When your home or business suffers damage—whether from fire, water, or a natural disaster—you’ll likely need to file an insurance claim. But navigating that process can be confusing, especially when the first person you hear from is the insurance company’s own adjuster.
So who exactly do they work for?
Understanding the key differences between a public adjuster and an insurance company adjuster can help you make informed decisions and protect your financial recovery.
Insurance Company Adjusters: Who Do They Work For?
Insurance company adjusters (also known as staff adjusters or independent adjusters) are employed directly by the insurer. Some times, the Independent Adjuster works for an Independent Adjusting (IA) firm, which has multiple insurance company as their clients. Either way, their job is to assess your damage, determine if it’s covered under your policy, and estimate the repair costs.
Most IA firms pay their adjusters a fee schedule, where the bigger their estimate is, the more they get paid.
So if you ever hear that they are paid to underpay claims, that is actually not the case. In fact, the majority of Independent Adjusters we encounter every day are professional, ethical, fair and just trying to get it right for both you and the insurance company.
While many insurance adjusters are professional and polite, it’s important to remember:
👉 They do not count as your representation.
They might:
- Gurantee or imply that you will be “taken care of” just working with them
- Discourage hiring outside representation (like a public adjuster)
Ultimately, in most cases, the field adjuster submits their file to the insurance company, and that is where the Desk Adjuster comes in. Here, the file goes through another review and often is rejected for revisions and sent back to the field adjuster.
The result? Many claims are underpaid or delayed, leaving policyholders frustrated and shortchanged.
Public Adjusters: Advocates for the Policyholder
Enter, the Public Adjuster.
A Public Adjuster works solely for you, the policyholder—not the insurance company.
They are licensed professionals who understand your policy, construction costs, and claim procedures.
Their role is to:
- Conduct a thorough inspection of all visible and hidden damage
- Create a detailed estimate using tools like Xactimate (used by insurers)
- Explain your coverages and your duties after a loss clearly
- Prepare, file, and negotiate your insurance claim
- Reopen underpaid or denied claims
Because most public adjusters work on contingency (they’re only paid if you get paid), their goals are directly aligned with yours.
Why the Difference Matters
Think of it this way:
Imagine going into a legal dispute where the only attorney in the room works for the other side. That’s essentially what happens when you rely solely on the insurance company’s adjuster.
Hiring a public adjuster is like bringing your own expert to the table—someone fluent in policy language, experienced with insurance red tape, and committed to getting you the full and fair settlement you deserve
Studies show that property owners who hire public adjusters tend to receive substantially higher settlements compared to those who don’t.
When Should You Hire a Public Adjuster?
The ultimate benefit a Public Adjuster brings to the table is that they do the heavy lifting so you can focus on recovering.
You should consider bringing in a public adjuster if:
- Your claim is complex or involves major damage (fire, water, hurricane, etc.)
- You feel your claim has been undervalued or denied
- You don’t understand your policy or feel overwhelmed by the process
- You want an expert to handle everything, from paperwork to negotiations
Serving All of Florida and Texas
Whether you live in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, or Naples, our team of licensed public adjusters is here to help. We handle residential and commercial claims across the entire state.
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