What is a residential or commercial property claim?

What is an insurance coverage policy?

In case of a loss, what actions should you take?

What is a Public Insurance “Adjuster”?

What is a Public Adjuster?

Are Public Adjusters connected with insurance companies?

What is the definition of a Public Adjuster?

What Is A Public Insurance Adjusters Job Description?

Are Public Adjusters lawyers?

Who licenses Public Adjusters?

If I work directly with the insurance company’s adjuster, won’t I get the same results?

Can I prepare my own claim?

I still don’t see why I need a Public Adjuster

I already have an Independent Adjuster working on my claim. He’s not employed by my insurance company.

Won’t my insurance agent help me through the claim process?

Can my Lawyer represent me in my claim?

Why should I engage a public insurance adjuster to obtain what is rightfully due to me?

I don’t understand what a Public Adjuster can do for me that I can’t do myself.

The insurance company’s adjuster seems very knowledgeable about the claims process. Why should I be concerned about him/her misleading me?

Will a public insurance adjuster help me receive a more prompt and satisfactory settlement?

How are Public Adjusters compensated?

If I hire a Public Adjuster and I have to pay a percentage of my recovery, I will then be short money, right?

Why Hire Claim Ally?

What sets Claim Ally apart from other public adjusting firms?

How long will it take to settle my claim?

At what point in the claims process should I hire Property Claim Adjusters?

I have already received a payment for my claim from the insurance company. Is it too late to reopen my file?

My claim was denied, am I entitled to a second opinion?

Do Public Adjusters have to be licensed or certified?

What steps do I need to take to hire your firm?

Other than fire damage, what other types of losses do you handle?

Why should a condominium community hire a public adjuster?

Will I be denied or Canceled if I hire a Public Adjuster?

We have a lot of building contractors and cleaning/restoration companies knocking on our door, wanting to do our work and help us file our insurance claim. Why should I hire a Public Adjuster to do this for us, instead?

Isn’t it a good idea to go ahead and get everything cleaned now by a professional restoration service instead of waiting until I have settled my claim?

Who decides if an item needs to be repaired or replaced? My insurance company and I are disagreeing on just about everything?

Do you take both Commercial & Residential claims?

What is an Appraisal?

What does an Appraisal Clause state in a policy?

In the event of a fire or similar destruction of property does my insurance pay the entire loss?

What is the extent of  a public adjusters responsibility?

How do Public Adjusters determine the actual loss?

What is a residential or commercial property claim?
A residential or commercial property claim represents any damage that strikes your residence or company and is insured with your insurance coverage.
For Instance: water damage, fire damage smoke damage, broken, blocked  pipes and lines, burglary or vandalism, hail damage, wind damage, vehicle structural damage and tree damage.  Usually when damages happen to a  house or a business, the property owner or company owner would contact their insurance provider, just like drivers will do when an accident occurs. Their insurance provider would produce a damage claim and engage a claims adjuster to assess the extent of the damage done to a home, property or business.
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What is an insurance coverage policy?
An insurance coverage policy is an  agreement in between you and the insurance provider. Your  primary responsibility is to pay your premium and their primary responsibility is to pay on covered loss and damages claims. This is the real  fundamental of  insurance coverage. There is a great deal more detail to comprehending the specific language and  complex procedures that need to be adhered to within the terms of the insurance policy.
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In case of a loss, what actions should you take?

Immediately report the loss to the your Insurance  representative or broker straight to your  insurance provider or  insurer. Quickly thereafter, acquire the services of a public insurance adjuster to look out for you and your interest.
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What is a Public Insurance “Adjuster”?

There are 3 kinds of adjusters.

Company or Staff Adjusters
These adjusters work directly for the insurance company. They are committed to the interest of companies that employ them and their first goal is to  secure for the insurance company, the most profitable position by paying out the smallest settlement possible on each damage claim.

Independent Adjuster
This type of adjuster typically represents a number of insurance providers. When  disasters happen such as hurricanes, tornados, firestorms,  or large hail  storms, insurance providers generally can’t assign sufficient  adjusters to manage all potential loss claims. They will employ Independent Adjusters to meet the demand of claimants, the insured. Whether they be company, staff or independent adjusters, they all represent the interests of the insurance provider that pays them first!

