Residential/Homeowner
A loss to your personal property, be it a full-time residence, vacation property or retirement home, can be a tragic experience. The insurance claims adjusters at ALL RISK Public Adjusters extend our condolences for your loss. Please know that recovery is possible, and you’re not alone.
At ALL RISK Public Adjusters, we help policyholders in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland get a fair settlement for a loss to their single family home, townhome, condominium or apartment. We bring experience and professionalism to an otherwise confusing and stressful situation that can be wrought with pitfalls. Our goal is to help you avoid those pitfalls, obtain the settlement you deserve and get you on the road to recovery – as quickly as possible.
The first thing you should do following a loss is to ensure the health and safety of all involved. Once that is done, and you have had an opportunity to collect your emotions, create a plan of action. We highly recommend hiring a certified public adjuster as soon as possible so that you can avoid making costly mistakes that could impact your insurance claim. For a small percentage of your settlement, a certified public adjuster will navigate the insurance claims process on your behalf, and file the documentation and substantiation required for your claim. The larger your loss, the more complex the claims process and the more you have at stake. In most cases, simply having someone on your side to deal with the insurance company justifies the fee.
In the meantime, beware of contractors and restoration companies contacting you in an attempt to gain your business. It is very important that you do not sign any work orders without a full understanding of what they entail and with documentation from your insurance company stating they will pay for the work. Otherwise, you could end up paying for the work yourself or – if you are unable to pay for the work – a lien could be put on your property. It is important that you take every measure to protect your claim . One way to do that is to first recover your money, then solicit bids for the work to be done. Do not share the amount of your settlement with a contractor. If you choose to work with the insurance company’s preferred contractors, keep in mind that they will know what you have been paid for the claim and their fee will be paid directly by the insurance company. Having the representation of an certified public adjuster will eliminate the possibility of another company taking advantage of you at a time of emotional vulnerability.
Similarly, if emergency work is required, be sure that your insurance company agrees to pay for that work in writing. While it is your duty to ensure that the property does not suffer further damage, you are liable for any emergency restoration that is not first approved by the insurance carrier. Again, having the representation of a certified public adjuster in these situations can prove to be invaluable.
The insurance company will send a representative to your property to investigate the details of your loss. Keep in mind that the representative has the insurance company’s best interests in mind. Those best interests include limiting the amount of money paid out for your claim. This is the case whether the representative is a direct employee of the insurance company or a third-party contractor working on the insurance company’s behalf. While you are required to cooperate with these representatives, it is crucial that you are careful about how you answer their questions and how you state the facts surrounding your insurance claim. Should a dispute arise regarding your insurance claim, anything you said and how you said it can be used against you, which is yet again why having the representation of a certified public adjuster is so important.
If you do decide to hire a certified public adjuster, be sure the company you hire has experience with your type of loss. The certified public adjuster you choose will notify the insurance company and request a certified copy of your policy. After reviewing the applicable policy provisions and conditions, and assessing the coverages related to your insurance claim, the public adjuster will know how best to assess your loss and damages.
We know that this is a lot of information to take in, especially following a disaster that has shaken up your family. At ALL RISK Public Adjusters, we are here to help you in any way possible. We will answer as many questions as it takes to ensure your understanding of your coverage and the insurance claims process. Contact us today.
At ALL RISK Public Adjusters, we help policyholders in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland get a fair settlement for a loss to their single family home, townhome, condominium or apartment. We bring experience and professionalism to an otherwise confusing and stressful situation that can be wrought with pitfalls. Our goal is to help you avoid those pitfalls, obtain the settlement you deserve and get you on the road to recovery – as quickly as possible.
The first thing you should do following a loss is to ensure the health and safety of all involved. Once that is done, and you have had an opportunity to collect your emotions, create a plan of action. We highly recommend hiring a certified public adjuster as soon as possible so that you can avoid making costly mistakes that could impact your insurance claim. For a small percentage of your settlement, a certified public adjuster will navigate the insurance claims process on your behalf, and file the documentation and substantiation required for your claim. The larger your loss, the more complex the claims process and the more you have at stake. In most cases, simply having someone on your side to deal with the insurance company justifies the fee.
In the meantime, beware of contractors and restoration companies contacting you in an attempt to gain your business. It is very important that you do not sign any work orders without a full understanding of what they entail and with documentation from your insurance company stating they will pay for the work. Otherwise, you could end up paying for the work yourself or – if you are unable to pay for the work – a lien could be put on your property. It is important that you take every measure to protect your claim . One way to do that is to first recover your money, then solicit bids for the work to be done. Do not share the amount of your settlement with a contractor. If you choose to work with the insurance company’s preferred contractors, keep in mind that they will know what you have been paid for the claim and their fee will be paid directly by the insurance company. Having the representation of an certified public adjuster will eliminate the possibility of another company taking advantage of you at a time of emotional vulnerability.
Similarly, if emergency work is required, be sure that your insurance company agrees to pay for that work in writing. While it is your duty to ensure that the property does not suffer further damage, you are liable for any emergency restoration that is not first approved by the insurance carrier. Again, having the representation of a certified public adjuster in these situations can prove to be invaluable.
The insurance company will send a representative to your property to investigate the details of your loss. Keep in mind that the representative has the insurance company’s best interests in mind. Those best interests include limiting the amount of money paid out for your claim. This is the case whether the representative is a direct employee of the insurance company or a third-party contractor working on the insurance company’s behalf. While you are required to cooperate with these representatives, it is crucial that you are careful about how you answer their questions and how you state the facts surrounding your insurance claim. Should a dispute arise regarding your insurance claim, anything you said and how you said it can be used against you, which is yet again why having the representation of a certified public adjuster is so important.
If you do decide to hire a certified public adjuster, be sure the company you hire has experience with your type of loss. The certified public adjuster you choose will notify the insurance company and request a certified copy of your policy. After reviewing the applicable policy provisions and conditions, and assessing the coverages related to your insurance claim, the public adjuster will know how best to assess your loss and damages.
We know that this is a lot of information to take in, especially following a disaster that has shaken up your family. At ALL RISK Public Adjusters, we are here to help you in any way possible. We will answer as many questions as it takes to ensure your understanding of your coverage and the insurance claims process. Contact us today.
