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Their reputation is current, not outdated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.

Why Choose AJR Public Adjusters: Our Commitment to Integrity

What’s New at AJR Public Adjusters: A Look Behind the Scenes

At AJR Public Adjusters, our commitment to helping homeowners and property owners recover after a loss hasn’t changed—but our impact continues to grow. With over 35 years of combined experience and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, we’ve proudly continued to serve Arizona residents with personalized, professional claims representation.

Here’s a quick look at what we’ve been up to lately:

Expanding Our Reach Through Client Education

One of our biggest focuses this year has been education. Most people don’t realize the value of hiring a public adjuster until they’re deep into the stress of handling an insurance claim. That’s why we’ve been working hard to raise awareness through our updated website, community engagement, and helpful blog posts to inform property owners before a disaster strikes.

From sharing tips on how to prepare for monsoon season, to clearing up common myths about public adjusting, we’re doing our part to empower insureds with the knowledge they need to make the right choices after a fire, water loss, or storm damage.

Real Client Wins

Every claim we handle is personal. Unlike larger firms, we don’t hand off your file to someone else. When you hire AJR, you work directly with Bruce and Stacy—from start to finish.

This hands-on approach has led to some powerful client outcomes recently:

We helped a family recover from a devastating kitchen fire that their insurance undervalued.
A homeowner experiencing extensive water damage from a hidden pipe leak received a significantly increased settlement after we stepped in.
Several clients affected by monsoon roof damage were initially denied coverage, but with our involvement, their claims were re-evaluated and paid fairly.

These are just a few examples of how our advocacy directly impacts people’s lives.

BBB Accreditation: A Continued Commitment to Integrity

Since joining the BBB over a decade ago, we’ve used their platform to build trust and transparency with new clients. This year, we were honored to be nominated again for the BBB Torch Award for Ethics—a recognition that reflects how we treat our clients, our peers, and the adjusting profession as a whole.

We believe reviews on the BBB matter because they come from real clients, not just social media followers. That’s why we continue to encourage satisfied clients to share their stories there—it’s one of the most respected resources for homeowners researching trustworthy adjusters.

Client Testimonials: The Heart of What We Do

There’s nothing more rewarding than hearing from clients who feel truly seen and supported during the claims process. Lately, we’ve been spotlighting testimonials that highlight what sets us apart:

Consistent communication.
Patience and clarity when explaining the process.
The comfort clients feel knowing they have someone on their side—not the insurance company’s.

Many of our clients express that they wish they had called us sooner—and we’re working to make sure future clients know we’re just a phone call away when the unexpected happens.

Strengthening Industry Connections

As members of the Rocky Mountain Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (RMAPIA) and the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA), we remain involved in compliance updates and ethical best practices. These memberships keep us sharp and informed so we can bring highly effective professionalism to each claim we handle.

We’ve also continued to build strong relationships with local professionals—contractors, restoration teams, and realtors—who recognize the value of having a public adjuster on board to ensure their clients are treated fairly by their insurance providers.

Technology Updates & Tools for Clients

To make the claims process smoother for our clients, we’ve started implementing better ways to share updates, organize documents, and stay in touch. Whether that means a simple text update, quick document scan via phone, or secure email follow-ups—we tailor our communication to fit the client’s comfort level.

Our goal is to keep things simple and stress-free, even when the situation feels overwhelming.

What We Stand For

At our core, AJR Public Adjusters stands for:

Truthfulness and transparency.
Client-first service, always.
A relentless commitment to maximizing recovery.

We don’t give up on our clients. From that first call to the final payment—and sometimes even beyond—we’re here to advocate, explain, and walk with you through one of the most difficult times a property owner can face.

Looking Ahead

We’re not slowing down. With monsoon and wildfire seasons on the horizon, we’re preparing to be a resource for Arizona homeowners who need urgent, experienced support. We’re also planning more outreach to make sure people know their rights when dealing with property insurance claims.

If you or someone you know experiences damage to a home or rental property, please don’t wait for the insurance company to take the lead. Call us first. A brief conversation can save you time, money, and a lot of stress down the line.