Public Adjuster
The third type of adjuster is one that will put you and your interests first. They work for you, not the insurance provider. They represent  the general public. This adjuster is known as a “Public Insurance Adjuster.”

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What is a Public Adjuster?

A public adjuster is a licensed professional claims adjuster and advocate. Sometimes referred to as “Private Adjusters” or thought of as independent adjusters, the Public Adjuster will file your claim, work directly with your Insurance Company’s adjuster, and  see to it that you get every penny you are entitled to receive for your damages.
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Are Public Adjusters connected with insurance companies?

No. They are employed exclusively by you – the policyholder- not by an insurance company. The Public Adjusters EXCLUSIVE responsibility is to protect YOU and YOUR insured interests in an Insurance claim(s) against a loss with the Insurance Company.
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What is the definition of a Public Adjuster?

Public (Insurance) Adjuster Definition:- A Public (Insurance) Adjuster may be an individual and or business entity who receives, either directly or indirectly, a salary, fee, commission or other compensation for investigating, negotiating, adjusting or providing advice to an insured policy holder in relation to first party claims arising under insurance contracts that insure real or personal property of an insured for the purpose of effecting the settlement of a claim on behalf of the insured.

Think of an adjuster as your advocate/campaigner/spokesman going to bat for you.

When you experience a catastrophic loss or destruction, the insurance company assigns their own insurance adjuster to reach a settlement with you. As a representative of the insurance company, their main objective is to pay as little as possible on your claim. It’s their job.

As expert claims adjusters, we’re on your side and help you reach a settlement and leave behind the complexities quickly.
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What Is A Public Insurance Adjusters Job Description?

The public adjuster’s duties and responsibilities are to:

• Examine your current insurance policy and make an assessment of what coverage is fitting and
  appropriate to your claim.
• Conduct extensive research, document, verify and authenticate ANY damage to
  property/buildings, its contents and any other additional expenses that support the claim on behalf of the insured.
• Determine the cost of business interruption losses.
• Calculate and prepare estimates for settling covered damages
• Negotiate a settlement with the insurance company on your behalf
• Re-open a claim and negotiate for more money should a discrepancy be discovered EVEN AFTER the claim has been settled.

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Are Public Adjusters lawyers?

No, Public Adjusters are not lawyers and do not practice law
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Who licenses Public Adjusters?

Your state Department of Insurance (DOI) licenses public adjusters to represent YOU the insured in a property damage claim. The same Department of Insurance licenses and or monitors insurance companies, insurance agents, insurance brokers, etc. anyone or anything to do with insurance in your state.
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If I work directly with the insurance company’s adjuster, won’t I get the same results?

Our experience tells us this is unlikely. Insurance Company adjusters work for, report to, and are paid by, the insurance company. Insurance companies are businesses and, like all businesses, they look after their bottom line. We find that often times they opt to repair items, when replacement is needed. The average policyholder working alone with an insurance adjuster is like an average person trying a court case without a lawyer who knows every law. Policyholders need equal representation.

Insurance companies hire and train their adjusters to MINIMIZE your loss. How likely is it that a person will get the maximum settlement to which he is entitled by using the insurance companies’ own adjusters? Do not be misled.

The insurance company will try to minimize your loss utilizing several misleading tactics. They can try to convince you to repair the damage rather than  replace  it. They can “overlook” some damage knowing that the burden  of  proof  is on the insured, not themselves. They can estimate the repair cost at a much lower rate than it will actually cost. It is simply too easy to underestimate the true cost of the repair by yourself. They can agree to replace only the damaged portion although it won’t quite match the rest of the house. You are entitled to repair or replace the damage to a pre-damaged condition – you don’t pay those premiums for a patch up job. They can deny coverage because of an inadvertent slip of the tongue. Most people won’t argue with their insurance company. Most people don’t even know that they are being misled. That is why you need a public adjuster.
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Can I prepare my own claim?

Yes, you can prepare your own claim but we don’t advise it. Here are some things to consider.

Filing a claim requires a written, itemized statement of your losses. You may not realize what the extent of your damage is, and the insurance company is not obligated to tell you. The burden of proof is on YOUR shoulders.

