(not sure exact date): Public adjuster goes to house to inspect damageJuly 11: I sign contract with public adjuster to take on caseFrom this point on, things get hard to pinpoint.  

Your best bet is to get quotes for an independent insurance agent.

An attorney will be your best bet.

I may just have set personal expectations that are unrealistic and need to adjust and focus on lead measures.

We estimate the After Repair Value as follows:We find the similar properties that have sold within the last 6 monthsThe properties must be in the same community and within a one mile radiusThe properties must be updated and/or renovated (If we're going for rental quality we'll look for properties that look like rental quality If we're going for condo quality we'll look for condo quality)The room count, bedroom & baths, must be similar (we'll make adjustments up and down if they are not similar)The square footage must be similar (We'll make adjustments if the difference in square footage is too large)We'll look for a minimum of 5 similar properties- We use 5 because when we have to challenge an appraisal they ask for 5 properties as part of the challenge)We use the MLS & a system called REMINE to find the similar properties.

You bet big, you can lose big.If your wife is onboard with all this, start slow and see how you both like it.Find out how much your current home will rent out for - and then use 90% of that for your estimates.

I would bet that 99.99% of agents you might work with are not going to know that or know much about how to guide you to buy one that would be on the 10%  (I am not an agent nor an STR expert).

@Airon BurkeObviously, a local attorney who deals with these is your best bet. 

Your best bet may be a small older condo complex where the units are owned and rented individually. 

I know from the register of deed office that it got a mortgage loan adjustment in July of 2019 for 290k.