House on Fire

How a Public Adjuster Can Help You Get a Higher Settlement After a Fire Loss

If you’ve ever experienced a fire in your home, you know how devastating it can be. Beyond the physical damage to your property, there’s the emotional toll of losing your possessions, the disruption to your life, and the overwhelming process of trying to rebuild. In moments like these, the last thing you want to deal with is the headache of navigating your property insurance claim. That's where a public adjuster comes in.

But what exactly is a public adjuster, and how can they help you secure a higher settlement after a fire loss? This article is here to break it all down. We’ll walk you through what public adjusters do, why they’re an invaluable asset to homeowners in Florida, and how they can ensure you get the maximum payout from your insurance company.

What Is a Public Adjuster, and How Do They Differ from Insurance Adjusters?

Before diving into the specifics of how a public adjuster can help after a fire, it’s important to understand what they do—and what they don’t do. When you file a claim with your property insurance company, an insurance adjuster is sent by the insurance company to assess the damage and determine how much the company should pay you for your claim. The insurance adjuster works for the insurance company, and their primary goal is to settle the claim in a way that minimizes the company’s payout.

A public adjuster, on the other hand, works for you, the policyholder. Public adjusters are licensed professionals who specialize in property claims. They are hired by homeowners to represent their interests and ensure they receive the full compensation they’re entitled to under their policy. Public adjusters are experts in insurance claims and have the knowledge, experience, and negotiating skills to advocate on your behalf, ensuring that you don’t get shortchanged by your insurance company.

Why You Need a Public Adjuster After a Fire Loss

Fires are devastating. Whether it’s a small kitchen fire or a larger blaze that destroys most of your home, the damage can be both emotional and financial. The last thing you need is to be caught in a battle with your insurance company over the details of your claim.

Here’s why hiring a public adjuster is one of the smartest decisions you can make after a fire:

1. Understanding the Complex Insurance Policy Language

Insurance policies are complicated and annoying. Surprise, I know. Between exclusions, endorsements, deductibles, and coverage limits, the fine print can feel like an insurmountable mountain of jargon. And when your home has been ravaged by a fire, the last thing you want to do is try to decipher what your policy actually covers.

Public adjusters are experts in reading and understanding these policies. They know exactly what should and shouldn’t be covered under your policy. For example, your insurance company may try to argue that certain types of damage (like smoke damage or structural damage) aren’t fully covered. A public adjuster will know how to challenge that and ensure all aspects of the damage are included in your claim.

2. Accurate Damage Assessment

After a fire, it may be easy to see scorch marks and soot, and you can often smell the smoke that permeates the property. But the damage isn’t always that obvious, and the damage isn't usually limited to the area where the fire started. Smoke, soot, and heat can cause hidden damage in other parts of your home, such as the attic, walls, or plumbing. A public adjuster has the experience and knowledge to identify these areas of hidden damage and make sure they’re accounted for in your claim.

Public adjusters typically bring in specialists, like fire restoration experts or contractors, to help assess the full extent of the damage. This thorough assessment ensures that no aspect of your property is overlooked, which can result in a much higher settlement.

3. Maximizing Your Settlement

Insurance companies are in the business of making money, and they are inherently more profitable if they settle claims for as little as possible. Without professional guidance, many homeowners end up with settlements far lower than what they’re actually entitled to under their policy.

A public adjuster knows how to maximize your claim by carefully documenting all the damage, including any secondary damage that might be overlooked. They also have experience in negotiating with insurance companies to ensure that the settlement covers not just the physical damage to your home but also the costs of replacing your belongings and any additional living expenses while your home is being repaired.

4. Mitigating Stress and Time Constraints

Dealing with the aftermath of a fire is incredibly stressful. You’re already dealing with the emotional toll of losing your home or personal belongings. The last thing you want is to add the complex and time-consuming task of handling an insurance claim to your plate.

Hiring a public adjuster allows you to offload the entire claims process to a professional who will handle all the paperwork, phone calls, and negotiations. This gives you the space to focus on rebuilding your home without worrying about the fine details of your insurance claim.

Public adjusters also make sure that your claim meets every deadline required by your carrier, while also making sure that your carrier abides by their own deadlines! With the stress of getting your life back in order, it's easy for an appointment or deadline on your claim to slip through the cracks. Hiring a public adjuster moves this burden onto them, so you can set it and forget it.

5. Expert Negotiation with Insurance Companies

Negotiating with an insurance company can be tricky. Adjusters working for the insurer may downplay the damage or attempt to minimize your settlement. Public adjuster, however, are skilled negotiators who understand how insurance companies operate. They know how to push back against lowball offers and can present a strong case for why you deserve more.

Public adjusters don’t work on commission from the insurance company; they work for you. They only get paid a percentage of the settlement they secure for you, so they are highly motivated to get you the best possible payout.

These homeowners had their propane tank explode, resulting in a fire that ravaged the entire home, destroyed all their belongings, and left them without a place to live or raise their family. This Matterport scan (taken less than 24 hours after the loss) played a role in getting these homeowners full policy limits during their insurance claim.

