What is a public adjuster?
Short answer. A public adjuster is a licensed insurance professional you hire to prepare, present, and negotiate your property insurance claim, usually in exchange for a percentage of the settlement. Unlike the adjuster your insurer sends, a public adjuster works for you, and in Georgia must be licensed by the Insurance Commissioner and use a Commissioner-approved contract form.
Three kinds of adjusters
- Staff adjuster: an employee of your insurance company.
- Independent adjuster: a contractor hired by the insurer, common after big storms.
- Public adjuster: hired and paid by you.
What a public adjuster does
- Reviews your policy for coverages you may not know you have, such as ordinance or law, debris removal, or additional living expenses.
- Inspects and documents the damage, inside and out.
- Writes an estimate, usually in the same software insurers use.
- Submits the claim package and negotiates with the insurer's adjuster.
- Advises you on appraisal if the amount stays in dispute.
What a public adjuster is not
- Not a lawyer. A public adjuster cannot give legal advice or sue.
- Not a contractor. In Georgia, a residential roofing contractor cannot act as your adjuster or negotiate your claim.
- Not free. Georgia's Commissioner noted in 2023 that public adjusters may charge up to 33 percent of the settlement.
Is one right for you?
Large fire, water, or contents claims are where public adjusters usually add the most. For a roof-only claim, thorough roof documentation often closes the gap without a fee. Compare the options in public adjuster vs roofer in Georgia, and learn the basics in how to file a roof insurance claim.