Glossary
Adjuster, defined
The person who investigates a claim, determines what the policy covers, values the loss and negotiates the settlement. Some are employees of the carrier, some are independents hired by the carrier for a region or a catastrophe, and public ones work for the policyholder for a share of the payout.
In practice
Which kind is on the file changes the conversation. A staff or independent one represents the insurer; polite, usually competent, but the job is to pay what is owed under the policy and no more. Their estimate is a starting point, not a verdict: a policyholder can submit a contractor's bid and ask for a supplement when hidden damage appears. Public ones charge a share of the recovery, which makes sense on a large, disputed structure loss and rarely on a small one. In auto claims much of the work is now done from photos; in property claims a site visit is normal. Keeping receipts, photos and a written log of every call shortens the process more than anything else.
A worked example
Suppose a hailstorm damages a roof and the carrier's field representative writes an estimate for $9,000. The homeowner's roofer finds decking damage the first inspection missed and submits a bid for $14,000. The representative reinspects, agrees to $12,500, and the claim closes at that figure less the deductible. Hypothetical figures.
Applies to: Home Insurance