Filing a claim is a tedious, time-consuming and aggravating process. During this emotionally charged time, you just don’t have the presence of mind to spend hours and hours over inventory itemization and arguing with your insurance company whether something should “just be repaired” rather than replaced.

You are at the mercy of the insurance company. Keep in mind, as someone untrained in handling insurance claims, you will be dealing with insurance “professionals” who will not hesitate to use any slip of the tongue against you. They may low-ball you and you won’t even know it – until it’s too late.

Think about it, in a court case, would you allow the opposing side to hire THEIR attorney to represent YOU? I don’t think so. Then why would you allow the insurance company to hire THEIR adjuster to represent YOU?

One final thought is this. You can also prepare your own tax returns but most people utilize a certified public accountant, or tax preparer. You can buy real estate without help but most people use a real estate agent. You can defend yourself in a court of law without a lawyer but most people get an attorney.  Why take that chance with your claim when a small investment in hiring a professional in that industry will most likely result in a better outcome.

It stands to reason that the accredited public insurance adjuster who has years of experience and training can prepare a claim with more competence than the policyholder.

More specifically, a public insurance adjuster will assist you in the preparation of inventories, estimates and other factual proofs of loss. He or she will handle all the necessary details for compiling and filing claims, as required by the terms of your insurance policies. Your public insurance adjuster will also confer, on your behalf, with insurance company representatives and handle all matters essential to a proper and satisfactory adjustment.

The expert Public Adjuster knows exactly what it costs to repair the damage. He will find damage that the untrained eye will otherwise not see. He takes the entire picture into account and fights for you – down to the last penny. He is well versed with what the insurance company wants to hear and what they don’t want to hear and he knows how to present your claim for maximum success.

We can take this burden off your shoulders and free you to get your business or home affairs back on track.
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I still don’t see why I need a Public Adjuster – I already have an Independent Adjuster working on my claim. He’s not employed by my insurance company.

Many consumers get these two types of adjusters confused. The word “independent” means that an adjuster is licensed to represent more than one insurance company. But he does represent only insurance companies and not the policyholder: his income/commissions are paid by the companies he represents, and that is where his loyalty must lie. On the other hand, a Public Adjuster, like Property Claim Adjusters, is licensed to represent an individual like you who has purchased a policy from an insurance company. You as the consumer are part of the Public, and the only adjuster who can actually represent the Public is the one with the word public in his title: PUBLIC ADJUSTER.
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Won’t my insurance agent help me through the claim process?

The agent can give you some insights as to your insurance coverage since the insurance agent writes your policy. Their job is to make sure you have all the proper coverages in place at the time of a loss from a house fire or other disaster. Once the insurance agent reports your loss to the insurance company, they are out of the picture.  The insurance company assigns an adjuster, to work on your claim.

The insurance agent can NOT legally prepare, present, and negotiate your property claim with your insurer. Only a Public Adjuster or Lawyer can solely represent you.
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Can my Lawyer represent me in my claim?

Yes, a lawyer can represent you in a property claim. Are they truly a good fit for a property claim would be the real question. While their legal expertise may be of value, in most cases they are not familiar with the insurance claim process, and they lack the required experience to process a claim. To present the claim in its best light, the lawyer would have to have outside help on the preparation of estimates, valuations, professional recommendations on repairs, etc.   Public Adjusters do the legwork of estimates, valuations, professional recommendations on repairs, Even when they are insurance claims experts, they typically work on a contingency basis – which is 2-3 times higher than the rate a public adjuster would charge for the same service.
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Why should I engage a public insurance adjuster to obtain what is rightfully due to me?

Insurance companies offer to pay what is due to you as they see it. Public insurance adjusters are your exclusive representatives. With their experience and knowledge they are better able to obtain a more favorable adjustment for you, the insured.
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I don’t understand what a Public Adjuster can do for me that I can’t do myself.

Your insurance policy is a contract. It imposes very specific obligations on you as the policyholder and also on your insurance company as the insurer. The most important of these is the fact that, in order to get your insurance company to pay you a single dime, you have to prove your claim to them.

