The best way to sort a good public adjuster from a bad one is to ask the same twelve questions of each. A good one answers plainly, in writing if you ask, and does not get annoyed. A bad one gets vague, gets fast, or changes the subject to how much money you are leaving on the table.
Below are the questions, with what a good answer sounds like and what a bad one sounds like. We would answer every one of these for you on a consultation call, and we hope you ask the same of anyone else you talk to.
Who they are
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What is your license number, and how do I verify it? A good answer is a number, immediately, plus a pointer to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, which you can use to check it. A bad answer is "we're licensed" with no number, or a number that does not match the name on the contract. Ours is #40939623, and we are licensed in 11 states.
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Who will actually handle my file? A good answer names a person, or a small team, and tells you who you will talk to. A bad answer is "our team," or a salesperson who signs you and then disappears. The person on the consultation call is often not the person fighting the claim, so ask directly.
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Have you fought my type of damage before? Hail, wind, ice dams, and fallen trees each get argued differently. A good answer gives specifics, such as how the firm handles a carrier that pays for the vents but not the shingles. A bad answer is "we handle everything" and nothing concrete.
How they work
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Will you do your own inspection? A good adjuster looks at your damage in person, or sends someone qualified, and writes their own estimate. A bad one works from your photos and the carrier's estimate and calls it a day. On Minnesota residential claims, our $200 initial claim review and documentation fee covers the on-site inspection.
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How often will I hear from you? A good answer is a rhythm you can count on. We touch every file twice a week, and you are copied on everything, so you never have to talk to the carrier again. A bad answer is "whenever there is news." On a claim, no news is the news you want to know about.
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What does a typical timeline look like? A good answer is honest and unglamorous. After signing, expect about three weeks where it looks like nothing is happening, because the carrier takes about two weeks to send the policy and we spend a week reading it. Most claims take months of back and forth, and some take a year. A bad answer is a promised date.
The money
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How is the fee triggered? A good answer ties the fee to a specific result. Ours is a percentage of the approved value of each trade we take on for you (roof, siding, and so on), and we only charge it on a trade if we get the insurance company to approve more than it already had. A bad answer is fuzzy about when you owe anything. Read more in our post on who pays a public adjuster.
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What happens if nothing increases? A good answer is plain: on that trade, no fee. A bad answer is a pile of exceptions, or a charge for "work done" that was never explained. On Minnesota residential claims, the $200 initial claim review and documentation fee is credited toward our final fee if we take the claim and win. Get every dollar in writing.
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Does your fee come out of my insurance money? The insurance money pays for your repairs. Our fee is a separate, out-of-pocket cost you agree to in writing. A good answer says that clearly. A bad answer hedges, or hints that you will not notice the fee because it gets deducted somewhere.
The contract
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Can I have the agreement before I decide, and what is my right to cancel? A good answer is yes, take it home. Minn. Stat. § 72B.135, subd. 1 says an insured "has the right to cancel the contract within 72 hours after the contract has been signed." We're public adjusters, not attorneys. This is how the statute reads and how we use it; for legal advice talk to a Minnesota attorney. A bad answer is pressure to sign now.
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Do you have any financial tie to a contractor? Minnesota law bars public adjusters from paying for referrals and from holding an interest in a construction, salvage, or appraisal firm. A good adjuster says no, easily. A bad answer is hesitation, or a contractor they "just happen to recommend." We go through this in our red flags post.
Honesty
- Will you tell me if my claim is not worth pursuing? This is the one we care about most. A good answer is yes, and an example. We have told homeowners to handle part of a claim themselves, and we turn away claims near the deductible or on old roofs with actual cash value policies. A bad answer is "everyone has money coming." No one can honestly promise a result on an insurance claim, and you should be suspicious of anyone who does.
How to use the list
You do not need to ask all twelve in one call. Pick the ones that make you nervous and write the answers down. Then compare two or three firms side by side, and notice who made you feel rushed.
After you sign, we walk homeowners through what happens at each step, so there are no surprises. A good adjuster does the same, and answers when you ask. More general answers live on our FAQ page.
The honest answer
A license number, a named person, a fee you can explain back, and a willingness to say "this one is not worth it" tell you most of what you need to know. Most public adjusters are honest, and the ones who are will not mind the questions.