Use written communication as your primary tool, not phone calls.
A Phone Call Is a Whisper, an Email Is a Receipt
Imagine you and your landlord agree on a rent price in a phone call. A month later, he claims you agreed to a higher amount. It’s your word against his. Now, imagine you had that agreement in an email. The conversation is no longer a fleeting memory; it’s a permanent, time-stamped record. Every email to your adjuster is a digital receipt for your conversation. It creates an undeniable timeline of promises made and questions asked. In a dispute, a folder full of clear emails will always defeat a hazy memory of a phone call.
Stop taking the adjuster’s “expert opinion” at face value. Do get your own independent assessments instead.
Don’t Let the Fox Guard the Henhouse
If you were selling your car, would you let the potential buyer be the only one to tell you what it’s worth? Of course not. They have a massive incentive to give you the lowest possible number. The insurance adjuster works for the other side; their “expert opinion” on the cost of your damages is the buyer’s lowball offer. Getting your own estimates from trusted, independent contractors is like getting your car appraised by a neutral expert. It gives you the true value so you can negotiate from a position of strength, not desperation.
Stop being overly friendly and conversational. Do maintain a professional and business-like demeanor instead.
This Is a Boardroom, Not a Coffee Shop
Treating a conversation with an adjuster like a friendly chat is like showing up to a corporate merger negotiation in your pajamas. You are in a business transaction regarding a legal contract. The other side is treating it that way, and you should too. Every casual, off-hand comment you make can be noted and used to undermine your claim. By remaining polite, professional, and sticking strictly to the facts, you signal that you are serious and organized. It’s not about being cold; it’s about being respected as an equal in a financial negotiation.
The #1 secret to handling an aggressive adjuster is to remain calm and emotionless.
Be a Rock in a Rushing River
An aggressive adjuster uses anger and intimidation as a tool, much like a rushing river uses its force to wear down a stone. They want you to get emotional, yell back, or become flustered. The moment you do, you lose your focus and make mistakes. The secret is to become an unmovable rock in that river. Let their aggression flow around you. Respond to their loud accusations with calm, factual statements and written questions. Your refusal to be swept away by their emotion shows immense strength and forces them to abandon their tactic.
I’m just going to say it: The adjuster’s job is to save the insurance company money, not to help you.
They’re the Casino Manager, Not Your Gambling Buddy
Imagine you’re at a casino. The floor manager is friendly and polite, but their one and only job is to protect the house’s money. They are not there to help you win your fortune. An insurance adjuster is that floor manager. They may sound helpful and empathetic, but they are employed and rewarded by the insurance company based on their ability to minimize payouts. Their primary duty is to their employer’s bottom line, not to your financial recovery. Understanding this reality is the first step to protecting yourself in the claims process.
The reason the adjuster is being so difficult is because you’re not providing them with the documentation they need to approve your claim.
You Can’t Unlock a Door Without the Right Key
Imagine an adjuster is standing in front of a locked door, and on the other side is your settlement money. They are not allowed to open that door without the correct key. In fact, they are trained to keep it locked. Your documentation—the receipts, the photos, the estimates, the reports—is the key. When you provide a messy, incomplete file, you’re handing them a random bunch of keys. When you provide a perfectly organized and complete package of evidence, you are handing them the one, specific key they need to unlock that door.
If you’re still letting the adjuster lead the conversation, you’re losing control of the narrative.
Hold the Microphone, Don’t Just Answer the Questions
When an adjuster calls, they have a script. They want to be the interviewer, holding the microphone, asking you questions that are designed to get answers that help their case. If you just passively answer, you are letting them tell your story. You must take the microphone. You do this by having your own agenda ready before the call. Answer their question concisely, then pivot to your own: “Now that I’ve answered that, I have a question for you about the payment timeline.” This puts you in control of the conversation’s direction.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that the adjuster assigned to your claim is on your side.
The Referee Paid by the Other Team
Imagine you’re playing in the championship game, and you find out the referee is not a neutral party but is actually on the other team’s payroll. You would watch their every call with suspicion. The adjuster is that referee. They wear a uniform of helpfulness and use words of fairness, but their paycheck is signed by your opponent—the insurance company. They are not there to ensure a fair game for you; they are there to help their team win by paying you as little as contractually possible.
I wish I knew that adjusters are often evaluated based on how little they pay out in claims.
