Insurance Adjuster
Sent by your insurance company to assess the damage, review your coverage, and recommend a settlement amount.
Works for
The Insurance Company
What This Means for You
The adjuster is not on your side. They work for the company that has to pay your claim. Be friendly. Be clear. But never sign anything without reading it first. Be present during the inspection so nothing gets missed or minimized.
Smart Call: You can ask to be assigned a different adjuster if you feel yours is not treating you fairly.
Public Adjuster
A licensed professional you hire to manage and advocate for your claim on your behalf.
Works for
You
What This Means for You
A public adjuster is your advocate. They know the rules and they fight to get you the most money possible. They get paid a percentage of your settlement, so it is in their interest to get you as much as possible.
Smart Call: For significant damage, a public adjuster often secures a larger settlement even after their fee is paid.
Your Insurance Agent
The person who sold you your policy and serves as your primary point of contact with the insurance company.
Works for
Depends on the Situation
What This Means for You
Your agent can explain your policy and help you start a claim. They want to keep you as a customer. But they represent the insurance company and cannot make decisions about your payout or advocate for you legally.
Smart Call: Call your agent first. They can walk you through your coverage before the adjuster ever visits.
Appraiser
An independent expert who determines the dollar value of your damage or loss when you and the insurance company disagree.
Works for
Depends on Who Hired Them
What This Means for You
If you and the insurance company cannot agree on the value of your claim, each side picks their own appraiser. The two try to reach an agreement. If they cannot, a neutral third person called an umpire makes the final call.
Smart Call: Choose your appraiser carefully because they help select the umpire, and the umpire's decision is final and binding.
Umpire
A neutral third-party expert who makes the final binding decision when two appraisers cannot reach an agreement.
Works for
Neither Side
What This Means for You
The umpire is selected jointly by both appraisers. They review both sides and issue a decision that is final for both you and the insurance company. Once the umpire decides, there is no appeal within the appraisal process.
Smart Call: The appraisal process has real costs. Use it when the gap between offers is large enough to justify the investment.
Contractor
The licensed professional or company you hire to repair the damage to your property.
Works for
You
What This Means for You
You choose your own contractor. The insurance company cannot force you to use a specific one. Get more than one written estimate and do not begin major repairs before the adjuster has completed their inspection.
Smart Call: Never sign a form that assigns your claim rights to a contractor. That removes you from the process entirely.
General Contractor
A contractor who manages all of the different repair crews and subcontractors for larger, more complex jobs.
Works for
You
What This Means for You
For large damage like a fire or major flood, a general contractor oversees everything, including plumbers, electricians, and restoration specialists. You still make all of the final decisions. Get everything in writing before any work begins.
Smart Call: Request a line-by-line written estimate so you can compare it directly to your insurance settlement offer.
Insurance Attorney (Yours)
A lawyer who specializes in insurance law and represents your interests when a claim is disputed or denied.
Works for
You
What This Means for You
If your claim is denied or the settlement offer is too low, an insurance attorney can help you fight back. Many work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. You do not need an attorney for every claim, but knowing this option exists matters.
Smart Call: Contact your state's Department of Insurance before hiring an attorney. Filing a complaint there may not resolve your claim but it creates an official record that is crucial if things escalate later.
Insurance Attorney (Theirs)
A lawyer hired by the insurance company to protect their financial interests when a claim becomes disputed or goes to litigation.
Works for
The Insurance Company
What This Means for You
The insurance company's attorney has one job: to minimize what they pay you. If your claim escalates to a legal dispute, they will already have representation. You should too. Do not attempt to negotiate directly with their attorney without your own counsel in place.
Smart Call: Never speak directly to the insurance company's attorney on your own. Anything you say can be used to reduce or deny your settlement.
Mortgage Servicer
The bank or lending company that holds your home loan and has a financial stake in your property.
Works for
Themselves
What This Means for You
If you have a mortgage, your home insurance settlement check will likely be made out to both you and your mortgage company. You will need their signature before you can access the funds. Contact them early in the process and do not wait until the check arrives.
Smart Call: Ask your mortgage servicer about their process for releasing repair funds. Some hold money in escrow and release it to contractors in stages.