Not many people take the time to read their entire insurance policy, and once they do, realize there is a significant learning curve. Then there are an infinite number of details to be attended to (building estimates, content spreadsheets, loss-of-use receipts, business interruption calculations) that can make it difficult to focus on rebuilding your home or getting your business back up and running. While all of this is happening, your insurance company is making monetary decisions on your behalf.

If you try to do this yourself, you may as well face it: you are going to have to change professions and become a professional claims adjuster. You’ll have to become an expert in pricing everything from roofing nails to original artwork, and you will have to develop organizational and negotiating skills miles beyond any you have ever had to use in the past.

We take care of all of these issues and details so you can concentrate on rebuilding your home or continuing business operations. So, the answer is yes, you can deal with the claim on your own. But considering that, in many cases, this will become your full-time job for months to come, sometimes even years – it’s well worth it to have a Public Adjuster representing your interests in the claim. Having us on your side helps level the playing field and keeps you from having to play David to your insurance company’s Goliath.
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The insurance company’s adjuster seems very knowledgeable about the claims process. Why should I be concerned about him misleading me?

It’s usually not so much a question of a company adjuster deliberately trying to mislead you, as it is a matter of him expecting you to already know how to do everything required to convince him (and his employer – your insurance company) that they ought to pay you for what you say you have lost. You always need to bear in mind that insurance companies are profit-making businesses, and to keep their bottom line as healthy as possible, they usually try not to pay out any more than the bare minimum on as many claims as possible.

That is why you need to talk to one of us at Property Claim Adjusters: we are Public Adjusters, which means we are licensed to represent and assist you, as a member of the public, in the intricacies of documenting, presenting, and negotiating with the company’s representatives, to make sure you achieve not only what you deserve but also what you have faithfully been paying your premiums for: the maximum amount your coverage entitles you to.
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Will a public insurance adjuster help me receive a more prompt and satisfactory settlement?

Yes. They lose no time in complying with the policy requirements to obtain and evaluate the facts and prepare the claim. The alert, knowledgeable and prompt service they render often preserves evidence that may otherwise be overlooked or destroyed. The more thoroughly and completely your claim is compiled and prepared, the faster your public insurance adjuster can accomplish an equitable and proper settlement in you best interest

Once a policyholder has witnessed the skill and knowledge of the accredited public insurance adjuster, he or she rarely will attempt to settle a claim without the benefit of their specialized assistance. The public insurance adjuster’s most frequent sources of new clients are the recommendations of those they have previously served.
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How are a Public Adjusters compensated?

You pay absolutely nothing out of pocket! Our compensation is a small percentage of the total claim once it’s settled. However, it is important to note that we generally are able to help you take full advantage of your policy’s benefits in such a way as to more than make up for our fee, which is generally more than covered by the larger settlement we obtain for you. Remember, if there is no settlement, there is no fee to you at all!
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How much do they charge for their service?

Your public insurance adjuster’s charge is a small percentage of the insurance company’s settlement with you, which is payable only when you receive your reimbursement. By seeking to maximize your settlement, your public insurance adjuster’s services can save you the cost of their fees, at the very best.
In the final analysis you will find our service has been financially beneficial to you.
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How do Public Adjusters get paid?

You pay us when you get paid. This practice ensures that we are working exclusively for you (the insured), for the best possible outcome of your loss claim settlement. Claim Ally retains a fixed percentage (determined on case to case basis) of the total settlement amount.

Normally,our standard fee is 10% of the total settlement we are able to recover for you when you call us immediately after you experience a loss. Our fee can be as low as 5% or as high as 50%, depending upon your unique claim situation. This will be thoroughly addressed in our FREE initial consultation and will be stated clearly in the final contract.
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If I hire a Public Adjuster and I have to pay a percentage of my recovery, I will then be short money, right?

This is the biggest misconception. Since our recovery is usually 200%-300% more than what you can get on your own, it basically makes our service free. We handle the claim and get you more money, which more than absorbs our fee.
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Why Hire Claim Ally?

We DO NOT work for ANY insurance company. We are not public employees, and do not work on behalf of the State. We are hired to work for YOU – the public.
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What sets Claim Ally apart from other public adjusting firms?

