Boca Raton Public Adjuster

Damage to your home or commercial property can disrupt your life, and getting it repaired as soon as possible is essential. Unfortunately, some policyholders find that their insurance company doesn’t respond as promptly as needed, or they may receive less money than expected. It can also be difficult to know if you’ve received a reasonable amount from the insurance company if you are not an expert in repairing this type of damage. For all of these reasons, you may be wondering if hiring a public adjuster would be helpful.

What Does a Boca Raton Public Insurance Adjuster Do?

A Boca Raton public adjuster will visit your property to survey the damage and create an itemized estimate of what must be done to repair it. But you might think, “Isn’t that what my insurance company does?”

Indeed, your insurance company will also send out an adjuster to estimate your damage, and then they will use that estimate to decide how much to pay for your claim. But there is a big difference between the insurance company’s adjuster and a public adjuster: The insurance company’s adjuster works for the insurance company, not you. Their job is to minimize costs for the insurance company, not you. This can lead to some difficulties for many property owners:

• The insurance company may underestimate the extent of the damage or what it will cost to fix.
• The insurance carrier might be willing to pay for an inexpensive repair when what the situation calls for is a full replacement – a new roof, new siding, etc.
• In some cases, the insurance company might deny the claim outright. Common reasons include claiming the damage is superficial or caused by normal wear and tear instead of a covered incident like a fire or storm.

Conversely, a public adjuster works for you, not the insurance company. A Boca Raton insurance claim review includes a careful examination of damage and an estimate of what needs to be done and how much it will cost. This will be submitted to your insurance company for approval, with documentation such as photos and the public adjuster’s report. Through their experience and knowledge, the public adjuster should include enough evidence to improve the chances of your claim getting approved.

Your public adjuster will also discuss the claim with the insurance company and negotiate with them as needed. That means you can go back to having lunch during your lunch break instead of sitting on hold with the insurance company or trying to submit photos and other evidence on  your own.

What Kind of Insurance Claims Can a Boca Raton Public Claims Adjuster Help With?

At Pinnacle Claim Services, we can help with a wide variety of home or commercial property damages, including these everyday situations:

• Hurricanes or storm/wind damage. There are multiple ways to experience damage from severe storms or hurricanes. Strong winds can damage the outside of your home or building, tearing off shutters or hurling debris at the windows and walls, while flooding is also a common problem. But the immediate damage isn’t the only thing you need to worry about. Sometimes this damage leads to other problems, like leaks, busted pipes, and mold, which may not be evident to you right away. Your public adjuster will carefully study the damage to look for these issues, ensuring your claim will cover all the needed repairs.
• Hail storms. These can cause damage in all the same ways as regular rain storms, but with the addition of ice chunks slamming into your building. In some cases, these ice chunks may be as big as grapefruit (although smaller sizes are more common). Hail season is between March and July, with the most activity in May. When a hail storm hits your home or office, damage can occur quickly, and the evidence (ice chunks) often melts just as quickly. It’s common for hail storms to damage roof tiles, sometimes to the point that a replacement roof is necessary. Your public adjuster will identify damaged areas and the best repair solutions.
• Fires. There are many potential causes of home or office fires, and even with quick intervention, the flames can damage walls, furniture, and fixtures in a hurry. If the blaze continues for a little while, the whole building could be a total loss. Even if the damage is less extensive, you might have hidden problems, like water damage from sprinklers or a fire truck hose. In some cases, the water used to suppress the fire causes even more damage than the fire itself. Your public adjuster will not only survey the obvious fire damage but also search for signs of water damage or mold so these can be addressed.
• Vandalism. Sometimes your home or office may be targeted by vandals or burglars. Commonly stolen items include jewelry, electronics, apparel, and furniture. Or, vandals  may have simply damaged the building, such as breaking a window, spray painting the outer walls, etc. An experienced public adjuster will ensure no damage is missed when compiling a report.

How Can You Find the Best Boca Raton Personal Claims Adjuster for Your Claim?

There are several essential qualities you should look for in a public adjuster:

• The public adjuster should be appropriately licensed. 
• Experience and knowledge are also essential when choosing a public adjuster. It’s a good idea to ask the adjuster how many similar cases they’ve handled, how long their firm has been in business, etc. The more knowledgeable and seasoned the adjuster is, the better equipped they will be to identify your damage and write a compelling claim for the insurance company.
• Good references and reviews also provide clues that your adjuster will do the job well. Look up the company on sites that offer consumer reviews and read what other people have to say. Pay attention to the quality of the reviews – if many of them seem similar and vague, you might want to ask around to see if any real people have used the company.

Do I Have to Argue with the Insurance Company?

No. We don’t recommend doing that. We do understand how frustrating it is when the insurance company offers you less than you believe your claim is worth or denies it out of hand. But when policyholders negotiate with the insurance company, they are often at a disadvantage – the insurance adjuster is extremely knowledgeable about the type of damage and all the loopholes that allow the insurance company to pay as little as possible (or nothing). They also make a habit of recording conversations with policyholders (you will be informed of this, often with an explanation about “quality control”) and then misconstruing what the policyholder says.

Fortunately, your Pinnacle Claim Services public adjuster is experienced in dealing with insurance companies and is well-versed in many types of property damage. We can negotiate with the insurance company to get you the best possible settlement for your damage.

A Boca Raton Public Adjuster Knocked on My Door to Sell Their Services. Is This a Scam?

Not necessarily, but you should perform due diligence before signing a contract with a door-to-door solicitor. This practice is common following disasters such as hurricanes and major storms. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Under Florida law, public adjusters can solicit between 8 AM and 8 PM, Monday through Saturday. They should not bother you at other times.
• Many door-to-door solicitors represent legitimate companies, but you should check their licensing status and read reviews before agreeing to hire one.
• You can negotiate if you feel the fees are too high. It’s important to know that Florida law limits fees to 20 percent in most situations and 10 percent for damage occurring due to a situation the governor has declared a state of emergency. If a solicitor asks for more than these amounts, they are probably not the right person for the job.
• A public adjuster cannot legally charge you fees for any insurance payment you received before signing a contract with the adjuster. If they recover more money for you, they can charge you fees for that amount.
• If you already signed a contract with a public adjuster but now feel that you were rushed into the decision, you have a legal right to cancel within ten days.

How Can a Boca Raton Insurance Claim Services Public Adjuster Help Me?

Our Palm Beach County public adjusters are all licensed, insured, and experienced enough to evaluate a variety of property insurance claims and negotiate the largest settlement possible. We have the knowledge to get you the settlement you need, and our staff is always available to provide a free quote. Please contact us today to learn how we can help with your claim.