Once you decide that you want to hire help to process claims, the key is to find an experienced public appraiser with good references who will hire you as a customer for a fair price. It's also possible for an insurance company to refuse to negotiate with a public appraiser or to refuse to pay the desired settlement. An independent appraiser is any person, firm, association or corporation that acts in this state on behalf of an insurer by investigating and adjusting claims that arise under insurance contracts issued by the insurer. Today, you can hire an authorized public appraiser at a “contingent” (percentage) fee who will process your claim and negotiate a settlement on your behalf.
A public appraiser can help reopen a claim with the insurer and file a supplementary claim for additional payments. Your insurance company will send its own appraiser, but you can also hire a public insurance appraiser to assess the loss of property on your behalf and help you file insurance claims. If you don't know anyone who can recommend an adjuster they've worked with personally, ask your prospective adjuster for the contact information of some of their previous customers. Robert is a UP volunteer and authorized public adjuster based in the San Francisco Bay Area with Crown Adjusting, LLC.
It is essential to check references and agree on rates and terms before entering into a contract with a public appraiser. Public appraiser fees are usually a percentage of the amount that the insurance company pays for the policyholder's claim. A policyholder may forget or be unaware of all the costs that may be included in a claim, but public appraisers are professionals and are unlikely to overlook any costs. Visit United's policyholder claims help library, read your policy and endorsements (extras), and be sure to review the policy with any public appraiser you're considering hiring before hiring you.
Generally, a public appraiser handles the entirety of a claim on behalf of their clients, including communication with the insurer, but some policyholders may want to participate in some measure. Public insurance appraisers must be licensed in each state in which they practice their profession and, like other professionals, must participate in continuing education courses to retain their license. Policyholders should be sure that they are claiming the right amount, and hiring a public appraiser is the best way to do that. Public appraisers can file and negotiate claims for damage caused by floods, fires, smoke, wind and hurricanes, as well as for damage caused by other hazards and even for loss of business income if caused by property damage.