Claim Ally has built a reputation on personalized attention to our clients’ claims and specific circumstances, thus giving their insurance claim the attention it deserves. Supported by licensed and accredited services ranging from construction estimators, environmental technicians, forensic accountants, structural and geotechnical engineers and, as well as fungus and mold specialists, we are fully entrenched with experts to support our clients claim(s). Unlike other firms and insurance adjusters, Claim Ally will represent you until completion of your claim and you are back living in your home or working in your business.
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How long will it take to settle my claim?

Our  first goal is to get your claim  settled right so as to put you back to the way things were prior to your loss.  Our Second goal is to get you back into your property after satisfiying the first goal ASAP!  At Claim Ally we are trained, experienced professionals who know how to put your claim together far more quickly than someone who has never suffered a catastrophic loss before. If there is any delay in settling your claim, more often than not, it has to do with the insurance company’s lack of urgency regarding claims payments, and we are well-versed in dealing with such delay tactics.
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At what point in the claims process should I hire Property Claim Adjusters?

IMMEDIATELY. The sooner you retain us, the sooner we can fight for you. Get the jump on your insurance claim now.  We strongly recommend that you call before you call your claim into your insurance company or agent. Doing so ensures that you’ll get the professional help you need immediately.

We have found that very frequently, insured parties do nothing and wait to see what the insurance company offers them. Only after considerable frustration does the insured turn to the public adjuster to remedy what has become a logistical nightmare of paperwork and substandard offers. It would be the same as hiring a Certified Public Accountant after the IRS decides to audit your return. In both instances, a professional can help, but cannot be as effective had he or she been retained prior to any problems developing.

But don’t fear, we can always help, Basically, it’s never too late.
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I have already received a payment for my claim from the insurance company. Is it too late to reopen my file?

No. A Public Adjuster can re-open your file and start renegotiating with your insurance company toward a higher settlement. However, once you have been paid it does become a bit more difficult. This is why it is wise to hire a public adjuster from the very beginning of the claim.
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My claim was denied, am I entitled to a second opinion?

Yes! We have many clients who were told their claim was denied. We simply re-open the loss, negotiate with your insurance company, and insist they pay you (if you have a valid claim).
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Do Public Adjusters have to be licensed or certified?

Each state has a Department of Insurance which requires Public Adjusters to be licensed check your state’s department of insurance for licensed public adjusters.
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What steps do I need to take to hire your firm?

You can contact our firm via telephone at (844) 252-4625 / info@claim-ally.com  or via our contact page and request a free review of your loss.

You will need a copy of your insurance policy on hand. If you do not have it available, you can usually obtain a copy from your insurance agent with a simple phone call. We examine your damage and we analyze your policy. We will then advise you whether or not it is in your best interest to hire a public adjuster or indeed to even file the claim. This is a free service. If we ascertain that we can help you significantly maximize your settlement, then you retain our services by signing a document allowing us to represent you and we take care of the rest!
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Other than fire damage, what other types of losses do you handle?

Property Claim Adjusters handles any first-party property insurance claim. Water damage, smoke damage, theft, vandalism and windstorm are just a few examples of the types of claims we handle.  If you were denied or underpaid on your claim, give us a call. We may be able to get you more money on your claim.
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Why should a condominium community hire a public adjuster?

A condominium owner loss is a very different situation from an individual homeowner or business owner loss, and can be particularly confusing and complicated. There are many parties involved, and it is necessary to keep the management company, unit owners and tenants informed throughout the process. We are very experienced in dealing with condominium HOA and unit owner policies and can explain how the different insurance policies and condominium documents interact with one another, and the responsibilities of each party.

We will prepare the claim for the association and determine which portion of the damage (if any) falls within the association’s master policy, or if the damage is to be claimed under the unit owners’ insurance policy. We will take the time to thoroughly investigate and gather complete information regarding the loss to the property, whereas the insurance company adjuster will not. They will only be concerned about the aspect of the claim that pertains to their company. We coordinate the coverage of all policies and communicate with all parties involved, so everyone stays in the loop throughout the claim handling process.

