In addition, the public appraiser will carefully review your claim and ensure that no damage is overlooked. Some people think that the additional expense of hiring a public appraiser is worth it, if only for the peace of mind that they won't have to manage the claims process themselves. If you are faced with a major claim with a potentially high payment, consider the price before choosing to hire a public appraiser. The other way to find a public insurance adjuster is to get a recommendation from friends or family.
If your insurance company doesn't increase its offer after hiring the public appraiser, you'll still have to pay the adjuster. A public appraiser can take some guesswork out of the process, but this convenience comes with an out-of-pocket cost. Like a claims appraiser, a public appraiser will assess the damage to your property, help determine the extent of the repairs, and estimate the replacement value of those repairs. Under Texas law, the public experts working on your claim cannot act as your contractor and the contractors cannot announce that they will deal with your insurance claim.
Instead of using the insurance company's adjuster, some policyholders choose to hire a public appraiser. If the public appraiser is questioning the damage or how much it might cost to repair it, you may decide to use a contractor for a second opinion. The NAPIA directory lists all public appraisal firms that must have a license in their state of operation. Bankrate breaks down what a public appraiser is so you can determine if it would be beneficial to hire this outside professional.
If you choose to do so, your public appraiser will act as a liaison so that you never have to talk to a representative or negotiate yourself. The best time to hire a public claims adjuster is before filing the claim or early in the claims process.
