Would you let your accountant cut your hair?
Over the past few years we at Property Adjustment Corporation have noticed a trend in how contractors are marketing their services. They include “help with your insurance claim” among their list of services offered. It seems like a good idea to the homeowner to have one point of contact for both the claim and the reconstruction process after major sudden and accidental damage to their home, but it will not always get the best outcome.
It is not only fraudulent to practice as an unlicensed public adjuster in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, but the contractor cannot get the comprehensive entitlement like a seasoned public adjuster… what the contractor will get is their own bill paid.
We recently helped a Lansdale, PA homeowner after his roofer had an unsuccessful effort in getting a new $5,000 roof after he experienced damage from a windstorm last winter. The roofer was frustrated after only being able to get $1,000 to replace 20 shingles on one side of the roof.
There was much more than 20 shingles worth of damage not to mention with only a patch work fix the homeowner would be experiencing more roof problems down the road. When our PAC adjuster came to the home and examined the damage and the homeowner’s policy- he found entitlement to $8,300 for interior damages the roofer was never interested in getting for the homeowner.
As for the roof, we tried many common sense arguments for the new roof that were denied 4 times by the insurance company. Finally, we had to use case law proving diminutive value, that the insurance company’s decision not to provide the homeowner with a new roof would substantially lower the value of the insureds home. It was then they agreed to pay in full for the new roof. After using the services of a public adjuster the homeowner got much more than he ever set out for because he had the aid of someone who knew EVERYTHING he was entitled!
As a licensed public adjuster you must pass a state licensing exam and you have to take credited courses each year to remain licensed. This continuing education keeps you abreast of all case laws that help the consumer. Will someone who is practicing as an unlicensed public adjuster take any extra steps to stay abreast to changing laws? Property Adjustment Corporation is also an active member in national and local organizations such as NAPIA and MAPIA that fight to keep insurance policy products less ambiguous and fair to the policy holder. All PAC adjusters come to the table with over 20-years of experience adjusting claims either for the policy holder or on the “other side” for the insurance companies.
If you think you a killing two birds with one stone by letting your contractor handle your insurance claim you may just be killing your potential for a higher settlement!
