Property damage in commercial spaces is always unforeseen. It sometimes arises from disasters like windstorms, fires, and other natural calamities. The next thing to do after such unfortunate occurrences is to seek compensation from your insurance company.
Depending on your work or school commitments and experience on insurance matters, you may find yourself unsuitable to pursue the claims. Insurance is a complicated topic that requires proper understanding and a lot of time. Hiring an experienced commercial public adjuster is one of the best options you have. They will ensure a successful investigation of your claim and fair compensation for the damages after that.
Here are a few tips to help you hire an adjuster who will deliver the best results.
Confirm that they’re licensed
Several public adjusters work without licenses or present shared licenses to unsuspecting clients. Hiring one of those will make it difficult to file a claim should anything go wrong. You may also end up being on the wrong side of the law.
Therefore, you should ask to see their valid license and ensure they do not use someone else’s. Make sure the license allows the adjuster to practice in your state. Contact the insurance department in your state to check the validity of their legal documentation.
Ask and call references
Reputable public adjusters are ready to share contacts of people they have worked with before. It shows that they are confident about their service quality. In most cases, you do not even need to ask them for references, but they will willingly give them to you.
Once you have the contacts, call the references and ask them about the service they received. Ask them if they would consider hiring the same person in the future. You should worry if you get negative responses or if the commercial public adjuster is unwilling to share any contacts.
Check their professional website
Most businesses own websites in the modern tech-driven world. You should therefore search the internet for different commercial public adjuster websites before you settle on one. You will probably find 90% of the information you need to know displayed on the website.
You can read about their experiences and past success stories. You will find essential information like the areas they serve and who are their staff. Many reputable businesses will also display copies of their licenses and certifications on the website to build trust.
Check the internet for online reviews
The internet is a vital resource these days when making hiring decisions in any field. There are several platforms where customers leave reviews of businesses they have worked with in the past years. They include Google, Yelp, and many more.
The best thing about online reviews is that companies cannot avoid their past clients’ genuine opinions. Read through both positive and negative reviews. You can contact the commercial public adjuster to seek their opinion on the negative customer reviews and see if they respond professionally.
Confirm their pricing
Commercial public adjuster fees depend on several factors, such as the size of your property. However, the most important thing that they consider is the complexity of your case. Mostly, they will charge you between 5% – 20% of the compensation you receive.
One thing to note is that it is not advisable to hire adjusters who charge less than the market prices. They may not give your case the effort it deserves. Besides, you should avoid any public adjuster charging upfront fees as they may not be genuine.
Check their industry experience
Experience is one of the critical things to look for in a public adjuster. Some public adjusters may have just started working intending to make a few bucks and disappear. You should ensure that the public adjuster you are hiring has at least three years of experience with something to prove it.
Confirm if they’re insured
Public adjusters should have insurance coverage for the work they do. It would help if you were careful not to hear it from them but confirm by asking for a certificate. You can feel confident about any errors that may arise if they carry insurance for their work.
Ask about the process
It would be best if you asked questions about their services and what you should expect. In general, the commercial public adjuster should feel free to share the entire process before you hire them. Ask if they review your insurance policy and the initial steps they undertake when valuing your property.
You should also find out how often they will be communicating with you. Confirm if the public adjuster will be visiting the site to assess the damage. Asking enough questions about the process makes it easy to choose the right adjuster.
Check for association memberships
Association memberships are essential in every industry. Serious public adjusters join associations to learn more about their service and new trends. It would help if you asked about their membership status to determine whether they are legit.
Make sure the adjuster obey the law
Most states have rules when a commercial public adjuster can contact you after you’ve suffered a loss. Serious professionals will stick to the provisions of the law and contact you only when they should. If someone contacts you immediately after you have suffered a loss, report their actions as they may not have a good motive.
OK, so you have decided to hire a commercial public adjuster. The hiring process is not as easy as you could have initially thought. Finding a good public adjuster is a challenging task that you should commit your time to succeed. You should avoid making rushed decisions and hiring the first person that comes along.
Take your time first if the damage does not require immediate action. Research on different public adjusters and use the tips mentioned above to find out if they are reputable. Remember to trust your intuition if you feel uncomfortable with someone. You can easily find the right person for the job if you follow the correct steps.