Imagine this: a storm has blown through your neighborhood and caused some serious destruction to your home. You return home to see your roof is quite damaged, and you have found water has gotten into your home through the roof and caused damage to some of your belongings. In a panic, you contact your insurance company immediately, not knowing what to expect next.
Unfortunately, after Hurricane Ian, this scenario doesn't require any imagination. Many people find themselves in this exact scenario, which isn’t uncommon after a natural disaster. If you're reading this blog, you're moving in the right direction! You're more prepared than most to be dealing with your claim, and you've come to the right place.
Simply put, the less the insurance pays you out, the more money the insurance makes. That's why it's important to call a licensed public adjuster, like us here at Liberty Adjusters.
Today, we're here to tell the story of 2 homeowners that experienced the same exact damage to
their homes but had vastly different outcomes. Spoiler: One of them called Liberty Adjusters!
Claim No. 1
Our first homeowner- let's call him Steve- called his insurance company immediately when he came home to a damaged roof. He was terrified of what the damage to his home might do to his family and the cost it would take for repairs. After spending hours being passed around on the phone trying to file the claim with the insurance company, Steve was told that an inspector from the insurance company would come out to assess the damage.
Eventually, the insurance company’s adjuster arrives at Steve's home. He begins to ask a lot of questions about the history of the roof, and other questions about the home and the water damage. Steve is already stressed enough, so he tries to give all the information he can. After all, this is why we pay our insurance, right?
Well, after the insurance gets back to Steve, he finds that his claim is only valued at half of the repair cost. He was shocked and confused. Afterward, he begins looking up what he can do to get more for his claim.
Now this isn’t the end of the road for Steve, he can still call a public adjuster, like us here at Liberty Adjusters. Although we can help you resubmit your claim, you won’t get nearly as much as you would if you called us first. Not only can the extra time needed to refile cause the damage to worsen, but you may have already said the wrong things in your initial claim, permanently lowering your potential payout.
Claim No. 2
Meanwhile, our second homeowner - let's call her Betty - lives right next door and had also sustained some roof damage from the storm. However, when she called Liberty Adjusters to help file her claim, she was relieved to find that a public adjuster could help her navigate the complex and sometimes confusing process.
After talking with damage experts, she felt confident and informed on how to maximize her chances of a better settlement. She took many pictures and videos of the home and was sure to do everything she could to prevent further damage.
When the insurance's adjuster started asking questions, Betty knew how to respond without saying anything that may effect her claim. When their inspection is over and the findings are ready,, the public adjusters at Liberty Adjusters made sure to fight each finding that may not be valid. Even though the insurance is trying to discredit a lot of the claim, the homeowner's best interests were protected by the public adjuster!
When Betty received her offer, she was happy to find that she received much more than she would have expected! She was able to get everything fixed with no budget concerns!
*The story may be anecdotal, but the payout was real. The initial claim on this property damage was only $3,710.70. We increased their final settlement to $28,147!
Call Liberty Adjusters First to Maximize Your Claim
Steve eventually contacted Liberty Adjusters, after a friendly conversation with his neighbor Betty. Steve was thrilled to learn about a better option and was able to get a new offer from his insurance. Unfortunately, had he called Liberty Adjusters sooner,, his claim would be more like Betty's!
Calling a public adjuster first is the key to getting the best offer from your insurance and ensuring that your claims are filed properly. The insurance will use everything it has against you in order to pay you less for your claim. Don't wish you had help of a reputable professional, call Liberty Adjusters today or submit a claim online!