How To Negotiate The Ultimate Settlement
If you’re a homeowner, the chances of you being an insurance guru are low. Initiating a claim or negotiating insurance claims are a tedious business which is why we’ve compiled some tips, tricks, and strategies that will help you win the settlement you deserve. Even if this is your first rodeo, you can find yourself acquiring whopping and unexpected settlement cash. But it’s important to note that no matter how many tricks of the trade you pull, you can’t do it without a public adjuster.
The fine print of your insurance contract is vast and can result in a migraine, but it’s crucial that you are well prepped for negotiations with the insurance company. This is much needed homework. If you have flood damage, hone in on the section of the contract that covers that specific damage. If you’re still confused by the language, run it by your Public Adjuster and let them decipher it for you.
Once the claim is filed, the insurance company will deploy their own adjuster to the property for their own assessment of the damage. Make sure you are there when this happens so you could walk the adjuster through the damage. But try to limit what you tell them, because the insurance company’s adjuster will try to get the lowest number to work with. In many cases the insurance company will try to low ball you, saying the cost of damage is $5,000 when it’s actually double that. You can catch them in the act if you’ve done your homework and talked to a local contractor to find out how much the damage really is. For this reason, try to limit the adjuster’s questions with a simple yes and no answer. While you are contractually obligated to provide information, you are not required to offer extra information that isn’t asked of you.
A major tip to focus on is that of documentation. Whether it be photos or videos, the more evidence, the better chances you have at maximizing your claim. Sometimes, it all boils down to one photo. That one photo could determine the fate of your claim.
Finally, hiring your own public adjuster on your side will allow you to fight back. This adjuster will negotiate with the insurance company on your team and stop at nothing to increase the value of your settlement. They will also help manage the situation from start to finish, which will give you the peace of mind to focus on the damage aftermath.
If you experience damage in your home and find yourself amid these insurance complications, hire a licensed public adjuster ASAP and try to get what you deserve.