The Lower Your Settlement, the Bigger Their Bonus
Imagine a purchasing agent at a company who gets a bonus at the end of the year. You might think the bonus is for doing a good job. But what if their bonus was directly tied to how far under budget they came in on their purchases? They would have a powerful incentive to buy the cheapest, lowest-quality materials possible. Many adjusters work under a similar incentive structure. Their performance reviews and bonuses can be tied to their “severity,” or how little they pay out compared to what was reserved for the claim.
99% of people make this one mistake when speaking with an adjuster: giving them more information than they asked for.
Answer the Question, Then Stop Talking
When a lawyer in a courtroom asks a witness, “Did you see the red car?” the witness should answer “Yes” or “No.” They should not say, “Yes, and it was going really fast because the driver looked angry.” That extra, volunteered information can destroy a case. When you speak to an adjuster, you are on the witness stand. If they ask for a specific receipt, send only that receipt. Don’t add extra commentary or offer information they didn’t request. Every extra word you provide is a free gift to them that can be used to find a reason to deny.
Use a public adjuster to interpret the adjuster’s estimates, not just trying to decipher them yourself.
You Need a Translator for Their Secret Language
An insurance adjuster’s estimate is not a simple price list; it’s a complex document written in a kind of secret code. It’s filled with industry-specific software, pricing databases, and jargon that are designed to be confusing. Trying to decipher it yourself is like trying to read a legal contract written in a foreign language. A public adjuster is a professional translator. They speak the language fluently and can immediately spot where the insurance adjuster has used cheaper materials, lower labor rates, or conveniently “forgotten” to include necessary repair steps.
Stop accepting the adjuster’s damage valuation. Do present your own contractor’s estimate instead.
Set the Price Tag; Don’t Let Them Do It for You
When you sell your house, you don’t let the first potential buyer be the one to conduct the official appraisal. Their appraiser will inevitably find reasons to value your house as low as possible. The adjuster’s damage valuation is that buyer’s appraisal. It is their opening bid in a negotiation. To counter this, you must have your own, more realistic appraisal—a detailed, line-item estimate from a trusted contractor you choose. This replaces their low number with your real-world number as the starting point for the discussion.
Stop letting the adjuster delay the process. Do set firm (but reasonable) deadlines for responses instead.
A Project Without a Deadline Is Just a Wish
Imagine your boss gives you a project but says, “Just get it to me whenever.” It would probably fall to the bottom of your to-do list. But if they say, “I need a status update by Wednesday,” it becomes a priority. Insurance claims are the same. When you submit a document, don’t just wait. End your email with a polite but firm call to action: “Please let me know if you have any questions. I will follow up on Friday if I haven’t heard back from you.” This sets a clear expectation and prevents your file from gathering dust on their desk.
The #1 hack for dealing with an unresponsive adjuster is the “cc your supervisor” email.
Shining a Spotlight on the Problem
An unresponsive adjuster is like a problem that exists in a dark room; as long as no one else sees it, it can continue. The simple act of adding their supervisor to the “cc” line of your follow-up email is like flipping on the lights. Suddenly, their lack of response is visible to their boss. This simple, non-confrontational action signals that the issue is escalating. It forces the adjuster to address your request because they know their performance is now being observed, and supervisors don’t like seeing problems fester in the light.
I’m just going to say it: “Independent” medical examiners hired by the insurer are rarely truly independent.
The Doctor Who Knows Who’s Paying the Bill
Imagine a judge in a court case who, it turns out, gets 90% of his income from one of the lawyers in the courtroom. You would seriously question his ability to be impartial. The doctors who perform “Independent” Medical Exams (IMEs) for insurance companies often get a huge portion of their income from those same companies. They know that if they consistently write reports that favor the claimant, the lucrative referrals will dry up. They have a powerful financial incentive to find nothing wrong with you.
The reason the adjuster is questioning your every move is to create a record of potential non-cooperation.
They Are Laying a Trap, So Don’t Step in It
Imagine someone asks you for a specific document, and you forget to send it. A week later, they ask again. A week after that, they ask a third time, each time making a note of it. They are not just being forgetful; they are building a paper trail. Adjusters do this to create a record they can later point to as “failure to cooperate,” which could be grounds for denial. The defense is to be hyper-responsive. Answer every request in writing, even if it’s just to say, “I have received your request and am working on gathering that document.”
