Good experience working with adjuster or insurance claim

[Carlos Ptriawan]

I need to hide the name to protect privacy, but almost a year ago, I got disaster in one of my rental, it causes damaged roof, truss, rafter and fascia mostly. Filed insurance claim, they almost put very minimum claim to fix the damage. They think I'm stupid. Why they only give me 3k to remove bunch of trees from property.  I am then immediately contact public adjuster, they are handling the case from that moment. I see the situation changed a lot. This public adjuster able to diplomatically negotiate and proving the claim was way larger than what the original number would be. They contact Engineering Architectural company for drawing, contacted all different insurance, and follow up with the insurance. A lot back and forth negotiation and proving the case. After 10 months later, the final number is 250% more than what the insurance number originally quoted. 

Lesson learned:
- when we are having structural damage or roof damage, the first that we need to contact is public adjuster. Actually prior to this accident, I don't even know there's such thing as public adjuster. Try to talk to adjuster first even before filing a claim, I was a bit late on this.
- Get repair quote from many contractors to challenge the insurance number
- Work with public adjuster diligently and explain all the concern.
- Since it's damaging the tenant dwelling, make sure the tenant is calm down, offer concession although it's not legally required.
- I see all kind of contractor quote, some quotes are  mind blowing, but insurance company would use their own adjuster and their own third party  Engineering, to access the damage, this is where the fun is as everyone is looking at damage from different POV.
- Always take care and watch your Schedule A Dwelling carefully.
- I got so many tips about insurance industry from this event. LOL. Things that I can't share obviously.

[Jerry V.]

Carlos, Hmmmm... seems you had a Fire eh!?

Yes... it's always SOOoooooo much fun dealing with insurance claims! lol  But, PA's (public adjusters) have their uses. (and they make their money this way too!) But, once you learn enough (like myself in Roofing) you rarely need the PA's.  At times it still helps but ... only if you know that paying them is worth it.

Thanks for sharing some tips! :)