Who is the insurance claims adjuster on a Georgia roof claim?
Staff and independent adjusters
On an ordinary week, your insurer may send its own employee. After a large hailstorm across metro Atlanta or North Georgia, insurers bring in independent adjusters, often from other states, who inspect, write the estimate in Xactimate, and send it to the insurer for approval. Some claims are handled by a desk adjuster working from photos taken by a third-party inspector, so the person on your roof may not be the person who decides.
Public adjusters
A public adjuster represents you, not the insurer, and charges a percentage of the settlement. Georgia requires public adjusters to be licensed and to use contract forms approved by the Commissioner.
What every adjuster is checking
- A date of loss that matches a real storm at your address.
- Hail bruises or wind creases on shingles, as opposed to blisters, foot traffic, or age cracking.
- Collateral damage such as dented vents, gutters, and window screens.
- Whether the damaged shingles can be repaired and matched.
At the inspection
Ask for the adjuster's name, license number, and email, and request a copy of the estimate when it is finished. Having your roofer on the roof at the same time matters more than any other step, because questions about specific shingles get answered on the spot. See how to prepare for the adjuster inspection and what roof adjusters look for.