Understanding Reviews: Tips for Picking a Public Adjuster

What to do first

If your home or business has damage from fire, water, monsoon storms, hail, or smoke, choosing the right public adjuster matters. A good public adjuster can help organize your claim, document damage properly, and deal directly with the insurance company. A poor choice can create delays, confusion, and frustration during an already stressful time.

One mistake people make is focusing only on whether a company has a 5-star rating.

Not all 5-star ratings are equal.

A company with 3 reviews from 3 years ago is not the same as a company with 29 reviews, including reviews posted within the last month.

When evaluating a public adjuster in Arizona, look deeper than the star rating itself.

Look at the Number of Reviews

A higher number of reviews usually gives you a more reliable picture of how a company operates over time.

Three perfect reviews may simply mean the company is newer, less active, or has not handled many claims publicly. On the other hand, dozens of reviews across several years can show consistency, experience, and ongoing client satisfaction.

Consistency matters.

Insurance claims are stressful. You want to know the company has successfully handled many situations, not just a few.

Check How Recent the Reviews Are

This is one of the most overlooked details.

Recent reviews tell you the company is still actively helping clients and maintaining service standards today, not just years ago.

If the newest review is from 2021, that should raise questions.

A company receiving steady reviews every few months often means:

They are actively working claims
Clients are motivated to leave feedback
Communication remains strong
Their reputation is current, not outdated

Look for patterns over time, not just a high score.

Read the Actual Comments

Do not just glance at the stars.

Read what people are saying.

Look for comments about:

Communication
Return phone calls
Claim knowledge
Transparency
Organization
Whether the client felt informed during the process
Whether the adjuster personally stayed involved

Many people hire a company because of a strong sales pitch, only to find out later they rarely speak to the actual adjuster handling the file.

Reviews often reveal this quickly.

Watch for Red Flags

Be cautious if:

Reviews sound overly generic
Multiple reviews were all posted on the same day
There are very few reviews for a company claiming decades of experience
The company has no recent activity
The adjuster pressures you to sign immediately
They promise unrealistic settlements before reviewing your policy and damages

A professional public adjuster should explain the process clearly, not pressure you.

Verify Licensing and Professional Presence

In Arizona, public adjusters must be licensed.

You should also look for:

BBB accreditation
Memberships in professional organizations
A real local presence
Clear contact information

Established firms often have a long track record that is easy to verify online.

Bigger Is Not Always Better

Some large national companies handle huge volumes of claims. That does not always mean better service.

Many homeowners prefer working with a smaller local Arizona firm where they can directly reach the owners.

The key is responsiveness, experience, and trust.

Final Thoughts

A public adjuster works for you, not the insurance company. Take your time before hiring one.

Do not stop at the star rating.

Look at:

How many reviews the company has
How recent those reviews are
What clients actually say
Whether the company has a real history in Arizona

A 5-star rating with 29 recent reviews tells a very different story from a 5-star rating with only 3 older reviews.

When property damage happens, experience and consistency matter.

Online review activity and platform filtering can shift over time on sites like Yelp, so it’s better to focus on long-term consistency rather than just the current star average.

Need Help With a Property Damage Claim?

If you have questions about a fire, water, storm, hail, smoke, or other property damage claim, AJR Public Adjusters is available to help. We work exclusively for policyholders, not insurance companies, and provide a free claim evaluation.

AJR Public Adjusters, LLC
Bruce Horowitz, Licensed Public Adjuster
Stacy Horowitz, Operations Manager

Office: 602-795-5227
Bruce: 480-519-9099
Stacy: 480-519-9199

Website: www.publicadjusteraz.com

Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, and surrounding Arizona communities.

Experience matters. When it comes to your insurance claim, make sure you’re choosing a public adjuster based on more than just a star rating.

Helpful tips for staying safe during this upcoming Arizona Monsoon Season

With Monsoon Season just days away, some tips from AZ Central to stay safe during the season.

With any property damage call AJR Public Adjusters to assist with full recovery from insurance company. Our #1 goal is to maximize your settlement while reducing your stress and handling your claim in the most professional efficient way possible.

Give us a call first for your FREE consultation. We will advise the next steps to ensure your claim is handled properly. There are many mis-steps that can be taken and we will help guide you to the best resolution.

AJR is your #1 Phoenix Public Adjuster via YELP, June 2019. Look here for our A+ Better Business Bureau Ratings.

Have confidence in the company you hire to represent you with this important task, bringing your property back from damage.

We can be reached at 602-795-5337, info@betterclaimresults.com.

Another month listed as BEST Phoenix Public Adjuster on YELP

AJR takes our clients and responsibilities very seriously. We know when your property has suffered an insurance claim, you want to know that you will be made whole. (put back to how your property looked prior to the loss). Whether it be from fire, wind, hail, monsoon, AJR’s job is to handle your claim in the most professional manner while alleviating stress on your shoulders. We know you have things to take care of, let us use our 30+ years experience to settle the claim in a timely manner.