If you’re still giving the adjuster unlimited access to your property, you’re losing your privacy and control.
Don’t Give Them a Key; Schedule a Guided Tour
Giving an adjuster unlimited access to your damaged property is like giving a stranger the keys to your house and telling them to look around whenever they want. You lose all control over what they see, who they bring with them, and what they conclude. Instead, you must control the process. Access should be by appointment only, with you or your representative present. This turns it from an uncontrolled inspection into a structured, supervised tour where you are the guide, pointing out the damage and ensuring nothing is missed or misinterpreted.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that the adjuster has the final say on your claim.
The Cashier Is Not the CEO
When a cashier at a huge department store tells you they can’t approve your return, you know that’s not the end of the story. You can ask for a manager, a store director, or even contact the corporate office. The adjuster is that cashier. They are the frontline employee with limited authority. Above them are supervisors, managers, and an entire corporate structure, not to mention external options like mediation, appraisal, and your state’s Department of Insurance. The adjuster’s “no” is not the final answer; it is simply the beginning of the appeals process.
I wish I knew to ask for the adjuster’s license number and credentials in our first conversation.
You’re Fired If You Don’t Have a License
Imagine hiring an electrician without asking if they are licensed. It would be a huge risk. An insurance adjuster is a licensed professional who is legally required to follow specific rules and ethical standards. Asking for their license number in the first conversation does two powerful things. First, it allows you to verify that they are in good standing. Second, it sends a strong psychological signal: “I am an informed consumer who understands this is a professional process, and I will be holding you to the standards of your license.”
99% of claimants make this one mistake: believing the adjuster’s interpretation of the policy.
Don’t Let the Other Team’s Coach Tell You the Rules
Imagine you’re playing a board game, and your opponent—who wrote the rules—tells you that your best move is illegal. Would you just take their word for it? No, you’d demand to see the rulebook yourself. Your insurance policy is the rulebook. The adjuster is your opponent. When they tell you, “Sorry, that’s not covered,” they are giving you their interpretation of the rules, which is biased in their favor. You must get your own copy of the complete policy and read it, or have an expert read it, to understand what the rules really say.
Use direct, factual language in your emails to the adjuster, not emotional appeals.
Submit an Invoice, Not a Sob Story
When you submit an expense report at work, you list the facts: the date, the item, the cost. You don’t write a long story about how hard the trip was or how much you need the money. An insurance claim is a business transaction. The adjuster responds to facts, figures, and evidence. Emotional appeals about how devastated you are, while valid, are ineffective in this context. They just make you sound like a victim. A clear, factual email presenting the damage and the associated costs is far more powerful and commands more respect.
Stop letting the adjuster wear you down with endless requests. Do ask for a complete list of what they need in one go instead.
Ask for the Whole Shopping List at Once
Some adjusters will ask you for one document. When you provide it, they ask for another. Then another. This “death by a thousand cuts” strategy is designed to exhaust you and make you give up. You can stop this by taking control. After their first or second request, send a polite email: “To help streamline this process and avoid delays, could you please provide me with a complete list of all the documents and information you will require to conclude this claim?” This forces them to be organized and stops the endless, frustrating back-and-forth.
Stop being intimidated by industry jargon. Do ask for a plain English explanation of everything instead.
Make Them Translate Their Language Into Yours
When a doctor uses a long, complicated medical term, a good patient says, “I’m sorry, can you explain that to me in simple terms?” You must do the same with your adjuster. When they use words like “indemnification,” “subrogation,” or “betterment,” don’t just nod along. Stop them and say, “I’m not familiar with that term. Can you please explain what it means and how it applies to my claim?” This does two things: it ensures you understand everything, and it shows them that you are paying close attention and cannot be confused by fancy language.
The #1 secret to negotiating with an adjuster is to have a well-documented “walk away” number.
Know Your Destination Before You Start the Journey
You would never start a long road trip without knowing your final destination. Similarly, you should never enter a negotiation without knowing the absolute minimum amount you are willing to accept, based on your contractor’s estimates and documentation. This is your “walk away” number. Having this number, and the evidence to back it up, gives you immense power. It prevents you from being swayed by their tactics and allows you to confidently reject any offer that falls short of your well-researched, non-negotiable bottom line.
I’m just going to say it: The adjuster is not your therapist; don’t unload your personal struggles on them.
