Public Adjusters---What do they do?

People call me for every reason in the world.  "Can you give me the name of a great limo service?  Massage therapist? Great sushi restaurant in SOBE?  Someone that installs storm windows?  Locksmith? A medical practice my husband can join?  Where can I buy a mezuzah for my new home?" are just a tiny fraction of questions I get everyday.  Today agents have to be superheroes when it comes to helping our friends, clients, prospective clients, anybody that might one day list/buy/sell or refer us to someone that will down the line. 

When a homeowner has an insurance claim, they usually call their insurance company to file a claim.  The insurance company then sends out an adjuster, their employee, to assess damages and figure out monetary compensation.  The homeowner is paid and the claim is settled.  Usually.  Is this fair?  Usually not.

Let's change the scenario a little bit.  What if the second call the homeowner makes is to their own public adjuster, someone that works in their interest and not the insurance company's interest?  Now the playing field becomes more level and the homeowner has someone on their side to mitigate the claim from their point of view, assess damages, figure out monetary compensation.  The public adjuster represents the homeowner and will help them cut through the red tape and intricacies of filing with insurance companies at large.  The public adjuster charges a fee between 10-35% for their services.  I see this as money well spent.

Why must homeowners have a public adjuster in their corner?  Just like an intelligent person doesn't walk into a courtroom without being represented by competent counsel, neither should homeowners try to deal with an insurance company by themselves.  When there are large damages to your biggest asset that require compensation, it's best to have someone on your side that is knowledgeable and competent.

In many instances, insurance companies will try to settle claims with homeowners for much less than they are worth, sometimes offering only a small amount of money for repairs.  Unacceptable. The insurance company knows that they should replace someones roof and plywood decking underneath, but instead only offers a small settlement for 'repairs'.  What if the tiles on the roof are no longer manufactured and cannot be matched?  According to a professional that I know in the business, the insurance company needs to replace the whole roof.  Installing mismatching roof tiles will not only look horrendous, it will also reduce the value of the home and reduce curb appeal.  Can you imagine a prospective buyer's first impression driving up to a home for a showing and seeing ugly, mismatched tiles on the roof?  Not good.

Just like you have a great real estate attorney, title insurance company, painter, handyman, mortgage broker, home inspector, appraiser, mover, in your aresenal, make sure you also have a great public adjuster for your clients to use.  Today, more and more agents offer 'concierge service' to their past, present and future buyers and sellers.  This is a great added value contact to refer out to clients in need.  They will thank you many times over for saving them money!

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