It is nice to be recognized again by YELP as the #1 Public Adjuster in Phoenix. To see more information about AJR and how our rankings are #1, look at our BBB A+ Reviews.

With your next insurance property loss give us a call FIRST. Consultation is FREE.

AJR Public Adjusters — 602-795-5227 — www.betterclaimresults.com

3rd times the Charm, another 5 STAR BBB Review

For the third time this week a 5 Star BBB review has been posted about AJR Public Adjusters.

This one is from a client we represented in December. Their email was not verified until this week.

View Devon, 12/29/16 Review HERE

It is appreciated, when previous clients choose to inform others of the outstanding service we at AJR provide.

The Policyholder is our #1 priority, and to maximize their claim and settle it fairly in their favor is our focus.

With your next insurance claim from fire, water, theft, hail, monsoon, etc. Call AJR first and let us help report your claim to ensure you are presenting your claim to the insurance company in the best manner possible for full recovery.

AJR Public Adjusters, Inc. — 602-795-5227 — Visit AJR WEBSITE HERE

AJR awarded another 5 STAR BBB review

It is rewarding when clients recognize and acknowledge what you do on a daily basis.

AJR consistently represents clients and settles claims in excess of what the insurance company would prefer to pay. AJR doesn’t state this information as a rule. Publishing numbers stating how much higher we settled claims for would be misleading and incorrect. This information at times can be unverifiable and can be grossly exaggerated with no way to confirm. It is prudent upon a potential client to verify all information provided, verbally, on a website or printed material.

This client who previously hired another Public Adjuster before engaging AJR, had some knowledge of the figures provided by that Public Adjuster to restore her property. AJR stepped in brought in our experts and settled the claim 45% higher (as stated by the client in the review). Read review below

Additional 5 Star BBB Review

After reading comments from previous clients, know that AJR has your interests as our #1 priority. Call us first when your property suffers any kind of insurance claim. Let us report your claim for you to the insurance company. This helps ensure that no statements will be made that can hurt your eventual recovery from the insurance company.

AJR PUBLIC ADJUSTERS — 602-795-5227 —–Click here to visit AJR web page

Another 5 STAR Review via YELP for AJR PUBLIC ADJUSTERS

Read what our clients are saying on YELP.

The next time you find yourself with an insurance claim, Call AJR first. We will help you report your claim. Our involvement ensures you will receive all that you are entitled to in your policy while we maximize your claim $.

Why settle for anything but THE BEST?

Call Arizona’s Best Public Insurance Adjuster with your next claim. 602-795-5227

More FAQ for hiring a Public Adjuster for your next property loss.

Your property/community/business has suffered property damage (fire, hail, wind, flood, water), NOW WHAT?

Your first inclination might be to contact your insurance carrier, but this may not be in your best interests. With all your personal and work commitments it may not be feasible for you to monitor and ensure your claim is being handled properly. Why not level the playing field with the insurance company?

WHY HIRE A PUBLIC ADJUSTER?

Your insurance company has professional adjusters to represent their interests. As a policyholder you are entitled to hire a professionally state licensed adjuster to represent your interests. The public adjuster has experience and knowledge to assist in preparing, documenting and negotiating claims. Adjusters have reviewed several policies prior to yours and know where to look in the policy to make sure your claim is filed for all the coverage’s you have paid for. Often times finding money that otherwise would have been overlooked.

The adjuster you hire should be experienced, licensed with the state and working for a reputable company who has a clean record with the insurance department. All adjusters need to be licensed and their company also needs to hold a license with the Arizona Department of Insurance.

FEE FOR PUBLIC ADJUSTER

The Public Adjuster is paid a contingency fee of the total monies received from the insurance company. The fee can range from 5% – 20% depending on the size of the claim, and is due at the time money is released from insurance company.

DUTIES OF PUBLIC ADJUSTER

To act as your representative in negotiating and dealing with the insurance company adjuster. Relieve your stress by engaging in discussions and negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf to maximize your recovery. The public adjuster brings in their experts/contractors to estimate and measure the damage independent of the insurance companies estimate. This estimate then provides the framework for the negotiating the adjuster will do with the insurance company.

SOME GOOD QUESTIONS TO ASK PRIOR TO SIGNING CONTRACT:

How many years have you been a licensed Public Insurance Adjuster?
May I have references or see testimonials from previous clients?
Will you personally handle my claim for me?
Will you keep me in the loop and inform me of all outstanding issues with my claim?

