While there are no guarantees, studies have shown that landlords who hire public appraisers tend to receive higher settlements than those who don't, even if the public appraiser's fees are factored in. Most public appraisers charge a percentage of the total payment of the claim. Your compensation can be as low as 3% or as high as 30% of your insurance settlement, depending on the size of your claim. If you're in the process of filing a claim with your insurance company, it may be worth hiring a public appraiser.
This could be especially true if you consider that the insurance adjuster doesn't include all the costs needed for repairs in your claim. Public appraisers generally get paid when you accept your insurance company's final offer. After a series of negotiations, the insurance company will present you with a final offer. You can accept that final offer or request greater compensation.
However, there's no guarantee that you'll get more money by hiring a public insurance adjuster. Your insurance company will consider the public appraiser's findings, but it may not agree to the recommended payment. The other way to find a public insurance adjuster is to get a recommendation from friends or family. 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 clients.
Whether you simply don't have time to process the slow payment process, or if you think your insurance company has offered you less than what it owes you, it's recommended that you hire the payment services of a professional public appraiser. Public experts are professionals who are required to have a certain amount of knowledge and training. In addition, the public appraiser will carefully review your claim and ensure that no damage is overlooked. While the vast majority of public appraisers are honest and competent in their work, it's still very important to be on the lookout for potential scams.
The best time to hire a public claims adjuster is before you file your claim or early in the claims process. A public appraiser is not affiliated with the insurance company and is only there for your benefit. 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 to some extent. The hourly rate will depend on the state you are in, the experience and knowledge of public experts, your operating costs, and the type of policy to which your claim is subject.
The NAPIA directory lists all public appraisal firms that must have a license in their state of operation. It's probably too late to go to a public appraiser if you've signed a definitive authorization or if your claim period has been extended beyond the statute of limitations. It is also possible for an insurance company to refuse to negotiate with a public appraiser or to refuse to pay the desired settlement. Thanks to this fee structure, which is usually a percentage of the final settlement, your public appraiser will be more motivated to request higher compensation.
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. 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 damage to property. .
