Category: claim settlement

The Value of Hiring a Public Adjuster for Insurance Settlement Optimization

There may be some confusion about how a licensed Public Adjuster is compensated and what to expect.

Throughout the process, your public adjuster should maintain a high level of communication. They should provide you with regular updates on the progress of your claim, including details of any communications with the insurance company, the status of negotiations, and any developments that may impact your claim. These actions ensure you are always informed and involved in the process.

Public adjusters are compensated through a commission fee, on average 10% (Though it could be higher or lower depending on the overall size of the claim. For more significant claims for over a million dollars, the public adjusters will take a slightly smaller %; more minor claims, if taken, might warrant a higher %); this fee is only paid after your insurance company issues checks. This fee structure ensures public adjusters are motivated to work diligently on your behalf to maximize your settlement within the bounds of your insurance coverage. Payment is contingent upon successful negotiation and advocacy for you, the policyholder, ensuring you receive the best possible outcome from your insurance claim.

By enlisting the services of a public adjuster, you’re making a strategic investment in expertise. Their thorough work not only ensures no coverage is overlooked but also plays a crucial role in maximizing your recovery. Public adjusters are dedicated to optimizing the compensation you receive, safeguarding against missed opportunities for coverage.

Choosing AJR Public Adjusters for your next claim means placing your trust in over 35 years of expertise and a commitment to excellence. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, our track record speaks for itself. We’re committed to advocating for you every step of the way, ensuring you receive the maximum settlement you deserve. Trust AJR Public Adjusters to protect your interests and navigate your insurance claim with integrity and excellence.

Maximizing Insurance Claim Readiness: Expert Strategies and Advice

We can never be fully prepared for an insurance claim, but here are a few steps you can take to help in advance before a claim occurs and you need to call AJR Public Adjusters for assistance.

Here are some steps you can take:

  1. Review Your Policy: Understand what your insurance policy covers and any exclusions or limitations it may have. This knowledge will help you make informed decisions.   If you have questions and still don’t understand, we can help you understand coverages as we begin to file the claim on your behalf.
  2. Maintain Detailed Records: Keep records of your possessions, including receipts, photographs, and appraisals. Documenting your belongings will make it easier to prove ownership and value in the event of a claim.  AJR Public Adjusters will take inventory of your items, help document them, and then price them for reimbursement.
  3. Regularly Update Your Policy: Review your insurance policy annually and update it as needed to reflect any changes in your circumstances or assets. This ensures that you have adequate coverage and reduces the risk of being underinsured.
  4. Consider Additional Coverage: Evaluate whether you need additional coverage beyond your basic policy. Depending on your location and individual needs, this could include options such as flood insurance, earthquake insurance, or umbrella liability coverage.
  5. Create a Home Inventory: Compile a detailed inventory of your home’s contents, including descriptions, serial numbers, and purchase dates. Store this inventory in a safe place, such as a cloud-based storage system, so you can access it easily in case of a claim and share with AJR Public Adjusters to assist us in properly documenting your items for reimbursement.
  6. Document Your Property: Take photographs or videos of your property, both inside and out. Focus on high-value items, structural features, and any recent upgrades or renovations. Update these records periodically to reflect changes to your property.  These photographs will assist AJR Public Adjusters when filing/proving to the insurance company items you had on your property.
  7. Maintain Maintenance Records: Keep records of any maintenance or repairs performed on your property. This includes routine maintenance such as HVAC servicing, plumbing inspections, and roof repairs. Good maintenance can help prevent damage and strengthen your claim if damage does occur.
  8. Know Your Deductible: Understand your insurance policy’s deductible and ensure you have funds set aside to cover it in case of a claim. Consider whether you can afford to increase your deductible to lower your premium costs.  
  9. Have Emergency Contacts Handy: Keep a list of important contacts, including your insurance agent or company and your local Public Adjuster, AJR Public Adjusters (602-795-5227). AJR should be your first call, and we can help you report the claim to your agent or company, expedite the claims process, and get assistance quickly in an emergency.
  10. Review Your Coverage Limits: Periodically review your policy’s coverage limits to ensure they are sufficient to protect your assets. Consider whether any major purchases or lifestyle changes warrant adjustments to your coverage limits.

Taking these proactive steps can help you be better prepared for an insurance claim and minimize stress and uncertainty if the unexpected happens.

AJR Public Adjusters — 602-795-5227

You’ve suffered a property insurance loss, do you know what your insurance policy really covers?

Homeowners purchase home insurance to protect their homes and personal property.  

After an insurance loss is not the time, you want to learn that it will not cover everything you have lost in your claim.

The article attached here explains a little further and discusses some common misunderstandings regarding insurance

https://www.nuco.com/fcs/2021/09/13/understanding-insurance-and-why-it-doesnt-cover-everything/?cmp_share

TakeAways

  1. Insurance is a for-profit industry providing services to those who buy a policy.
  2. Insurance does not pay for maintenance issues.
  3. Insureds sometimes look at cost and don’t look at coverage.
  4. Some agents take the easy way out and tell insureds they are covered for most catastrophic losses without providing details.
  5. Insureds may not understand that their policy is not a replacement cost policy and only covers actual cash value. — this comes into play when settlement is determined.  

This confusion reiterates the need for a licensed Public Adjuster to represent your interests from start to finish with your claim.

We are your A+ rated Better Business Bureau Public Insurance Adjuster here in Phoenix, Arizona, representing clients all over State 48.

AJR Public Adjusters — 602-795-5227 — info@ajrpa.com

Coronavirus Availability

Our lives have and are changing due to Coronavirus. AJR wants to let you know our availability to handle your insurance claims has not changed. 

We have added video teleconferencing to speak with you about current claims and emergencies that may arise for consultation and assistance with property losses. As always, you can call, text, or email us. 

We are constantly researching and staying on top of current information related to the potential for virus-associated claims. 

Stay safe, follow state directions, and stay well.

AJR is available at 602-795-5227 or claims@betterclaimresults.com.

Bruce Horowitz 480-519-9099                   Stacy Horowitz 480-519-9199

Lower percentage is not always better

Many times prospective clients question our commission charge.

Insureds wonder if they can lower the percentage will they make out better.  We wanted to demonstrate that this may not always be the case.

As they say, you get what you pay for.

See example of a typical claim below and notice the difference to the policyholder when paying a higher percentage fee:

 

Company A                     

Initial Claim Offering                     $50,000

Final Claim Result.                          $60,000

8% fee to Public Adjuster:             $  4,800

Claim Settlement to Insured:    $55,200

 

AJR PUBLIC ADJUSTERS

Initial Claim Offering:                    $50,000

Final Claim:                                      $75,000

15% Fee:                                            $11,250

Claim Settlement to Insured:    $63,750

 

Clearly you can see how AJR Public Adjusters assistance, perhaps at a higher fee still nets the insured a better settlement.  This policyholder increased their settlement by $8,550 even when paying a higher percentage for our services.

By giving AJR the opportunity to utilize our 30+ years experience to manage and negotiate your claim, you can rest assured you will do better in the settlement process of your claim.

Please view our Better Business Bureau A+ rating here.  This may provide helpful information for you to see how AJR should be your first call with your next property insurance claim.

Call AJR first, we even help report the claim and can take over the stress of managing your claim from there.  We can be reached at 602-795-5227, email here.