WHEN TO ENGAGE A PUBLIC ADJUSTER:

Ideally the public adjuster should be involved in the claim from the beginning including helping you report the claim. This is not to say you should feel rushed or pressured after a claim occurs to immediately hire the first person that approaches you. Investigate the company and the individual who will be acting as your representative.

SOME THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR:

In the State of Arizona contractors are not authorized to represent you in insurance claim negotiations, nor are they professionally licensed or regulated by the state insurance/department agency to do so.

Relying on your insurance company to fairly calculate the amount of damage and what you are owed might not result in a full or fair settlement. The company adjuster who is sent out is measuring the loss for the insurance company not for you. As the policyholder you are entitled to have the claim loss accurately measured and then be reimbursement for all that you have lost.

BENEFITS OF HIRING A GOOD PUBLIC ADJUSTER:

An experienced and skilled licensed professional to work on your team.
Someone who understands intricacies of policy and assists in recovering all that you are entitled to
Strong advocate on your side to help provide more input and negotiating leverage for the final insurance settlement, more than you may have had on your own.

AJR Public Adjusters.

With close to 30 years licensed experience in the Public Adjusting field handling claims of all dollar amounts for losses due to fire, flood, water, hail, dust, theft, etc.

www.betterclaimsresults.com

Another ♦♦♦♦♦ STAR review about AJR Public Adjusters

♦♦♦♦♦— So after dealing with my insurance company not honoring my policy after a flood I hired my own private public adjuster to represent me and get what was fair for my claim. I honestly can say I wish I would’ve done this from the very beginning and would’ve saved myself a lot of time and stress because the truth is my insurance company went out of their way to do as little as possible. I hired AJR Public Adjusters and Bruce and Stacy Keitz Horowitz went beyond the call of duty in representing me. They are completely knowledgeable on the laws and policies for the state and have an amazing track record. With all the storms lately many may be in need of making a claim and if it’s personal or commercial property they are your best option for getting a rightful claim settlement from the insurance company. Trust me I wish someone would have told me about them in the beginning! I just wanted to say thank you AJR Public Adjusters. —

Jenny Bagioli Joppru & Jeremy Joppru — Scottsdale, Arizona

8 quick tips: Why hire a Public Adjuster? How does it help ME?

1. Your property/community has suffered property damage (fire, hail, wind, flood, water), NOW WHAT?

2. WHY HIRE A PUBLIC ADJUSTER?

3. FEE FOR PUBLIC ADJUSTER

4. DUTIES OF PUBLIC ADJUSTER

5. SOME GOOD QUESTIONS TO ASK PRIOR TO SIGNING CONTRACT:

How many years have you been a licensed Public Insurance Adjuster?
May I have references or see testimonials from previous clients?
Will you personally handle my claim for me?
Will you keep me in the loop and inform me of all outstanding issues with my claim?

6. WHEN TO ENGAGE A PUBLIC ADJUSTER:

7. SOME THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR:

8. BENEFITS OF HIRING A GOOD PUBLIC ADJUSTER:

An experienced and skilled licensed professional to work on your team.
Someone who understands intricacies of policy and assists in recovering all that you are entitled to
Strong advocate on your side to help provide more input and negotiating leverage for the final insurance settlement, more than you may have had on your own.

LOOK ==Answer some questions for a chance to WIN.

Prior to meeting//learning about us, we are hearing many people did not know our industry existed.

We are reaching out today to see if you have had an insurance claim that was filed before you knew about Public Adjusting and AJR.

We are wondering if you had a claim if you would take a few moments to answer the questions below? We may utilize them on our blog to help spread the word even more about Public Adjusting.

If you take the time to answer we will enter your name in a drawing for an iTunes gift card. We will do the drawing on June 1^st. We will announce the winner on our Linked In, Twitter and Facebook Page and blog page. ( We will send a confirmation email to indicate you have entered drawing)

You can like and follow those here:

We appreciate any likes and follows even if you did not have a claim story to share.

Facebook ———– https://www.facebook.com/ajradjusteraz

Twitter ————- https://twitter.com/AJRPublicAdj

WordPress Blog — https://ajrpublicadj.wordpress.com

Linked In———— http://linkd.in/1BWoiiO

You can just email the responses back to info@betterclaimresults.com

Thank you in advance for your time, support and consideration.

=====================================================

Name:

What was the type of claim that occurred on your property?

What type of experience did you have with the insurance adjuster?

What/ if any problems arose with the insurance company?

What kind of time frame did it take to settle your claim?

Were you satisfied with the settlement?

Did you feel like you were on equal ground with them, as far as knowledge and coverage’s you were entitled to?

Did your claim take time away from work, personal time?

Had you known prior to your claim about a professional adjuster who works for you, do you think you would you have hired one to assist with the claim?

AJR Public Adjusters 602-795-5227 www.betterclaimresults.com