It generally represents between 10% and 20% of the total settlement of the insurance claim, depending on the size of the claim. In any case, while most public appraisers are honest and competent in their work, it's still essential to be on the lookout for potential scams. 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.
Public appraisers review each case individually to determine how much time and materials they should spend on their particular claim. The third type of insurance adjuster, a public insurance adjuster, is the only appraiser authorized to represent the interests of the insured, not those of the home insurance company. 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've been trying to file a damage claim with your insurance company, but you firmly believe that you should receive more money than they offered you, you can go to a public appraiser for help.
Some public adjustment firms send one appraiser to make an estimate and another to follow up and thoroughly analyze a claim. At least one study suggests that claims are often resolved for more money when a public appraiser intervenes. A public appraiser can help you with the claims process and ensure that your payment is fair and accurately reflects the damages and your coverage. It's also possible for an insurance company to refuse to negotiate with a public appraiser or to refuse to pay the desired settlement.
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. 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. When determining if hiring a public appraiser is right for you, consider the amount of the damages and your specific situation with respect to the trust needed to process the claim independently.
If you want to know how to file an insurance claim or need help managing the insurance claims process, talk to Allclaims Pro Public Adjusting. Good insurance adjusters often rely on word-of-mouth recommendations for new businesses, so if you know a good public appraiser, tell a friend. Depending on the severity and complication of the claim, the policyholder may want to seek out a more experienced public appraiser.
