The process has eight steps, from a free consultation to the final release of held-back money. Some steps take a day, some take months, and one of them looks like nothing is happening. We would rather you know that now.
Here is what each stage looks like in practice. It matches the eight steps on our process page.
Step one: the consultation and claim review
The consultation is free and runs 15 to 25 minutes by phone or video. We open by saying the call is recorded so the team has notes. Then we ask you to go back to the storm and tell us what happened.
While you talk, we pull up your address. We look at the hail map for your storm date, the satellite view of the house, your contractor's photos if you have them, and the carrier's estimate or denial letter. We ask which carrier, whether a contractor has been out, whether the carrier opened coverage for anything, what your deductible is, and whether an engineer has visited.
A tip if you are about to call: have the denial letter or estimate, the date of the storm, and the name of your carrier in front of you. You do not need to have anything organized.
Then we give you an honest read on whether we can help. If the claim is not worth pursuing, we say so. At the end we ask for your denial letter or estimate, because it holds the claim number and the date of loss.
Step two: the agreement, never signed on the call
Within 12 to 24 hours, we send you a written agreement to sign electronically. We never ask anyone to sign during the call, because you should read it first.
Our fee 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. No increase on a trade, no fee on that trade. The exact percentage is in the agreement. Minnesota residential claims also include a $200 initial claim review and documentation fee, credited toward our final fee if we take the claim and win. The insurance money pays for the repairs, and our fee is a separate cost you agree to in writing. See who pays a public adjuster for the longer version.
You also have a cancellation window. 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 are public adjusters, not attorneys. This is how the statute reads; for legal advice talk to a Minnesota attorney.
Step three: the letter and the three quiet weeks
Once you sign, we send the carrier a letter of representation and request your full policy. The carrier usually takes about two weeks to send it, and we take about a week to read it.
So expect three weeks where it looks like nothing is happening. That is deliberate. We do not argue a claim before reading the policy, because the worst outcome is a roof approved and then a limitation nobody knew about cuts the payment. You do not need to do anything during this stretch, and you can expect a short note from us when the policy arrives. If the carrier calls you in the meantime, you can say, talk to my public adjuster.
Steps four and five: documentation and submission
Next we build the file. That means photos, measurements, weather data, input from your contractor or an engineer if needed, and our own estimate written at fair market value. If you need a hand with your own photos, our documentation checklist shows what we look for. Then we submit our position to the carrier with the supporting evidence, and you get a notification when it goes out.
Step six: the back and forth
This is the long part. Carriers say no many times before they say yes. Twenty, thirty, or forty emails on one claim is normal. We have won claims in two emails, and that is rare. Some claims take a year.
Every time the carrier says no, we answer with documented evidence. If they stall, we escalate: a new adjuster, a reinspection, a manager, a written demand citing the policy and statute, a Department of Commerce complaint, and sometimes appraisal or an attorney referral. We cover how those compare in our post on public adjusters, attorneys, and appraisal.
You are copied on everything. We work each file twice a week, and an automated update goes out every Friday if you have not seen an email. Your contractor can describe damage and scope, but cannot negotiate the policy, which is why a roofer alone usually stalls after a denial.
Steps seven and eight: approval, the check, and finishing the work
When the carrier approves, you hear from us first with the full approved estimate. The check usually comes in stages, with part up front and the held-back depreciation after the work is done and invoiced. Carriers pay what is invoiced, so a cheaper contractor does not mean you pocket the difference.
Here is a simple example, not a client result. Say the carrier approves a $20,000 roof (ignoring the deductible to keep the math simple) with $6,000 of that held back as depreciation. You receive $14,000 up front, the roofer does the work and invoices $20,000, and we submit the invoice to release the remaining $6,000.
When the work is finished, we send the final documentation to release the depreciation. If you choose not to repair an approved item, like dented gutters, that is your decision about repairs.
The honest answer
Expect a free first call, a written agreement you can read at home, three quiet weeks, a long back and forth, and a check in stages. Nobody can honestly promise how it ends or how long it takes, and a good firm will say so before you sign.