Every homeowner must know the common home insurance claim adjuster’s secret tactics. Insurance companies are for-profit and care far more about saving money than helping their customers out.
These tactics are completely unfair but go unnoticed due to desperate home insurance claimants. Sadly, studies show these tactics help boost insurance companies’ profits every year.
By becoming aware of these common home insurance claim adjuster secret tactics, you can avoid manipulation and gain the maximum possible settlement for your home insurance claim.
Common Home Insurance Claim Adjuster Secret Tactics
Secret Tactic 1: Tricking You to Admit Fault
Throughout the industry, insurance companies try to trick claimants into admitting fault. But by admitting fault, or partial fault, your claim can be worth significantly less.
In property damage claims, the common secret tactic is to claim you either:
Failed to mitigate the damage, or;
The damage occurred before or long after the disaster
For example, they might say that you didn’t lock your windows, which caused flooding during a storm, or that your appliances were damaged long before a fire.
If you’re unaware of these tactics, it’s easy to get tricked into admitting fault. It can happen so easily, from a question such as “Were your windows locked?”
In some cases, you might even experience ‘gaslighting’. Which is where they’ll trick you into thinking you were the cause.
We know it’s difficult if you’re in a vulnerable position. Insurance claims adjusters use tricky questions to shift the blame. Don’t give in easily. They’re not your friends.
Secret Tactic 2: Delaying
Your insurance claims adjuster is likely to try delaying tactics. They’ll know from experience that most people get tired of delays when they’re desperate for money and repairs.
From not calling you back or answering emails, they’ll do whatever they can to push you into accepting a low-ball offer.
Don’t give in. If you experience delaying tactics, then you’re a victim of bad faith and can call a property damage attorney.
Secret Tactic 3: False Deadlines
In their goal to get you to accept a low-ball settlement offer, insurance agents will tell you that you have until a specified date to accept the offer or leave empty-handed.
The truth is, this is a scare tactic. It’s a made-up deadline that you do not have to accept. In reality, you always have a chance to negotiate a better settlement offer and are not obliged to accept their low-ball offer before a deadline.
If this does happen to you and you’re afraid, you can contact a property damage attorney who will quickly call the insurance company and set things straight.
Secret Tactic 4: Policy Loopholes
Insurance policy documents are usually long and complicated. That’s intentional.
Many of our clients say that their insurers state the property damage isn’t covered in the insurance coverage. The reason given is usually some technical loophole.
More often than not, this is a lie. You’re their customer and you paid for this policy.
Secret Tactic 5: Requesting Unnecessary Documentation
Insurance adjusters require various documents, such as receipts, photo evidence, bills and reports. But a common insurance adjuster tactic is to ask for documents that aren’t needed because they know you don’t have them.
For example, you might get asked to provide a repair or construction bill from ten years before the property damage event. This is just another trick to wear you down to accept a low settlement offer.
Secret Tactic 6: Undervaluing Your Claim
When you get a low-ball offer, it’s probably not because you over-estimated damages. It’s more likely because insurance adjusters don’t want to pay you more and they want to wear you out.
The most common way this occurs is by claiming repairs can be completed for far less than the real price.
Do not give in. If you’re unhappy with the settlement offer, you can receive an independent inspection of the property and get contractor quotes. These can be used to prove that the claim has been underpaid or undervalued.
Property damage attorneys are of great use in these situations. They have the resources to prove the real costs of the damage so you don’t end up out of pocket later down the line.
Secret Tactic 7: Advising You Not to Use an Attorney
Insurance companies are scared of attorneys because they know that they’ll reveal their tactics as bad faith behavior.
Your insurance agent may try to tell you that hiring an attorney is either unnecessary, a contract violation or a waste of money. None of this is true.
Using an attorney almost always produces a higher settlement, even after deducting attorney fees.
They can fight aggressively on your behalf through the claims process to avoid attorneys’ manipulation tactics and bring you the maximum possible settlement.
Secret Tactic 8: Acting Like They Care
Be warned of any overly friendly insurance adjuster. They’re not your friend; they work for an insurance company.
While it’s always appreciated that you’re treated with respect and sympathy, the red flags come when they try to ‘befriend’ you. They use this approach to get your guard down, so they can use information against you.
It’s not uncommon for adjusters to be paid bonuses for low settlements, and you’re just another opportunity.
Secret Tactic 9: False Promises Made by Insurance Companies
A home insurance claims adjuster might make promises for your benefit that, in reality, are a conflict of interest. Their priority is always the insurance company, not you!
They might, for example, say they’ll pay for a particular type of repair work and then later tell you that it was ‘excessive’ so it won’t be covered.
Secret Tactic 10: Painful Compensation Negotiations
Never forget that you can negotiate with an insurance company for a property damage settlement offer. But be warned, they will make it as difficult as possible.
They won’t just give you the figure you want at the first request, or the second. This is going to take some work, patience and nerve.
It is highly advised that you hire a property damage attorney, as they will negotiate on your behalf. The mere presence of a reputable attorney can be enough to make an insurance company’s negotiations go far, far quicker and result in a fair settlement.
What to do if a Homeowners Insurance Company is Stalling
When people purchase a homeowners’ insurance policy, they expect their insurer to fulfill their obligations. People wholeheartedly believe that their insurance company will help them through difficult times and provide a solution in the event of accidents, natural disasters, and other incidents.
