Do You Have to Accept Your Insurance Adjuster’s First Offer?

Many homeowners feel intimidated when dealing with a home insurance adjuster, which shouldn’t be the case. This is a normal part of the insurance claim process following a loss. However, sometimes, the initial offer of your adjuster barely covers your restoration costs.

A home remodeling contractor shares tips for handling this kind of situation.

What Is an Insurance Adjuster?

Your insurance provider hires adjusters who assess your claim and decide how much your insurer will cover for your repair or replacement cost. A contractor can be a paid employee or an independent contractor of your insurance company.

From a financial point-of-view, insurance companies want to pay the least amount they’re legally obliged to pay. Your insurer may call their adjuster an analyst or representative. An adjuster’s main goal is to examine your claim and close it as fast as possible, for the smallest amount as possible. Often, this results in homeowners disagreeing with the adjuster and believing that the estimate is too low.

Negotiating With Your Insurance Adjuster

Hiring a general construction contractor with experience in insurance claims can help with your claim. At Timberland Exteriors, we are a preferred contractor for many insurance companies. We are trusted to properly assess your home and make sure that nothing is missed.

You should never feel intimidated when negotiation with your adjuster. Many insurance companies expect the policyholder to negotiate or hire a public adjuster that’s why they make a low initial offer. This is a win-win situation for an insurance company. They usually have a more reasonable offer once you reject the first one. If you accept it, your insurer avoids a drawn-out claim, while saving money.

Keep in mind that a home insurance company is a mutual contract. Your contract states that your insurance provider must cover certain kinds of damages. In refusing to do so, the company may be acting in bad faith, making them liable for lawsuits.

Timberland Exteriors is the area’s leading provider of exterior home remodeling services. Call us at 651-439-1760 or (218) 849-6675. You may also fill out our contact form to get a free estimate. We work with clients in Minneapolis, MN.