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In-House Adjusters
If an adjuster is an employee of your insurance company, we call them company or “in-house” adjusters. As always, their primary responsibility is to evaluate your claim and determine the amount your carrier should pay. However, their direct employment with your carrier brings with it some pros and cons.
On one hand, since in-house adjusters are employees of your carrier, they have more “skin in the game.” On the other hand, there may be an incentive to favor their employer’s financial interests. Ultimately, their role is to serve the insurance company. But in our experience, in-house adjusters have a great track record of writing fair claims.
Third-Party Adjusters & Inspectors
If your insurance carrier is overwhelmed with claims or if you live in a remote area, you may be paired with a third-party (or “independent”) adjuster. While third-party adjusters are not employees of the insurance company, they are hired on a case-by-case basis to handle claims for an insurance company. This unique relationship also has its pros and cons.
On one hand, third-party adjusters ensure that you can work through your claims process as quickly as possible, even when all in-house adjusters are booked. You could be paired with a licensed expert with a long career of doing great work.
But, on the other hand, you could also be paired with a less thorough and less experienced adjuster who isn’t personally invested in seeing your claim through. Or, you may be paired with a “picture taker” – they may not be licensed, but their job is to send images of the damage back to an adjuster at a desk. They’re often called “inspectors.”
Our team has met third-party inspectors who were unlicensed, hired that morning, and were scared to climb on the roof to inspect for damage. (You can read our guide to Texas’ roofing market to understand how this happens.)
Due to an inspector’s lack of experience, it can’t be guaranteed that the proper pictures are being taken. On top of that, it’s still important to remember that because they’re being paid by the insurance company, their evaluations may still be influenced by the need to protect the insurer’s bottom line and continue attaining contracts from them.
Public Adjusters
If your insurance carrier’s assessment isn’t acceptable and the claim is at a standstill, you might pull in a public adjuster. Public adjusters are licensed professionals who work solely for policyholders. It’s their job to double-check the damage and negotiate with the insurance company to ensure you receive a fair estimate. If a resolution cannot be reached, the dispute may escalate to an appraisal or even legal proceedings.
On one hand, they advocate for you, aiming to maximize your claim. Due to the nature of this work, they’re often highly knowledgeable about insurance policies with a deep understanding of the claims process. And because you have to pay for their services, they tend to be experienced in sensitive, high-value, and complex claims.
On the other hand, you’ll have to pay for their expertise, and it can extend the claims process for months. Public adjusters typically charge a fee – often a percentage of the settlement. You’ll need to weigh how necessary the public adjuster is for your case, and if the value will outweigh the cost.
We’re Here to Help
Want to learn more? You can read our comprehensive insurance guide and click through the links within to explore the full series.
DFW Roofers has served the Dallas-Fort Worth area for years. If you need a dependable partner and contractor throughout this process, our team would be happy to help. If you have any questions, contact DFW Roofers at (469) 751-4018 or schedule an appointment through our online appointment form.