After property damage, the insurance adjuster assigned to your claim will investigate the loss, review documentation, and help the insurance company determine what it believes should be covered and paid. Understanding common insurance adjuster tactics can help Rhode Island property owners communicate carefully, document their losses thoroughly, and recognize when additional claim assistance may be useful.
When your home or commercial property suffers significant damage, filing the insurance claim may seem straightforward. You report the loss, the insurance company sends an adjuster, the damage is evaluated, and a settlement is issued.
In practice, property insurance claims can become much more complicated.
The insurance company adjuster evaluates the claim on behalf of the carrier. That does not automatically mean the adjuster is acting unfairly, but property owners should understand that the carrier’s adjuster does not represent the policyholder.
Knowing some of the common insurance adjuster tactics Rhode Island property owners may encounter can help you make more informed decisions throughout the claims process.
1. Asking for a Recorded Statement
After a significant property loss, the insurance company may ask you to provide a recorded statement about what happened.
Questions may cover:
- When you first discovered the damage
- What you believe caused the loss
- Whether there were previous problems with the property
- What steps you took after discovering the damage
- When the property was last inspected or repaired
- Whether anyone else witnessed the event
Recorded statements can become part of the claim file, so property owners should answer questions accurately and avoid guessing about facts they do not know.
What Should You Avoid Saying to an Insurance Adjuster?
One of the most important things homeowners can do is avoid speculation.
For example, if you are uncertain about when a leak began or exactly what caused damage behind a wall, do not guess simply because you feel pressured to provide an immediate answer.
Try to avoid:
- Guessing about the cause of damage
- Estimating dates when you are unsure
- Minimizing damage before a complete inspection
- Making assumptions about whether something is covered
- Agreeing with conclusions you do not fully understand
Stick to facts you know and make sure important damage is properly investigated.
2. Receiving an Early Settlement Offer
Property owners sometimes receive an insurance estimate or settlement offer relatively early in the claim.
Receiving an offer quickly can sound appealing, especially when repairs need to begin. However, an early estimate may not necessarily account for every component of the loss.
Before agreeing that an estimate accurately represents the damage, review whether it includes:
- All affected rooms
- Damaged flooring
- Walls and ceilings
- Cabinets and built-in features
- Electrical components
- Personal property
- Roof or exterior damage
- Hidden water or moisture damage
- Smoke and soot contamination
- Necessary demolition and reconstruction
The extent of some property damage does not become apparent until inspections are completed or damaged materials are removed.
3. Missing Damage in the Insurance Company’s Estimate
One of the most common claim disputes involves differences in the scope of damage.
An insurance adjuster’s estimate may identify obvious damage while leaving out other affected materials or areas.
For example, a water loss may visibly damage a ceiling but also affect:
- Insulation
- Drywall
- Flooring
- Baseboards
- Cabinets
- Electrical components
- Adjacent rooms
Similarly, fire damage may extend well beyond the area directly touched by flames because smoke and soot can move throughout a building.
If you believe something has been omitted, document it and request clarification about whether it was considered during the inspection.
4. Repair Versus Replacement Disputes
Another area where insurance claim disagreements arise is whether damaged property should be repaired or replaced.
An insurance estimate might call for repairing part of a roof, section of flooring, cabinet, wall, or other building component.
A contractor may have a different opinion.
Disputes may involve questions such as:
- Can the damaged material actually be repaired?
- Is the existing material still available?
- Can new materials reasonably match the existing property?
- Would a partial repair restore the property properly?
- Does the damaged component need complete replacement?
These decisions can significantly change the cost of a property insurance claim.
If your contractor’s recommendations differ from the carrier’s estimate, obtain detailed documentation explaining the reason for the difference.
5. Applying Depreciation to the Claim
Depreciation is another part of property insurance claims that homeowners frequently find confusing.
Depending on the policy and type of coverage, an insurance estimate may distinguish between replacement cost value and actual cash value.
Actual cash value generally reflects depreciation based on factors such as the age and condition of the damaged property.
This can affect the initial amount issued for:
- Roofing
- Flooring
- Furniture
- Appliances
- Personal belongings
- Building materials
Some policies may allow recoverable depreciation after covered repairs or replacements are completed and properly documented.
Because policy provisions vary, Rhode Island property owners should review their specific coverage and ask questions if they do not understand how depreciation was calculated.
6. Requesting Extensive Documentation
Insurance companies need information to evaluate claims, and documentation is an important part of the process.
Depending on the type of loss, the carrier may request:
- Photographs
- Videos
- Contractor estimates
- Repair invoices
- Receipts
- Personal property inventories
- Maintenance records
- Proof of ownership
- Plumbing or electrical reports
- Temporary housing expenses
Responding to legitimate requests is important, but property owners should also maintain their own organized copy of everything submitted.
Create Your Own Claim File
Keep records of:
- Emails with the insurance company
- Letters
- Estimates
- Photographs
- Videos
- Receipts
- Contractor reports
- Claim numbers
- Inspection dates
- Names of adjusters and representatives
- Notes from telephone conversations
Thorough records can become especially valuable if questions or disagreements develop later.
7. Using the Insurance Company’s Estimate as the Starting Point
The carrier’s estimate is an important claim document, but property owners should not automatically assume it represents the complete cost of restoring the property.
Contractors and insurance adjusters may calculate repairs differently.
