, glass in the carpet, casement windows & frames. In situations like this it will take more than a single contractor such as a “roofing” contractor to get this home put back together. Make sure you fully understand your contractor’s limitations.
Q: Should I ask my insurance company about using a Public Adjuster?
No. Insurance companies will typically try to talk you out of using a public insurance adjuster. They know that a good public insurance adjuster is going to properly document your claim, produce a valuation for indemnity and likely hold them accountable for things they don’t “want” to do. This usually results in higher payouts, which is not their goal. Over the years we have seen the “games” insurance companies play, and we always recommend getting a public adjuster involved as soon as possible. Otherwise you can end up with a denied or underpaid claim & an uphill battle.
Q: What areas do you service?
We are Texas Public Insurance Adjusters licensed to operate in the entire state. Our primary region, or home base, is Houston, TX. As a Houston Public Adjuster we work the entire region and travel to other regions when claim volume and type of claims require. We also work in other states when needed, and update our licensing and office locations as needed.
Q: Do you offer FREE consults?
Yes. Our claim reviews are completely FREE without any obligation. Just fill out the contact form to let us know how we can help. We’ll be in touch and set up a time that works for you to go through all of your options and answer any questions you may have about your claim.
Austin, TX Hail Claim- This hail claim was the result of 2″ hail. Many insurance companies will address the “obvious” damage- roof, siding, glass, overhead doors – and overlook the less obvious damage. We highly recommend that you make sure you fully understand your contractor’s limitations & get a public adjuster involved as soon as possible for severe damage.