3 Things To Keep In Mind When Choosing A Public Claims Adjuster

If you have recently suffered damage to your property - be it from a fire, storm or other natural disaster - then filing an insurance claim may be the last thing on your mind. In fact, if you're not up to navigating the maze of insurance claims, you may want to seriously consider hiring the services of a public claims adjuster from a company such as Great Lakes Public Adjusting. But before you do, you'll want to take a look below at some great advice to keep in mind during the process. Choosing the wrong claims adjuster can result in just as much of a headache as the damage done to your house.

Verifying a License

One of the first things you'll want to check when you begin shopping around for a claims adjuster is whether or not they are licensed in your state. This is as easy as placing a call to your state's department of insurance, or checking your state's online database. If the claims adjuster in question is licensed, you will have the peace of mind of knowing that they have met your state's professional requirements for claims adjustment, and have no formal complaints filed against them.

Checking References

Another thing that is of the utmost importance is references. Be sure to obtain at least three references from the public claims adjuster you're looking to hire, and contact each one to find out more about their level of satisfaction with the filing that was done. Most importantly, specifically request that your adjuster only provide you with references of those who have had similar claims filed. A completely different claim won't serve you much good as a reference for the kind of work you can expect.

Negotiating Fees

When paying for the services of a public claims adjuster, expect a contingency fee around 10 percent. That said, it is best to ask your state's insurance department about what your state's cap on contingency fees is, just so you have an upper limit in mind. Secondly, don't think that these fees are set in stone. Even if they are already written down in an (unsigned) contract, feel free to negotiate with a claims adjuster until you get the percentage that you feel is right. If the damage done to your home is substantial and you are confident that your filing will produce a large settlement, then you may be able to use this as leverage to negotiate a lower contingency fee.