How To Deal With Insurance Adjuster After A House Fire

Published on August 26th, 2022

After a house fire, many homeowners are in shock. The impact of fire damage is devastating and can leave you feeling hopeless. Coping with the aftermath of your losses is emotionally draining enough, but you also have to deal with insurance adjusters. We understand that this is a difficult time for you and your family. But it's important to know how to deal with an insurance adjuster after a house fire.

This guide will help you prepare for the fire insurance claim process to get the compensation you deserve.



How Do You Beat An Insurance Adjuster?

An insurance adjuster is an insurance company employee, and their job is to make sure that the insurance company profits. That means they will be looking to pay as little as possible on any claim they investigate. So, if you have suffered a loss that you believe should be covered by your insurance policy, it is important to understand how to deal with an insurance adjuster to get the compensation you deserve.

Don't Give a Recorded Statement:

You are not legally required to give recorded statements to anyone but the police. For example, you are not required by law to give a recorded statement to your own insurance company or the at-fault driver's insurance company. The reason is that anything you say can be used against you and may result in your claim being denied or your benefits being reduced.

Don't Jump at a Quick Settlement:

Insurance companies will try to get you to settle quickly to limit the amount of money they pay out in fire damage claims. If you damaged personal property by fire, remember that it takes time to calculate the full extent of your damages. Do not sign an agreement or accept any money until you are sure that all of your losses are accounted for.

Don't Accept the First Offer:

Insurance companies are in the business of making money, not giving it away. So they spend millions on advertising to convince you that they are there when you need them. The truth is that they are there when they need you. And they need you to take their first offer and go away.

Understand the Type of Insurance Policy You Have:

If you have a replacement cost policy, It will reimburse you for what it costs to replace or repair your home or personal property. However, if you have an actual cash value policy (which is cheaper), you will only be paid for what your home or personal property was worth when it was destroyed.

Get the Adjuster to Justify a Low Offer:

If an adjuster offers you less than you need, ask them how they reached that figure. Of course, they'll tell you, and it may be possible to argue that their calculation is wrong. But, at the very least, it'll give you some insight into how they're evaluating your claim.

Can You Negotiate With An Insurance Adjuster?

Your fire insurance claim is only as good as the documentation supporting it, so it's important to know how to negotiate with an insurance adjuster after a fire. Unfortunately, fire victims often get taken advantage of by adjusters and insurance agents, who hope to minimize the payout on a policy. This article will give you some tips on dealing with an insurance adjuster after a fire.



Insurance companies are in business to make money, and they make more when they pay out less. Adjusters are trained to look for ways to save their company money when settling fire claims. Therefore, the insured needs to know what you're entitled to by law and what the insurance company is not obligated to pay insurance premiums for under your policy.

You want to be able to ask questions when you are dealing with an insurance company adjuster, but there are right ways and wrong ways to go about it. If you do not have documentation or proof of everything that has happened, you will have a hard time getting what you need from the adjuster.

It is best to approach the process of negotiating with a public adjuster by collecting as much information as possible so that you understand what went wrong and why it went wrong. In addition, you will want to determine what has been lost or damaged beyond repair during the fire or flood that causes your claim and what can be repaired.

Finally, it would help if you also had a good idea of what it will cost to repair or replace the items.

Be sure to be reasonable when you are negotiating with the adjuster and be prepared to compromise. Keep in mind that the insurance company is not out to cheat you. They are simply trying to protect their investment. However, if you feel that you are not being treated fairly, do not be afraid to seek legal assistance.

The best way to deal with a property insurance claim adjuster is to be prepared and have a plan of action.

Best practice: Be wary of the insurance adjuster:

The job of a fire insurance claims adjuster is to settle your claim for as little as possible. Their employer is the insurance company, not you. There's nothing wrong with this; it's just business. But if you don't know that, you can easily be taken advantage of by an aggressive or dishonest adjuster.

Be careful about what you say:

Many homeowners aren't aware that you could share their claims history (including claims from previous insurance agent) with their current insurer. So if you're filing a claim for the first time, don't mention that other home insurers have dropped you because of frequent claims and expect a better rate on your new policy. That information will come out in time, and it could adversely affect your rates or even cause your policy to be canceled.

Expect the adjuster to downplay your claim, especially if it's a large one:

Public Adjusters are often trained to minimize the compensation you receive for your claim. For example, an adjuster may argue that your roof was damaged primarily due to age, not the recent hail storm. Or he might argue that mold damage in your basement is due to general neglect, not a problem with the sump pump.

The adjuster will pressure you to accept a settlement quickly:

Insurance companies have up to 2 years to settle your claim in most cases. However, they often try to get you to sign a release form (which allows them to close the file) within 30 days. The sooner you accept the offer, the less time you have to prove the insurance company owes you more money. Even worse, once you sign a release form, it's almost impossible to reopen your claim and demand more money — even if you later find out that the insurance company is still liable for more damages or losses.

The adjuster may try to deny your claims for various reasons:

The insurance company can also deny claims if they suspect you were negligent in some way in causing the fire or the property damage caused by it. For example, suppose the fire was caused by a cigarette that you didn't properly extinguish. In that case, they may claim negligence on your behalf and refuse payment of any claims related to the fire even if you had insurance coverage under your policy.

After a house fire, you will likely have to deal with insurance adjusters. It can be a daunting task, but it is important to remember that you are in control. 

If you're tired of dealing with a frustrating adjuster, the best approach to selling a home damaged by fire can be way easier, faster, and smoother. We'll handle the adjuster while you receive your cash and move forward with life.

• How Does Insurance Process Work After A House Fire
• Dealing With A Difficult Insurance Adjuster After a House Fire
• House Fire Insurance Payout
• What Happens If My Fire Insurance Claim Gets Denied
• What You Can and Can't Do With The Extra Money From The Insurance Claim
• What Happens If You Have a House Fire But I Have No Insurance
• How Much Does Fire Insurance Cost