What to Expect From an Adjuster During the Home Insurance Claims Process
After a terrible hailstorm, you inspect your home and find broken windows, damaged shingles and downed trees. Dealing with damage is never easy, but the good news is – you have homeowners insurance. Let’s walk through how to file your claim.
The home insurance claims adjuster plays a pivotal role in the claims process. If you're wondering about their job and what they do, here's what you need to know.
What is a home insurance claims adjuster?
A home insurance claims adjuster’s job is to assess the damage, determine what's covered, and calculate how much it will cost to repair or replace the damaged property. Based on their evaluation, they’ll provide a settlement amount for the claim.
Claims adjusters are insurance professionals typically hired by the home insurance company. Staff adjusters are employees of the insurance company, while independent adjusters are hired by the insurance company. (And both of these differ from a public insurance adjuster, who is a professional who may be hired by the policyholder.)
What to expect when filing a property claim
Whether your home was damaged by a natural disaster or a fire, you can start the insurance claims process by contacting either your insurance agent or your insurer’s claims department and providing details about what happened. Your homeowners insurance company will appoint a claims adjuster to your claim. The insurance adjuster will contact you within a few days to introduce themselves, discuss next steps and schedule an appointment to visit the property.
Ahead of the claims adjuster's visit, secure your property to prevent further damage (for example, place tarps over damaged roofs or board up broken windows), take photos of the damage, and make a list of damaged or destroyed property.
As you go through the homeowners insurance claims process, the claims adjuster handles the following tasks:
Site inspection
The claims adjuster will visit the property to inspect the damage. If it's safe to do so, they’ll walk through the home, take photos and document the damage.
Damage review
The adjuster will review the extent of the damage; to make sure they have a comprehensive view, they’ll work with you to prepare an inventory of damaged items . They may also ask for photos from before and after the incident, and any receipts you may have for damaged property. If you spent money up front for emergency or temporary repairs, such as boards and nails for broken windows, share those receipts, too.
Claim evaluation
After the inspection, the claims adjuster’s role shifts to a behind-the-scenes position. They look at the property damage and compare it against your homeowners insurance policy, checking to see how coverage may apply.
The insurance company uses the claims adjuster's report to determine the cause of loss, scope of damage and amount of covered repairs. All of these factors determine the appropriate settlement amount.
Tips for working with the claims adjuster
To make the claims process go as smoothly as possible, here are some tips for working with the claims adjuster:
- Be present: If you can, show up in person for the adjuster's inspection. Your presence can be invaluable if the adjuster has questions about specific damages or affected areas.
- Stay organized: When it comes to insurance claims, organization is critical. Maintain a digital (or physical, depending on your preference) folder with photos and video, home inventory lists, receipts, and any communication with contractors, the insurance adjuster or your insurance company. Make sure you also have the contact information for the insurer and the adjuster.
- Hold on to damaged items: Although you may be anxious to clear out debris and toss damaged items, leave things alone as long as they don't create a safety hazard. The claims adjuster will want to see all of the damage, so wait to clean the space until after the adjuster's inspection.
And remember, your claims adjuster is here to help. Stay in touch and feel free to ask questions at any time.
This story was created in partnership with Money.com.
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