Our firm actually refused to let these homeowners hire us, and explicitly told them not to hire a public adjuster until after their insurance company wrote them a check. They would probably get policy limits without a public adjuster, so why pay us anything? It turns out that the insurance company's field adjuster took one look at our firm's Matterport and said that their carrier wouldn't give them any problems with this 3D digital twin of their home.

And their carrier didn't. These homeowners received policy limits on their structural damages, are working on fully documenting their personal property (like furniture, clothing, toiletries, electronics, and even groceries) to receive policy limits on those, are working with their general contractor and engineer so the insurance carrier will pay to bring the house up to code, and they're even being paid living expenses from their policy so they have a place to live while their home is being brought back to pre-loss condition. There will never be "getting back to normal," but their lives will be back to some degree of normalcy sooner rather than later.

Common Misconceptions About Public Adjusters

While public adjusters can be incredibly helpful, there are some misconceptions that may deter homeowners from hiring them. Let’s clear a few things up:

1. Public Adjusters Are Too Expensive

Many homeowners assume that hiring a public adjuster is going to cost an arm and a leg. In reality, public adjusters typically charge a percentage of the settlement amount (usually between 10% and 20%), which is well worth the investment when you consider how much they can increase your payout. Often, the higher settlement they secure will more than cover the cost of their fee, meaning you still come out ahead and can fully restore your home to pre-loss condition.

Also, some firms (such as Florida State Public Adjusters, Inc.) offer additional discounts on their services under certain circumstances. We cut our standard rates in half when your loss is caused by a governor-declared state of emergency, and most of our adjusters take 10% off the total amount of any invoices for U.S. military, veterans, and first responders.

2. I Can Handle the Claim Myself

While it’s certainly possible to handle your fire damage claim without a public adjuster, it’s not advisable. Consider a tax accountant. You can file your taxes yourself, but you only do this once a year; you're not expected to be good at it! A tax accountant can handle your taxes for you. They know the hoops and hurdles to jump through to get you the best deal possible, they're faster and more efficient at this process than you are, they do all of the work for you, and the amount of money they save you is usually cheaper than the cost of hiring them. It's a win-win that most people recognize, so more people use tax accountants every single year.

Public adjusters are very similar, but for your insurance claim instead of your taxes. The average policyholder will file no more than three insurance claims throughout their entire lives. Insurance companies can rely on your inexperience to reduce your payout. They have teams of adjusters and lawyers working to protect their interests. Without professional assistance, you may miss out on compensation you’re entitled to.

Public adjusters have the experience and resources to ensure you’re not taken advantage of during the claims process, and they handle all the work for you so that you can focus on getting your life back to normal.

3. My Insurance Company Will Reject My Claim if I Hire a Public Adjuster

It’s a common worry that insurance companies will hold it against you if you hire a public adjuster. The reality is that hiring a public adjuster is completely within your rights as a policyholder. Insurance companies are required by law to deal with public adjusters just as they would deal with any other representative. The relationship between the adjuster and the insurance company is purely professional and contractual.

If you suspect that your insurance carrier is acting in bad faith due to your claim (even if you haven't hired a public adjuster), you can report their behavior to Florida's Department of Financial Services (DFS) or Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR).

Let's See a Case in Action

Let’s take a look at a before-and-after example of how a public adjuster can make a difference after a fire loss.

Imagine you’ve just experienced a devastating kitchen fire. While the flames were contained to the kitchen, smoke and soot have spread throughout the house. Your insurance company sends an adjuster to assess the damage, and they offer you a settlement to cover the repairs. However, they offer only a portion of the cost to replace your kitchen cabinets and overlook the damage to your living room furniture caused by smoke and soot.

You decide that this was far from enough, and you hire a public adjuster. Your adjuster comes in and does a much more thorough assessment. They bring in experts to inspect the damage to your entire home, from hidden damage in the walls to the lingering effects of smoke on your HVAC system. They carefully review your policy to ensure that all damage (both visible and hidden) is included in your claim, and they negotiate with your insurer to ensure you get a higher settlement that fully covers your losses.

How to Hire a Public Adjuster: Steps to Take

Now that you understand the value of hiring a public adjuster, here are some steps to help you get started:

Research Public Adjusters in Your Area:

Look for licensed and reputable public adjusters in Florida who specialize in fire loss claims, like Florida State Public Adjusters, Inc.

Check Their Experience:

Choose a public adjuster with experience in handling fire damage claims. They should be well-versed in working with insurance companies and know how to assess fire-related damage.

Ask About Fees:

Be clear about the fee structure before signing any agreements. Most public adjusters work on a contingency basis, meaning they only get paid when your carrier starts issuing checks on your claim.

Review the Contract:

Before you hire a public adjuster, carefully review the contract to ensure it aligns with your expectations and doesn’t contain any hidden fees or obligations.

Public Adjusters Are Worth It

When your home is damaged by fire, you deserve to be treated fairly by your insurance company. A public adjuster can be your advocate in this process, ensuring that you don’t settle for less than you’re entitled to. From understanding your policy to negotiating a higher settlement, public adjusters bring expertise and peace of mind during one of the most stressful times in your life.

If you’ve experienced a fire loss, consider reaching out to a public adjuster to ensure you’re getting the best possible settlement. The extra help and higher payout can make all the difference in rebuilding your home and your life.