Key Duties of a Property Adjuster When You Make a Homeowner's Insurance Claim

When you file a homeowner’s insurance claim after your property has been damaged, the key person you’ll deal with from your insurance company is the claims adjuster, or property adjuster.

A property adjuster is a person responsible for both handling and investigating homeowner’s insurance claims. They work on behalf of your insurance company to calculate the possible insurance settlement amount.

These are some of the key duties of a property adjuster.

Inspect and Assess Your Home, Receipts, and Evidence

One of the main roles of the property adjuster is to inspect your home, record the damage, and assess the extent of the loss.

To facilitate this process, you should collect receipts that show how much your damaged belongings were worth and when and where you bought them.

You should also take photos of the damage before performing any temporary repairs or removing debris from your home or yard. This photographic proof of the damages will make the claims process easier and quicker. 

Don’t wait to take these photographs; you never know when a small issue will escalate. For example, if your central Florida home endures a heavy storm, you will want to check your roof, gutters, patios, and windows for wind, water, or hail damage.

The property adjuster will review the evidence as they prepare the claim.

Interview Witnesses

Another key task for a property adjuster is to interview witnesses who were present at the home or property at the time of the damages.

Witnesses help provide valuable information to the adjuster by corroborating any incidents present in your claim.

These interviews can take place either over the phone or in person.

Collect Your Statements

The property adjuster will also ask you for a statement, as you are the one filing the claim.

Before your conversation with the property adjuster, you should review your homeowner’s insurance policy so that you can ask the right questions and clearly understand what you are entitled to.

Review Police or Medical Reports

If the damage to your home resulted in you seeking medical care or help from the police, the property adjuster will need to review any related documents.

For example, suppose that your property was damaged during a burglary. The property adjuster will need access to the police report made at the time of the incident.

Speak with Contractors for Cost Estimates

Another task the property adjuster will perform is speaking with contractors in order to get cost estimates for home repairs.

Contractors and property adjusters are able to speak directly with each other since your homeowner’s insurance may be paying for the repairs.

Make Sure Your Claim Is Handled in a Timely Manner

The key role of the property adjuster is to ensure your claim is handled and processed in a timely manner.

They are responsible for collecting all documentation, evidence, and anything else needed to process your claim as quickly as possible.

In some cases, your property adjuster may determine that your house is unlivable. Depending on your policy, your insurance provider may cover additional expenses associated with living elsewhere, such as rent, dining, and utility installation.

Property Adjusters for Property in Florida

A claims adjuster works in the insurance company’s best interests, not yours. When it comes to protecting your property in Florida, you can seek out a second opinion.

Finding the right public property adjuster for your claim is similar to finding the right contractor for repair work. You want to work with someone you can trust who has positive past ratings or reviews.