Differences can involve:
- Labor rates
- Material pricing
- Quantities
- Required demolition
- Equipment
- Building components
- Repair methods
- Scope of damage
Review the estimate carefully and compare it with the actual conditions at your property.
If something appears incomplete, ask questions before assuming the claim is finished.
8. Focusing Only on Visible Property Damage
Not all property damage is immediately visible.
This can become particularly important after water, fire, smoke, and storm losses.
Water Damage
Moisture can travel behind walls, underneath flooring, and into insulation.
Learn more about water damage insurance claims.
Fire and Smoke Damage
Smoke and soot can affect rooms and personal property far from the original fire.
Learn more about fire damage insurance claims.
Storm and Roof Damage
A storm may damage the exterior of a property while also allowing water to enter and damage ceilings, walls, insulation, and interior finishes.
Learn more about storm damage insurance claims.
A thorough property inspection can help identify the complete scope of a loss rather than focusing only on the most obvious damage.
9. Asking Property Owners to Make Decisions Quickly
After a loss, homeowners may feel pressure to make several decisions at once.
You may be dealing with:
- Emergency repairs
- Contractors
- Temporary housing
- Insurance inspections
- Damaged belongings
- Work and family responsibilities
At the same time, you may receive estimates, documents, requests, or settlement information from the carrier.
Before agreeing to something you do not understand, review the information carefully and ask questions.
A significant property insurance claim can involve thousands of dollars in repairs. Taking time to understand what is being presented can be worthwhile.
10. Treating the Carrier’s Adjuster as Your Representative
This is one of the most important distinctions for Rhode Island property owners to understand.
The insurance company’s adjuster works for the insurance carrier.
A public adjuster, by contrast, is hired to represent the policyholder.
Public adjusters can assist with:
- Inspecting property damage
- Reviewing the insurance claim
- Documenting the scope of loss
- Preparing repair estimates
- Organizing claim documentation
- Communicating with the insurance company
- Negotiating the property damage claim
Understanding who each person represents can help prevent confusion during the process.
When Can a Public Adjuster Help With a Rhode Island Property Claim?
Not every property insurance claim requires a public adjuster.
For a small, straightforward loss where the damage is clearly identified and the insurance company’s estimate appears accurate, a property owner may be comfortable handling the claim directly.
Professional claim assistance may become more valuable when:
- Property damage is extensive
- Multiple rooms or building systems are affected
- The carrier’s estimate appears incomplete
- A contractor’s estimate is significantly higher
- Important damage appears to have been omitted
- Repair versus replacement is disputed
- The claim becomes difficult to manage
- The property owner does not understand the insurance estimate
- A commercial loss involves several categories of damage
L & M Public Adjusters represents property owners throughout Rhode Island during residential and commercial insurance claims.
Learn more about working with a Public Adjuster in Rhode Island.
How to Protect Yourself During a Property Insurance Claim
Regardless of whether you handle the insurance claim yourself or hire professional representation, good documentation can make a significant difference.
After property damage:
- Photograph and video the damage. Document the property before damaged materials are removed whenever it is safe to do so.
- Prevent additional damage. Take reasonable emergency measures such as covering openings or stopping an active water source.
- Keep damaged materials when practical. Do not immediately dispose of important evidence unless safety or health concerns require removal.
- Save every receipt. Keep records for emergency repairs, temporary lodging, cleanup, and other loss-related expenses.
- Get detailed contractor estimates. Written estimates can help identify differences between expected repair costs and the insurance company’s scope.
- Review the carrier’s estimate carefully. Look for missing rooms, materials, quantities, or categories of damage.
- Keep communications organized. Maintain copies of emails, letters, photographs, reports, and other claim documents.
- Ask questions before agreeing to something you don’t understand. Insurance claims can involve technical language and complicated estimates.
Need Help With a Rhode Island Property Insurance Claim?
Understanding common insurance adjuster tactics can help Rhode Island homeowners and business owners participate more effectively in the property insurance claim process.
If your property suffered significant damage and you have questions about the insurance company’s estimate, documentation, or settlement, L & M Public Adjusters can review the circumstances of your claim and explain how a public adjuster may be able to assist.
Frequently Asked Questions About Insurance Adjusters in Rhode Island
Does an insurance adjuster work for the homeowner?
An adjuster assigned by the insurance company works for or on behalf of the carrier. A public adjuster is separately retained by the policyholder to represent the policyholder during the property claim.
Do I have to give the insurance company a recorded statement?
Requirements can depend on the policy and circumstances of the claim. If the carrier requests a recorded statement, review the request carefully and make sure your answers are factual and accurate. Avoid guessing about details you do not know.
What if the insurance adjuster's estimate is too low?
Review the estimate line by line and compare it with the actual property damage and available contractor estimates. If damage or necessary repairs appear to be missing, document the differences and raise them with the carrier.
Can the insurance company depreciate property in my claim?
Depreciation may apply depending on the policy, damaged property, and type of coverage. Review how depreciation has been calculated and whether any portion may be recoverable after repairs or replacement.
What should I avoid saying to an insurance adjuster?
Avoid guessing about the cause, timing, or extent of property damage. Provide accurate information based on what you know and avoid minimizing damage before the property has been fully evaluated.
Can I hire a public adjuster after my claim has already started?
In many situations, a property owner can seek public adjuster assistance after a claim has already been opened. This may be worth considering if the claim has become complicated, significant damage appears to have been overlooked, or there is a substantial disagreement over the scope or value of the loss.