They’re a Financial Analyst, Not a Sympathetic Friend
Telling your adjuster about the emotional stress and personal hardship your loss has caused feels natural, but it’s strategically useless. Imagine explaining your personal struggles to an ATM; it won’t dispense any extra cash. The adjuster’s job is to analyze the claim based on the facts and the policy language. Your emotional state is not a covered item. While it may make them offer sympathy, it can also be noted as a sign of desperation, weakening your negotiating position. Keep your communication strictly focused on the business of the claim.
The reason the adjuster is suddenly being nice is because they are about to make a lowball offer.
The Friendly Smile Before the Final Blow
Think of a boxer who starts trash-talking his opponent, then suddenly smiles and offers to touch gloves right before the bell rings. It’s a classic tactic to lower the opponent’s guard. When an adjuster who has been difficult suddenly becomes your best friend, asking about your family and being incredibly polite, be on high alert. This “softening up” is often the prelude to making a very low offer, hoping that the sudden shift to kindness will make you more agreeable and less likely to fight back against the inadequate number.
If you’re still not documenting every single interaction with the adjuster, you’re losing your bad faith case.
You Can’t Build a House Without Bricks
Trying to sue an insurance company for “bad faith” without a detailed record of their actions is like trying to build a brick house without any bricks. You can describe the house you want to build, but you have nothing to construct it with. Every delay, every unreturned call, every misleading statement is a single brick. By documenting the date, time, and substance of every interaction in a claim diary, you are slowly and methodically collecting the hundreds of bricks you will need for your lawyer to build an unbreakable case against them.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you have to use their “approved” repair shop.
Their “Approval” Is for Their Benefit, Not Yours
The insurance company’s “approved” or “preferred” contractor list is not a list of the best contractors. It’s a list of contractors who have agreed to work for the low prices and on the favorable terms set by the insurance company. It’s like being told you can only eat at restaurants that have a special discount agreement with your company—they might be okay, but they’re chosen for price, not quality. You almost always have the right to choose your own contractor, one whose loyalty is to you and to restoring your property correctly.
I wish I knew that I could request a new adjuster if the one assigned was being unreasonable.
You Can Always Ask to Speak to the Manager
If you are dealing with a rude, unprofessional, or incompetent employee at any other business, you wouldn’t just accept it. You would ask to speak to their manager and request someone else to help you. The same rule applies here. If an adjuster is consistently unresponsive, unprofessional, or bullying, you have the right to call their supervisor. Calmly explain the issues and formally request that your claim be reassigned to someone else. You are the customer, and you do not have to put up with poor service.
99% of people make this one mistake: cashing a check that has “final payment” written on it.
The Check That Closes the Case Forever
Imagine you are given a check for your damaged car. You cash it, but a week later, you discover the frame was bent and needs major repairs. Unfortunately, in the memo line of the check you cashed, it said “Full and Final Payment.” By cashing that check, you legally agreed that the matter is closed forever. You have just signed away your right to any future compensation for that incident. Never cash a check that is marked as a final payment unless you are 100% certain that it covers all of your damages, present and future.
Use a single point of contact for all communication with the adjuster, not letting them talk to multiple family members.
A Ship Can Only Have One Captain
Imagine a ship where the captain, the first mate, and the navigator are all yelling different directions at the crew. The ship would go in circles. When multiple family members talk to the adjuster, they can give slightly different versions of events, creating inconsistencies that the adjuster can exploit. Designate one person as the “captain” of the claim. All information flows through them. This ensures your message is always clear, consistent, and controlled, presenting a unified front that cannot be broken apart.
Stop letting the adjuster control the timeline. Do propose your own schedule for inspections and decisions instead.
Be the Author of the Project Plan
When an adjuster says, “I’ll get back to you,” they are creating an open-ended, powerless timeline for you. Don’t accept it. Take control by proposing your own reasonable schedule. Instead of waiting, you should be saying, “Great. I can be available for an inspection this Tuesday or Thursday. After that, I will expect a decision on coverage within 15 days, per state regulations. Does that timeline work for you?” This transforms you from a passive waiter into an active manager of your own claim project.
Stop answering hypothetical questions. Do stick to the known facts of your claim instead.
