When disaster strikes your home or business, the last thing you want to deal with is fighting with your insurance company. Yet that's often exactly what happens after a major loss. If you're facing this situation, one of the most important decisions you can make is whether to hire a public adjuster. And here's what consumers should know: don't let the discouragement you hear stop you from seriously considering one.

Understanding the Pressure Against Public Adjusters

Let's be honest. You'll hear plenty of reasons to avoid hiring a public adjuster. Your insurance company certainly won't recommend it—after all, their goal is to pay out as little as possible. Well-meaning friends and family might warn you about the fees. You might read about bad actors in the industry and think all public adjusters are untrustworthy. The internet is full of cautionary tales.

But here's what consumers who've been through this process often discover: much of this discouragement is either misinformed or comes from people with a financial interest in keeping you uninformed.

The Reality of Insurance Claims

Most insurance companies are not your friends in the claims process. This isn't a judgment—it's a business model. Insurance companies profit by collecting premiums and minimizing payouts. When you file a claim, you're essentially negotiating against a well-funded entity with professional adjusters and lawyers on staff. They have every incentive to undervalue your loss.

As a consumer, you're typically at a significant disadvantage. You're grieving, stressed, and probably don't understand the technical details of your policy or how to properly document and value your loss. The insurance company's adjuster is trained to find reasons to deny or reduce your claim. They're not there to help you—they're there to help the insurance company's bottom line.

What a Public Adjuster Actually Does

This is where a public adjuster comes in. Unlike the insurance company's adjuster, a public adjuster works for you. Their job is to investigate your loss, document the damage, research your coverage, and fight for the maximum settlement you're entitled to receive under your policy.

A good public adjuster will:

Conduct a thorough investigation of your property damage and document everything meticulously
Review your insurance policy in detail to understand exactly what's covered
Prepare a detailed claim with professional estimates and documentation
Negotiate directly with the insurance company on your behalf
Challenge undervalued settlements and push back against denied claims
Handle all the paperwork and communication so you don't have to

This is professional expertise that the average consumer simply doesn't have.

Breaking Through the Myths

Myth: Public adjusters are expensive.

The truth is more nuanced. Yes, public adjusters charge a percentage of the settlement—usually between 5-10%, though this varies by state and situation. But here's the key question: would a consumer rather keep 100% of an inadequate settlement, or 90% of a settlement that's twice as large? If a public adjuster recovers an additional $50,000, and they take $5,000 in fees, the consumer is still $45,000 ahead. Most people would take that deal in a heartbeat.

Myth: Insurance companies won't negotiate if you hire a public adjuster.

Actually, the opposite is often true. Insurance companies know that public adjusters are experienced advocates who will fight for every dollar. When they see that a policyholder has hired a professional, they're more likely to take the claim seriously and make a better initial offer.

Myth: All public adjusters are unethical.

Like any profession, there are good ones and bad ones. But the presence of bad actors doesn't mean consumers should avoid the profession entirely. By doing research, checking credentials and licensing, asking for references, and interviewing multiple public adjusters before hiring one, consumers can find dedicated professionals who take pride in fighting for their clients.

The Real Cost of Going It Alone

What consumers should really be calculating is the cost of not hiring a public adjuster. How much is it worth to have someone else handle the stress and complexity of the claims process? What if your initial settlement offer is $100,000 short of what you're entitled to? What if the insurance company denies a covered claim and you have no one to advocate for you?

Most consumers don't have the expertise to fully understand their policy, don't know the valuation standards for different types of damage, and don't have the confidence to negotiate with a large corporation. These gaps in knowledge and power often result in significant underpayments.

When a Public Adjuster Makes the Most Sense

Public adjusters are particularly valuable if:

Your claim is complex and involves significant damage
The insurance company has already denied or significantly undervalued your claim
Your loss involves multiple types of damage (structural, contents, business interruption)
You lack the time, knowledge, or emotional energy to manage the claim yourself
You suspect the initial settlement offer is too low

Even if a claim seems straightforward, having a public adjuster review it can often uncover coverage or damage the consumer wasn't aware of.

Making Your Decision

Ultimately, the decision to hire a public adjuster should be based on your specific situation and your comfort level navigating the claims process. But consumers shouldn't dismiss the option based on secondhand discouragement or misinformation.

Ask yourself: Do I have the expertise to negotiate with a professional insurance adjuster? Do I have the time and emotional resources to manage this claim? Am I confident I'm receiving a fair settlement? If you answer "no" to any of these questions, a public adjuster is worth seriously considering.

Get recommendations, check credentials, ask questions, and make an informed decision. Just don't let the noise of discouragement prevent you from exploring an option that could put thousands of dollars back in your pocket when you need it most.

In the end, your goal is to recover from your loss and move forward. A public adjuster can help you do exactly that.

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About the Author

Stuart Dorf, JD, CPAU | Executive Vice President

Stuart Dorf, JD, CPAU, Executive Vice President at Globe Midwest™ Adjusters International, is a licensed public adjuster, appraiser, umpire, and attorney who specializes in securing fair insurance claim settlements for property and business owners. With over 20 years of experience in commercial real estate, law, and marketing, he holds licenses in multiple states, actively participates in legal associations, and has a strong entrepreneurial background. He earned his law degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Chicago-Kent College of Law and graduated with honors from Tulane University.

sdorf@globemwai.com | 248.915.0399