number two..and experienced PA is going to write an appropriate estimate that will take all of your damages and available coverage into consideration. They will also know how to steer you through the dispute resolution process. If you had to go to court.. you’d take an attorney.. if you had a health issue, you’d see a doctor. If you have an insurance claim you should counsel with a good PA..

But don’t take my word for it… Florida’s Office of Program Policy and Government Analysis (kind of like the CBO) found that people who hired public adjusters generally received 547 higher settlements on regular claims – on catastrophic claims – a good PA can net you over 700% more.

here’s the report http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/MonitorDocs/Reports/pdf/1006rpt.pdf

I have had a similar experience with regards to some minor flooding in my kitchen due to the ice maker supply line leaking. One of the things that the adjuster wrote up that needed replacement was a 24″ base cabinet adjacent to the fridge that was damaged, beyond repair. The issue is that I have Thermofoil cabinetry and the new Thermofoil base cabinet doesn’t match, even though it’s ‘white’, to the rest of the older cabinets. There is a very obvious coloration difference and it’s impossible to find a Thermofoil color in a new cabinet that will match the older ones because unfortunately Thermofoil is known to yellow over time. The cabinet frames are fine, but I don’t know if I should press the adjuster to settle for replacing the cabinet doors so it all matches right. If they were wood or painted cabinets, it would be easy to match, but this Thermofoil product is not conducive to being replaced and having it match existing older Thermofoil.

When the tenants arrived they contacted me about flooding in the house. I immediately went over shut down the main. Took photos of everything to include the temperature of the house.The following day I spent from 8am to 8pm working with the plumber fixing pipes cutting holes in the wall etc. While doing so I documented each day. I also contacted a water mitigation company soon after the plumbers stopped the leaks and I was able to restore heat in the home. After stopping any further damage I then interviewed and got quotes to repair the damage (walls carpet etc). I was also in contact with the adjuster from day 2 (took time to get a hold of him). I submitted invoices for the different companies brought in to do repairs, I also submitted an invoice for the work I did cordinating and assisting in repairs of the house. I figured I lost 3 days of work to put all this together, do repairs along side the plumbers to include repairing the HRV etc.
Any reason the adjuster shouldn’t accept my invoice? Just wanted an opinion since in my mind all the work I put in likely saved the insurance company by wuickly preventing further damage and there was no need for the company to hire a third party adjuster. What your thoughts. Should I get renumerated for my efforts?

Also, do you have children that could help you with the claims process? If you have a child that you trust will be more forceful and be able to negotiate with the adjuster better, you can type up a letter and sign it stating that you would like someone else to represent you for the claim. You MUST be proactive with the claim or they will try to get away with the bare minimum that they feel they owe. Don’t ever sign a release of liabiity form. As long as you never sign a form like that, you always have the right and ability to dispute the price and scope of a loss.

My Brooklyn, New York home just experienced a (4-5 inche high) water flooding from a pipe burst (boilder) in my basement (800sq). The adjuster is extremely rude, inpatient & totally far from customer freindly. But i have maintained my professinalism and cool through out the process. Of course items that have been in my (fairly used) basement have no receipts or old checks i can prove purchase price. But the way he is sticking me for repair cost make me really think twice on how much he has appraised things. Even my wedding dress (23 yrs old) was in the basement and all he gave me for the repair of the water damaged dress was $120!

Your experience and expertise is exactly what i need right now. PLEASE!

Also, reading my policy and knowing what i should be entitled to has been more than what a 62yr old workingc (nurse), widowed woman can handle.
please help i truly feel i am being taken for granted in my situation.

Sounds like the best thing to do is have an open dialogue and just negotiate calmly.

My brother just had his basement flood.. and the claims adjusters actually didn’t put up a fight this time.

They did the last time, and he did something similar to what you are outlining above.