Insurance
Working With Your Insurance Adjuster
An insurance adjuster's job is to inspect the damage, verify the cause and compare what they find against your policy to determine coverage. You can speak with the adjuster directly, and we can meet them on site to walk through our documentation, but the adjuster works for the insurance company, so keeping your own photos, notes and restoration company's records is how you protect your side of the claim.
Who the Adjuster Works For
An adjuster may be a staff employee of your insurance company, or an independent adjuster the company hires to handle the inspection. Either way, their role is to represent the insurance company's interests, verify what happened, and apply your policy's terms to the loss, not to represent you.
That is not a reason to be adversarial. Most adjusters are professional and simply need clear, complete information to do their job accurately. But it is a good reason to keep your own records rather than relying only on the adjuster's notes and estimate, since those records are the ones you control.
Before the Inspection
Before the adjuster arrives, it helps to have your own photos and video of the damage, ideally taken before any cleanup began, along with a simple timeline of when you noticed the damage and what you did first, such as shutting off water or calling us.
If we have already started work, we will have moisture readings, photos of the affected areas, and a written scope of the water category or fire and smoke damage, all of which we can share with the adjuster or send ahead of the visit.
During the Adjuster's Visit
Being present for the inspection, or having a member of our team present, means someone can point out damage that might not be obvious on a quick walk-through, such as moisture behind a baseboard or staining inside a cabinet.
We can meet the adjuster on site to walk through our findings directly, explain the water category or damage classification, and answer technical questions about the scope of drying or repair work. Having that conversation in person often resolves questions faster than back-and-forth paperwork.
If Your Estimate and the Adjuster's Estimate Differ
It is common for a restoration company's estimate and an insurance company's estimate to differ, sometimes because of pricing, sometimes because of how much material needs to be removed versus dried. When that happens, we explain and support our own written estimate and documentation with the adjuster, using moisture readings and photos to show why we recommend the scope we do. The claim remains yours throughout, and we are not public adjusters.
This process can take some back-and-forth. We keep our documentation thorough and current specifically so we can support you and respond to an adjuster's questions without slowing down your repairs.
Questions Worth Asking Your Adjuster
You are allowed to ask your adjuster direct questions about your claim, and doing so early can prevent confusion later.
- What specifically is and is not covered under my policy for this type of damage
- How my deductible applies to this claim
- Whether additional living expenses are covered if I cannot stay in my home
- What documentation the insurer still needs from me or from the restoration company
- The claim number and the best way to reach the adjuster with follow-up questions
How We Support You Throughout
Whether or not we are on site for the adjuster's visit, we keep detailed records, photos, moisture readings, water category classification and a written scope of work, so you have a clear, independent account of the damage that does not depend on memory. Those records are yours to use in the claim however you need them.
We work with all major insurance companies and bill them directly for approved work whenever your policy and claim allow it, which keeps you from having to front the cost of restoration while the claim moves through review.
Questions
Straight answers
Do I have to be present when the adjuster inspects my home?
It is not always required, but being present, or having us present, lets someone point out damage the adjuster might otherwise miss, such as moisture inside a wall cavity or under flooring. If you cannot be there, ask whether we can meet the adjuster on your behalf.
Can the adjuster tell me exactly what my policy covers?
The adjuster can explain how your policy applies to this specific claim, but for full details of your coverage it is worth reading your policy directly or asking your agent. We can help you understand the restoration side of what is being discussed.
What if I disagree with the adjuster's estimate?
You can request a review or provide additional documentation, and we can support that with our own photos, moisture readings and written scope of work. Disagreements over scope are common and are usually resolved through documentation rather than dispute.
Should I sign anything the adjuster gives me on the spot?
Read anything carefully before signing, and it is reasonable to ask for time to review documents rather than signing immediately. If you have questions about what a form means for your restoration work, we are glad to talk through it with you.
Will you talk to my adjuster directly if I ask you to?
Yes. We regularly meet adjusters on site or communicate with them directly to explain our documentation, water category findings and scope of work, since that often keeps the claim moving faster than routing everything through you.
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