Contact AJR Public Adjusters
📍 Based in Phoenix, Serving All of Arizona
📞 Call Bruce Horowitz: (480) 519-9099
🌐 www.publicadjusteraz.com
✅ A+ BBB Accredited | RMAPIA | NAPIA

Thank you to all our past and present clients for trusting us. We’re proud of the work we’ve done together and look forward to continuing to serve Arizona with integrity and heart.

Expert Public Adjusters in Arizona: Get Maximum Claim Compensation

AJR Public Adjusters, LLC is a trusted and experienced public adjusting firm based in Phoenix, Arizona, dedicated to representing policyholders—not insurance companies—in property insurance claims. With over 35 years of industry expertise, AJR specializes in managing a wide range of property loss claims, including fire, water damage, theft, hail, monsoon, and hurricane-related damages .

Founded by Bruce L. Horowitz, a seasoned public adjuster with a legacy in the field, AJR Public Adjusters is committed to providing personalized and attentive service to clients throughout Arizona . The firm offers comprehensive claim handling services, from initial damage assessment and policy review to detailed documentation and negotiation with insurance companies, ensuring clients receive fair and maximum compensation for their losses.

AJR Public Adjusters holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and is a proud member of the Rocky Mountain Association of Public Adjusters (RMAPIA) and also the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA), always adhering to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism in the industry .

For property owners facing the challenges of insurance claims, AJR Public Adjusters stands as a reliable advocate, offering expert guidance and dedicated representation to navigate the complexities of the claims process

Updated Monsoon & Wildfire Claim Information

We have recycled an old article. Knowing this is an important time of year here in Arizona for the potential of Monsoon, or Wildfire claim, we decided to republish a previous article highlighting the reasons to contact AJR if you discover damage to your property.

Will you be able to rebuild if your home or business is damaged or destroyed by a fire? How long will it take you to bounce back if you are wiped out by a flood or hammered by a monsoon? Will you recover quickly from the losses you suffer from vandalism or theft?

You might be unpleasantly surprised more than once if tragedy strikes where you live or work – first by the brutal force of Mother Nature and later by the realization that you are unprepared to do anything but accept whatever compensation your insurance company offers. You can avoid this problem by hiring a public insurance adjuster, a person with the knowledge and experience to help you obtain the most favorable settlement possible – someone who represents you and not your insurance company.

“We serve as an advocate for the policyholder, but it’s important to remember that the policyholder controls the settlement. We advise and assist.” said Bruce Horowitz, president of AJR Public Adjusters, who has been serving homeowners and businesses for over 30 years, the last 5 summers being here in Arizona.

In addition to estimating how much damage has been done, AJR also helps file the paperwork to complete the claim and negotiate with the insurance company. There is no up front retainer type cost like an attorney, for their services, AJR charges its clients a percentage of the settlement.

Horowitz can offer his clients the advantages of a wealth of training and more than 30 years as a public insurance adjuster. He and his wife Stacy, who serves as vice president of AJR, moved their family to Phoenix following Bruce’s lengthy career, first with one of the largest and oldest public insurance adjusting firms in the Philarizdelphia area, then in Charleston, South Carolina.

Stacy, who handles the marketing and accounting for AJR, has another important job that is critical for the property owner – determining exactly what was lost or damaged.

“We take hundreds or sometimes even thousands of pictures,” she explained. “We document everything, then we send it to the client for approval.”

Bruce Horowitz cautioned homeowners and businesspeople to hire only public insurance adjusters who are licensed in the states where they do business. Also to be wary of people claiming to be in a position to negotiate with the insurance company. Only a licensed Public Insurance Adjuster has this authority, not your contractor, mitigation specialist, handyman, etc.

AJR is unique as they are one of a few companies who are a member of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) with an office in Arizona. NAPIA is a 60 year old organization that sets the standards for the industry and offers its members educational opportunities and certification in various aspects of the business.

To find out more about how AJR Public Adjusters, Inc. can help you recover from a natural disaster or other property loss by helping you obtain an equitable settlement from your insurance company, call (602) 795-5227, email info@betterclaimresults.com, or visit www.betterclaimresults.com