| What can a public insurance adjuster do for you? |
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| It's hurricane season...and that means property damage for many Florida homeowners. As property owners survey the damage from Hurricanes, many are considering filing an insurance claim. In some cases, they are reluctant to file a claim out of concerns about premium increases or policy cancellations. In some cases, property owners are unhappy with the settlement outcome, but are not aware of alternatives. In fact: |
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- You have the right to professional representation to help maximize your insurance claim.
- If you’re unhappy with your insurance company’s assessment of your loss, you can contest or appeal it.
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| Insurance companies have the benefit of professional representatives estimating their property damage. Shouldn’t you have the same advantage? Unlike company adjusters or independent adjusters, public adjusters represent policyholders, not insurers. Here are some frequently asked questions about public adjuster services from Insurance Corporate Consultants (ICC), a Florida-based public adjuster firm. |
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| Public Adjuster Q&A |
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| Why would I need a public adjuster? |
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| Just as company adjusters work on behalf of insurance companies, public adjusters work on behalf of policyholders. Public adjusters handle all aspects of the claims process from beginning to end. Policyholders get full explanations of their coverage, loss and insurance company claim requirements. For example, if you are selling a home that requires a major repair for recent damages, consider contacting a public adjuster to determine if the loss is covered by insurance. If so, the resulting repairs could significantly boost your home’s resale value at little or no cost to you. |
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| How does the public adjuster process work? |
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| When your property has been damaged, the public adjuster makes a complete, accurate inventory of the assets associated with the insured loss. Experienced public adjusters can accurately determine repair and replacement costs to ensure that claims are properly valued. Then, adjusters file the claim on the policyholder’s behalf and negotiate a satisfactory settlement with the insurer. |
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| How much do public adjuster services cost? |
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| Compensation is based on a reasonable percentage of insurance company settlements, so there are never up-front costs or retainer fees. Fees start at just 10 percent of the recovery. Some property claims are more complex than others and may require legal representation. In these situations, ICC’s in-house legal counsel can assist. If there is no recovery by the policyholder, there is no fee for adjustment services. |
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| Why not just rely on the insurance company’s adjuster? |
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| Company adjusters must balance their loss estimates with the insurance company’s interests. It’s in the insurer’s best interest to recommend less-expensive loss-recovery options, which might negatively affect your property’s value. The public adjuster has no such constraints, and makes recommendations based on returning the policyholder’s property to 100 percent of its pre-loss value. |
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| How do I find an experienced, professional public adjuster? |
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| Adjusters should be licensed and experienced with a strong background in property loss events like fire, flooding, roof leaks, broken pipes and wind storms. A background in general contracting or construction management is helpful, along with a strong knowledge of insurance industry policies and regulations. Hiring a public adjuster ensures that all aspects of policy coverage and the claims process are carefully examined to provide policyholders with the most equitable settlement possible. |
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| About Insurance Corporate Consultants |
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| For more information, contact ICC public adjusters today! Insurance Corporate Consultants is a Florida-based public adjuster firm with over 20 years of construction and claims consulting experience. The ICC staff includes in-house attorneys, general contractors, licensed architects and former property inspectors. ICC also serves as WPLG Channel 10’s local expert on public adjuster services. |
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