Filing for a large claim, such as the total loss of a home after a disaster, can be taxing for you as the policyholder. With other major problems and emergent concerns at hand to take care of, you might not have the energy, mindset or bandwidth to deal with the intricacies of an insurance claim right now.
So, it makes sense why many policyholders would get the assistance of a public adjuster to help them file for a large claim. In a nutshell, a public adjuster is someone you pay to do the work of communicating and negotiating with your insurer regarding a claim you’re filing.
Because they’re not employed by the insurance firm but rather they’re working for you, public adjusters have your best interest in mind. For instance, they’ll strive to get the maximum amount of settlement that your policy allows. They have been educated and trained on how to do just that.
If you’re looking to work with a public adjuster, you might be wondering where do to start looking for one. Here are some tips on how to find a good public adjuster.
Ask for Referrals or Recommendations
One of the most reliable ways to get a good public adjuster you can work with is to ask your friends, family and other people that you trust for a referral. Have they worked with a public adjuster before and who do they recommend?
Asking for referrals can provide you with valuable information regarding a public adjuster before working with them. For instance, you can and should ask about the experience your family member or friend had on working with this public adjuster and why they think you should hire them too.
Someone who has done a good job for your family member, friend, neighbor or colleague will most likely do their best for you too.
Find a Public Adjuster from the NAPIA
The National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) is another great source when it comes to finding a public adjuster that you can work with. The association has an online directory which allows you to search for NAPIA-accredited public adjusters or firms in or near your state.
The NAPIA, founded in 1951, is the oldest national trade association of public insurance adjusters and firms in the United States. NAPIA members are fully qualified professionals who have a broad knowledge and specialized experience in the field. They are educated and trained and have a license to adjust first party-property insurance claims.
In addition, their NAPIA accreditation requires member public adjusters to abide by the organization’s strict professional rules of conduct and code of ethics.
Check Regional Associations
Aside from the NAPIA, there are also associations for public adjusters in the regional level. Similar to the NAPIA, these state public adjuster associations also have strict application requirements and a code of ethics that members must adhere to.
Examples of these organizations include the California Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (CAPIA), the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA), the New York Public Adjusters Association (NYPAA), the Georgia Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (GAPIA), and the Massachusetts Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (MAPIA).
These organizations can point you to one of their members who can help you. In particular, check out their websites for online directories of member public adjusters. You can also use their site to confirm a public adjuster’s membership to the state organization.
Read Better Business Bureau Reviews
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a non-profit organization which handles consumer complaints on firms. It has a rating system that you can use to evaluate if a business has a good reputation with its clients.
Simply go to the BBB website; type in your city, state or zip code along with “public adjuster”; and it will give you a list of firms in or near your area. You can see their rating, service area, address and contact details.
Aside from the Better Business Bureau, there are other review sites and forums, such as Yelp and Best Pick Reports, you can go to for client feedback on public adjusters or companies. Or, just Google “name of public adjuster or firm” “review” or other iterations of this search term.
Call Your State Department of Insurance
Another way to find a public adjuster is to contact your state’s Department of Insurance. This government agency is responsible for regulating public insurance adjusters, so they can help you gather information on public adjusters you can tap into in the state.
You can also check your state’s Department of Insurance to confirm if a public adjuster has a current license or authorization to conduct business in the area. Not all states require a license for public adjusters, but this is still a good venue to place your inquiries.
In addition, they’ll also have tons of information on public adjusters in general as well as help you lodge a complaint against one or check on any disciplinary actions. To find your state’s Department of Insurance, contact the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) or visit their website.
Visit Their Website and Socials
Speaking of Google, you can simply type in “public adjuster” “your city, state or zip code” in the search bar and it will populate a list of public adjusters in your location. Look at their websites and social media accounts.
In this day and age, most legitimate businesses and professionals maintain a website and social media presence. So, it’s really easy to check on what the public, especially their clients, think about them.
Try Looking on LinkedIn
Another website worth checking out is LinkedIn. It is basically a social networking site for professionals and other people involved in the business community.
In the search bar, type “public adjuster” and filter the results according to your location, etc. What’s great about LinkedIn is you get to see who’s connected to whom and you’ll have some idea of whether or not you might be able to trust this person as much as another based on their connections.
How to find a good public adjuster
Finding a reputable public adjuster involves seeking referrals, using resources like NAPIA and regional associations, checking the Better Business Bureau, consulting your state’s Department of Insurance, and exploring online platforms like LinkedIn as well as asking your personal network of business associates, friends and family.
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