Why Working with a Public Adjuster for Water Damage Provides the Best Results
Given the fact that many people in Florida live in a hurricane zone or are otherwise subjected to severe storms, water damage is a common occurrence. When your home is damaged by water or flooding, the best strategy is to work with a public adjuster.
Here are just a few reasons why hiring a public adjuster for water damage should be a no-brainer:
Public Adjusters Understand Water Damage
A public adjuster doesn’t have to be in business for very long before they basically become experts in all types of property damage. They’ll understand what severe water damage looks like and how much expected repairs or replacement will cost. This will be very beneficial when it comes to your final settlement amount and working with your insurance company.
Experience with Insurance Claims
Going through the claims process can be a very time-consuming and stressful ordeal. Public adjusters work with a variety of claims and will know how to navigate the process more easily. They’re also accustomed to working with insurance companies and can help speed up the claims process so that everything can be resolved more quickly.
They Always Work for You
One thing to remember about insurance companies is that they have a bottom line that they hope to fulfill. Although insurance agencies are generally honest, you have to realize that they’re still a business and maintaining profitability is important. A public adjuster works for you and only you, which means you’ll have someone by your side at all times.
Removes Any Emotions
When you experience severe water damage, it can be devastating. Your home is damaged and a good deal of your property may be destroyed. Emotions will be running high, which may cause you to miss certain details about the damage or accept a settlement that’s lower than it should be. A public adjuster will have empathy for your situation, but they will focus to make sure you get a fair value in the settlement.
Public Adjusters Maximize Settlements
Speaking of getting a fair value in the settlement, this is one of the biggest reasons people go through a public adjuster. Whereas an insurance company has their own best interests at heart and has a financial reason to keep the settlement low, this is just the opposite of how a public adjuster works. With an adjuster, they only get paid if you get paid, so it’s in their best interest to maximize your settlement.
What You Should Do After Experiencing Water Damage
Hiring a public adjuster for water damage is an important part of the process, but it’s not the first thing you do. Here are the steps that we’d suggest you take after experiencing damage caused by a storm, flooding, or other source:
Mitigate the Damages
The first step you should take is to mitigate any additional water damages. This is something you’ll want to do not only because you don’t want valuable items to be destroyed, but because your insurance policy states that you need to do your best to reduce further damages. Basically, this means that you should soak up as much water as you can and remove damaged items from the space.
Take Photos and Video
Even though your insurance company will send someone out to your home to take photos, it’s a good idea if you do this yourself first. Document whatever you can with both photos and videos in as much detail as possible. If there’s a source of the water damage, make sure that’s included in your documentation.
Contact an Insurance Agent
Once you’ve documented everything yourself, it’s time to file a claim with your insurance company. If you have an insurance agent that you’re familiar with, give them a call and let them know what happened. The sooner you call the agency to begin the claims process, the better off you’ll be.
Hire a Public Adjuster
You can actually contact a public adjuster before or after you’ve filed a claim with your insurance agent. As you can see from the list above, there are several reasons why you want to hire a public adjuster for water damage and not let your insurance company handle it alone. This will help the entire process go more smoothly, and with better results.
Contact Property Protectors for the Best Public Adjuster for Water Damage
Property Protectors is the most trusted public adjuster in Florida. We handle all types of damage, including damage resulting from water, fire, smoke, hail, wind, hurricanes, etc. If you’re in need of a public adjuster for water damage or any other reason, reach out to us at (800) 658-1943 today to schedule a free consultation.