dealing with insurance adjuster after water damage
The water is gone, but the real headache is just beginning. Soon, you’ll meet an insurance adjuster who holds the key to your recovery, but there’s one critical thing to know: whose team are they actually on? The adjuster sent by your carrier is an employee or contractor whose primary role is to represent the insurance company’s financial interests. Their evaluation is designed to be efficient for the company, not necessarily comprehensive for you. Feeling blindsided is common, but you have more power than you think. This guide will help you navigate the inspection and decide when to hire your own expert—a public adjuster—to ensure your home insurance policy’s water coverage is fully honored.
Help for Any Disaster
If you’re dealing with an unexpected disaster, we’re here to help. Contact us today to talk to an expert.
888-545-8514
Who Is the Adjuster Your Insurance Company Sends? (And Who Do They Really Work For?)
After you report water damage, your insurer will send an adjuster to inspect your home. This person is either a staff adjuster (a direct employee) or an independent claims adjuster (a contractor hired by the insurance company, often during busy periods). Regardless of their title, both ultimately work for and are paid by your insurance company.
Their goal is to protect the insurer’s financial interests while settling your claim. They are not on your team. This distinction is the main difference when considering a public adjuster vs. an insurance company adjuster. Recognizing this fact is your first step toward a fair outcome, starting with how you handle their on-site inspection.
What to Do (and Not Do) During the Water Damage Inspection
The adjuster’s visit is one of the most important water damage claim process steps. Your role is to be their guide. Go beyond the obvious saturated carpet and show them everything you’ve noticed. Point to the subtle water line on the baseboard, the faint discoloration on the ceiling below a bathroom, or the way a door now sticks in its frame. Anything not documented during this initial inspection may be difficult to add to your claim later. If you are not comfortable doing this R & S Restores can work with you and your adjuster.
Remember these simple rules during the visit:
- DO photograph all the damage yourself before and during the visit.
- DO point out every single area of concern, no matter how small.
- DON’T throw away any damaged items (like flooring or furniture) until your claim is fully settled yourself. If you hire a professional water mitigation company they should document all damaged building materials and personal effects as they may need to be removed and disposed of to prevent mold and futher damage. This should only be done by a trusted water mitigation company.
- DON’T feel pressured to sign any final settlement agreements on the spot.
After the inspection, the adjuster will use their notes and photos to create a damage estimate. This report is the foundation for negotiating with your insurance adjuster after a flood. Take your time to review their numbers carefully. You are never obligated to accept the first offer, especially if it seems too low.
Why the First Settlement Offer Is Often Too Low
Once the adjuster leaves, they’ll create a “scope of work”—their official list of necessary repairs. This scope can be a source for a low offer. For instance, it might only include replacing a small patch of ruined flooring instead of the entire continuous floor, creating a mismatch. Disputing a low water damage settlement often begins by challenging an incomplete scope of work.
Next, the adjuster applies depreciation—the reduction in an item’s value from age and wear—to determine its “actual cash value” (ACV). Think of ACV as the “garage sale” price for your 10-year-old carpet, not its brand-new cost. Your first check is based on this lower, depreciated number.
A limited scope combined with heavy depreciation often leads to an initial offer that feels shockingly low. Remember this isn’t the final word. It is the starting point for a negotiation intended to maximize your water damage insurance settlement.
What Are Your Options? Should You Have an Expert on Your Side of the Table
If the insurance company has its own expert, who is looking out for you? This is where an independent property restoration company or public adjuster comes in.They are professionalsprofessional you hire to manage your water damage claim and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. Think of them as an expert advocate who works for you, not the insurer.
The key difference is allegiance. The adjuster sent by your insurer works to protect their company’s bottom line. In contrast, the person you hire responsibility is to you, the policyholder, with the goal of securing the maximum possible settlement.
This aligns their goals directly with yours; the more money they successfully recover for you, the more they earn.
When Should You Get Your Own Advocate for Water Damage?
They aren’t necessary for every minor incident like a small puddle that only damaged a floor mat. Hiring an expert becomes critical when the stakes are higher. You should strongly consider getting your own advocate for water damage when you see these signals:
- Your estimated damages are over $10,000.
- The damage is complex, affecting multiple rooms, structural components, or involving potential mold.
- The insurance company is being unresponsive or making you feel overwhelmed.
Your claim has been denied. These are common reasons for water damage claim denial that an expert can help you fight.
Taking Control of Your Water Damage Claim
You now understand the water damage claim process and see that an initial offer is a starting point, not a final word. Whether you meticulously document the claim yourself or hire an advocate to assist you, you have the power to steer the outcome. Start that process right now. Grab a physical folder or create a digital one labeled “Claim.” This is where every photo, receipt, and email will go. This simple file is your most powerful tool, giving you control and turning a chaotic event into a manageable process. Call R & S Property Restoration should you need assistance.