In short, condominium claims require a strong leader who can prepare the claim, supply a breakdown for damages for each involved owner and common area; understand the insurance policy and condominium documents, take the time to communicate and deliver accurate information so that everyone understands the process and ultimate goal.
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Will I be denied or Canceled if I hire a Public Adjuster?

No. A Public Adjuster is a licensed and bonded professional. You have the right to hire a Public Adjuster to help you settle your claim with your Insurance company. Go to your state Department of Insurance and review their insurance code. Most, if not all, will state that it would be a violation of your rights if any insurance company denies or cancels your policy based on hiring a state licensed Public Adjuster.

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We have a lot of building contractors and cleaning/restoration companies knocking on our door, wanting to do our work and help us file our insurance claim. Why should I hire a Public Adjuster to do this for us, instead?

Many policyholders have developed confusion from this fairly recent development. Salesman and building contractors have begun presenting themselves as being qualified to help you with the intricacies of your insurance policy, as well as claiming to have expertise in helping you to get the insurance company to pay for your repairs and cleanup. In reality, in most cases, these people are not licensed to act as claim adjusters, nor do they possess the necessary training. Often they are breaking the law in Arizona by trying to represent themselves as Public Adjusters when they are not. Contacting Property Claim Adjusters ensures that you have a licensed and trained representative documenting and settling your claim.
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Isn’t it a good idea to go ahead and get everything cleaned now by a professional restoration service instead of waiting until I have settled my claim?

Absolutely not! As a policyholder this is probably the single biggest mistake you can make. The reason for this is once the process had begun, the cleaning bill reduces the amount of coverage you have left to replace what has been destroyed or damaged in your loss. Although it’s a well-intentioned mistake, it clearly illustrates why policyholders like yourself are in need of a Public Adjuster on their side. To avoid costly mistakes like this, call us and speak to one of our certified adjusters.
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Who decides if an item needs to be repaired or replaced? My insurance company and I are disagreeing on just about everything?

The policy, which is a contract between you and the insurance company has terms that require you to prove your loss. As your representative, Property Claim Adjusters will work to justify your claim by documenting, and negotiating with the insurance company’s representative on your behalf in order to get them to agree with our decisions on these issues. If no agreement can be agreed upon by you and the insurance company, the Appraisal Clause of your policy may be on option that is considered.
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Do you take both Commercial & Residential claims?

Yes, Claim Ally handles both residential and commercial claims.
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What is an Appraisal?

Appraisals and Disputes

If you are unable to resolve a monetary dispute with your insurance carrier you can go through the appraisal process. Please see the sample appraisal clause below. If you are interested in learning more about the appraisal process, please contact Seth Knudsen. As expert insurance adjusters, we can act as your appraiser.
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What does an Appraisal clause state in a policy?

Here is a Sample Appraisal Clause:

“If we and you disagree on the value of the property or the amount of loss, either may make written demand for an appraisal of the loss. In this event, each party will select a competent and impartial appraiser. The two appraisers will select an umpire. If they cannot agree, either may request that selection may be made by a judge of a court having jurisdiction. The appraisers will state separately the value of the property and amount of loss. If they fail to agree, they will submit their differences to the umpire. A decision agreed to by any two will be binding. Each party will:
a. Pay its chosen appraiser; and
b. Bear the other expenses of the appraisal and umpire equally.
If there is an appraisal, we will still retain our right to deny the claim.”
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In the event of a fire or similar destruction of property does my insurance pay the entire loss?

This depends upon the type and amount of insurance you carry. It also depends on your expertise or the expertise of your representative, not that of the insurance company’s adjuster. Many insurance policies may pay more than the amount shown on the declaration page. A qualified expert working for you can determine everything to which you are entitled.
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What is the extent of  a public adjusters responsibility?

Your public insurance adjuster assists with every phase of preparing and presenting your claim, as well as accomplishing an adjustment for you which is equitable and includes everything to which you are entitled under your insurance policy.
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How do Public Adjusters determine the actual loss?

They take a physical inventory, obtain all pertinent appraisals and make sure all provisions in your policy are properly fulfilled. This often involves numerous steps of which you may know little or nothing, but can make a significant difference in the amount of the final adjustment.