Homeowners’ insurance has to act in good faith, but many homeowner insurance company breach that duty by delaying the claims process, a practice known as “stalling.”
If the people’s insurance company fails to process their homeowners’ insurance claim within a reasonable time, they may have legal grounds to file an insurance bad faith claim. They should hire a lawyer.
How to Itemize for Insurance Claim
If an individual home has been damaged, the first step they must take is to file a homeowners insurance claim. Make the claims process less frustrating and complex by doing these few things listed below. Here are 12 recommendations for itemizing damage for their homeowner’s insurance claim.
It may seem apparent, but people should first examine the damage to their homes and list everything that was destroyed. If they are uncertain whether their policy covers the item, they should add it to the list and verify the coverage later.
People should prepare a flood restoration checklist if they have suffered flood damage. Take shots of everything from different perspectives and under varied lighting conditions if necessary. It is better to have too much information than not enough.
STAY ORGANIZED
Keeping track of an insurance claim requires organization, especially if people have numerous items that need to be replaced or fixed. Maintain a spreadsheet or create a binder with the following items:
- The object
- The date the object was acquired
- What you paid for
- The receipts
In insurance claims, generally, receipts are very valuable because they verify the value of goods. People should immediately start a receipt filing system for valuable items in their homes if they do not already have one.
Please keep track of every interaction with their insurance provider during the claims process, including the dates of visitations and phone conversations, the names of those with whom they spoke, and a record of what was covered.
SUBMIT PROMPTLY
The sooner people file the claim, the sooner they receive the repair cash. As soon as possible after the damage or incident, people should contact their insurance carrier via phone call or online.
FILE A POLICE REPORT
If theft or vandalism caused damage to their home, submitting a police report is needed. Please obtain a copy of the police report and note who they spoke with and any officers that visited their premises for an inspection. Their insurance company will request a copy of the police report.
THE PROCEDURE
People may be tempted to rush through the inspection to initiate the refund procedure, but taking time is crucial. Also, take time with the procedure; investigate unfamiliar phrases, ask for clarifications, and enlist the aid of family and friends.
It takes time for the insurance agent or company to perform calculations following a significant claim. People rather they are precise than rapidly cash a smaller check.
TEMPORARY MAINTENANCE
Before completing repairs on some insurance claims, people can wait until the payment from the firm is issued. Other people, such as a roofing insurance claim, may need to make repairs to prevent further damage to their house.
In addition, if people do not perform temporary repairs and new damage occurs, their insurance provider may deny coverage for the additional damage since they did not take preventative precautions.
KEEP RECEIPTS
People should save any receipts if they undertake interim repairs to their home between the time the incident occurs and the insurance company issues payment. They can submit these to the employer as part of their compensation claim.
KNOW WHAT THE INSURANCE POLICY COVERS AND WHAT THE POLICY DOES NOT COVER
Frequently, industry words dominate insurance policies, which can be difficult. However, people need to comprehend what the insurance policy covers and what the policy does not cover.
The insurance policy may establish contractual duties, such as deadlines for providing receipts. If there is something in the policy people do not understand, they should contact their agent or a friend to explain it.
POLITE, BUT MAINTAIN POSITION
People should maintain continual communication with their adjuster and advocate for themselves. Unfortunately, insurance adjusters are obligated to safeguard the company’s interests, which might occasionally conflict with people’s own.
Still, people are wise to hire an experienced insurance attorney in the claims process. Having a skilled advocate will only help them in the process. Many times, the insurance company will underpay people’s claims. If that happens, they can obtain some form of reimbursement for the fees their lawyer charges.
OBTAIN SOME REPAIR ESTIMATES
Individuals should obtain estimates from many professionals for the cost of their repairs to prepare them for what they will ultimately pay. When people’s insurance adjuster provides them with a repair cost estimate, it should be in the middle – upper range of their estimates.
MONITOR YOUR MONTHLY EXPENSES
Most homeowner’s insurance policies contain a loss-of-use clause that covers either total or partial expenses if the individual and their family are forced to relocate. People should keep any accommodation and meal receipts to submit them to their insurance provider.
How to Scare Insurance Adjusters
The best way for people to scare insurance adjusters or carriers is to have a homeowner insurance attorney by their side to fight for them.
What not to say to a home insurance adjuster
When dealing with an insurance adjuster, never say this thing or act this way
- Never admit being at Fault
- Don’t minimize personal injuries or damages to the insurance adjuster
- Don’t describe injuries to an insurance adjuster
- Don’t hypnotize what happened during the accident
- Don’t allow the insurance adjuster to record your statement
Dealing with an Insurance Adjuster after Water Damage
When people are in the middle of a water damage event, they might feel too stressed or hurried to document everything. But this is a critical step! Unfortunately, the results of water damage are not immediately apparent.
Thankfully, modern technology has made documentation more effortless than ever for property owners.
Be sure to:
- Take lots of videos and photos with their phone.
- People should email them to their insurance agent and claims adjuster and “CC” themselves in the email so they can summon them up later.
- They should keep every receipt for purchases like caulk, sandbags, fans, duct tape, and tarps.
- Their insurance policy covers those purchases to protect the property from further damage.
- People should take photos of those receipts and email them to the parties involved.
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