Whether it’s for the home or a business, filing a property insurance claim is stressful. While a business owner may not be dealing with the same sort of sentimental losses they’d encounter if something happened to their home, they do have concerns about how a loss will affect their company and their workforce. Business owners have busy schedules, which means they don’t have time to deal with insurers’ stall tactics. However, a public adjuster works on your behalf, correctly interpreting your policy and negotiating with your insurer to settle the claim. Here, you’ll learn a few compelling reasons to hire a public adjuster before making a claim.
Getting a Better Settlement
Though a public adjuster receives a portion of your settlement, recoveries are typically higher even after fees. As an owner, you likely don’t have time to read the fine print on your insurance policy, but that’s a public adjuster’s job. During a claim, a public adjuster will use his or her policy knowledge to ensure you get the largest possible settlement.
Digging Deeper
Policyholders often don’t realize which types of damages they can claim, and that’s just the way insurers like it. When filing a claim, public adjusters know which types of coverage to look for, and they may uncover problems not detected by the insurance adjuster.
Focusing on Your Business
With the help of a public adjuster, you can shift your focus from the claim back to your business. In most cases, work must continue, even after a significant loss. When you work with a public adjuster, you can go back to running your company without worrying about the minute details of a property damage claim.
Getting Faster Results
As a business owner, it’s your goal to sort your claim out so you can put the loss behind you and get on with things. However, insurers sometimes delay claims for unknown reasons. Public adjusters are well-versed in the claims process, and they know which documents to include during submission. A public adjuster knows about common hold-ups and how to avoid or handle them.
In Closing
Filing a property damage claim is a significant drain on your resources and time, just when the company needs your undivided attention. Today, business owners are increasingly realizing the advantages of working with public adjusters, such as reduced stress, bigger settlements, and increased claims documentation experience. It’s important to choose a public adjuster who is licensed to work in your state. While requirements vary, in every case, you should evaluate public adjusters thoroughly before making a hiring decision.
High-pressure sales tactics are a big sign to look elsewhere, as are a lack of industry and personal references. When considering hiring a public adjuster, be sure to ask for references from cases they’ve handled over the last few years and contact them if possible. It may seem tedious and time-consuming to verify multiple references, but if you have suffered a severe loss at your place of business, it’s important to have an experienced, capable adjuster in your corner.
Business Owner’s Guide to Getting the Most for Your Property Insurance Claim
Dealing with a disaster recovery for your business is no easy task. Download our Disaster Recovery tips as a resource to help you through the turmoil.