A supplement is an additional request submitted to your insurance company to cover repair costs that were not included in the original settlement. It is completely normal and happens on almost all major claims when hidden damage is uncovered during the actual repair process. Your contractor should be the one to document, draft, and submit … Read more
Xactimate is the industry standard software used by insurance adjusters to calculate property damage repair costs. The software relies on a regional database of historical average prices, which often lags behind current, real world contractor rates. A difference between your insurance offer and your contractor’s quote is usually caused by a “scope gap” (missing repair … Read more
Seeing a public adjuster’s name on your insurance check is standard industry practice if you hired one, ensuring their contingency fee is protected. Both you and the public adjuster must endorse (sign) the check before it can be deposited or cashed. If you have a mortgage, your lender will likely also be on the check, … Read more
Most standard replacement cost policies use a “two-check system” to pay out claims. The first check you receive is almost never the final settlement amount. The first check represents Actual Cash Value (ACV), which is the cost to repair the damage minus depreciation for age and wear. To get the withheld money (Recoverable Depreciation), you … Read more
Never sign a public adjuster contract on the spot immediately following a major storm or disaster. Take time to read the specific terms. Ensure the contract explicitly states whether the fee percentage applies to the entire claim settlement or only to the new money the adjuster recovers above your prior offer. Most regulated states require … Read more
Public adjusters work on a contingency fee model, meaning they take a percentage of your final settlement and require zero upfront payment to start working on your claim. The most critical financial detail in any agreement is whether the fee percentage is applied to your entire total settlement or only to the new money the … Read more
The appraisal clause is a binding dispute resolution mechanism built into most standard home insurance policies to settle disagreements over the dollar value of a claim. It can only be used for valuation and scope disputes (disagreements over “how much” a repair costs), not for coverage disputes (disagreements over “whether” the policy covers the damage … Read more
Insurance adjusters are trained professionals representing the financial interests of the insurance company, not your personal financial interests. Common claim tactics include offering extremely fast (but low) settlements, strategically delaying communication to wear you down, and using recorded statements to frame facts favorably for the insurer. Adjusters often minimize scope by only documenting surface-level, visible … Read more
Most standard home insurance claims take between a few weeks to a few months to fully resolve. A realistic timeline depends heavily on the severity of the damage, the responsiveness of your adjuster, and whether a catastrophe event has caused a local backlog. There is a distinct difference between a legitimate delay caused by complex … Read more