Don’t Play Their “What If” Game
When an adjuster asks a hypothetical question like, “What would you have done if you had noticed the leak sooner?” it is not a casual inquiry. It is a verbal trap designed to get you to admit some form of negligence. The only correct response is to refuse to play. Politely bring them back to reality. A simple, “I can’t speculate on what might have happened, I can only tell you what actually did happen,” is the perfect way to shut down this line of questioning and keep the focus on the solid ground of facts.
The #1 hack for getting an adjuster to call you back is to mention you’re filing a complaint with the Department of Insurance.
The Magic Words That Make Your File a Priority
An adjuster ignoring your calls is like your file being at the very bottom of a huge, forgotten pile. The goal is to get your file moved to the top and stamped with a big red “URGENT” label. Mentioning that you will be contacting your state’s Department of Insurance if you don’t receive a response is like launching a flare into the air. It’s a signal that an outside regulator might get involved, and no insurance company wants that. Suddenly, your file is no longer just another claim; it’s a potential compliance problem that needs immediate attention.
I’m just going to say it: The adjuster’s authority to settle your claim is likely much higher than they admit.
The Salesman Who Always Has to “Check With His Manager”
Think of a car salesman who tells you, “I’d love to give you that price, but my manager won’t let me go any lower.” This is a classic negotiation tactic designed to make you feel like you’ve reached the absolute limit. Adjusters are trained to do the same thing. They will tell you their “authority” to pay is maxed out at a certain number, but this is often just an artificial ceiling. Politely pushing back with strong documentation often reveals that they have a surprising amount of room to move up without ever talking to a manager.
The reason the adjuster is nitpicking your receipts is to find a reason to reduce the payout.
Death by a Thousand Paper Cuts
Imagine your claim is a solid block of wood worth $10,000. The adjuster’s job is to whittle that block down as much as possible. Nitpicking your receipts is their whittling knife. “This receipt is faded.” “This one doesn’t have a store name.” “You bought the deluxe model, we only cover the basic.” Each tiny deduction is another sliver of wood shaved off the block. While one sliver seems insignificant, hundreds of them can reduce the value of your claim by a huge amount. That is why your documentation must be flawless.
If you’re still allowing the adjuster to record your conversations, you’re losing the ability to speak freely.
Don’t Let Your Rehearsal Be the Final Performance
A recorded statement is not a conversation; it is the creation of official, permanent testimony. Every hesitation, every “um,” every misstatement can be analyzed and used against you. You wouldn’t want the first, unedited rehearsal of a play to be filmed and judged by critics. Politely decline to be recorded. Instead, offer to answer their questions in writing. This allows you to provide careful, accurate, and considered answers without the pressure of a live recording, ensuring your final performance is polished and precise.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that a “staff adjuster” and an “independent adjuster” are the same thing.
Two Different Uniforms, but They Play for the Same Team
A “staff adjuster” is a direct employee of the insurance company, like a soldier in their army. An “independent adjuster” is a freelancer or contractor, like a mercenary hired by that same army for a specific battle. You might think the “independent” one is neutral, but they are not. They are paid by, and get future work from, the insurance company. Their loyalty is to the people who write the checks. Whether they wear the company uniform or their own, they are both fighting for the same side.
I wish I knew that everything I say to an adjuster can and will be used to evaluate my claim.
The Miranda Warning for Insurance Claims
When police arrest someone, they say, “Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.” You should imagine a similar warning flashing in your mind every time you speak with an adjuster. Every casual comment, every small apology, every off-the-cuff remark is being noted. If you say “I’m so sorry this happened,” they might note it as an admission of fault. If you say “I’m feeling better today,” they’ll note it as a sign your injuries are minor. You are always on the record.
This one small action of sending a follow-up email summarizing every phone call will change your claim’s outcome.
Turning Spoken Words into a Stone Tablet
A phone conversation is like writing a message in the sand; the next wave of denial or forgetfulness can wash it away completely. A follow-up email is like carving that same message into a stone tablet. After every single call, send a simple email: “Dear Adjuster, this email is to confirm our conversation today, in which you stated that X, Y, and Z will happen by this Friday. Please let me know if my understanding is incorrect.” This simple action creates an undeniable paper trail and turns their fleeting promises into a permanent record.
Use their own company’s mission statement or advertising slogans in your arguments, not just your own sense of fairness.
Holding Their Promises Up as a Mirror
Insurance companies spend millions on ads promising to be “like a good neighbor” or that “you’re in good hands.” These aren’t just slogans; they are public promises. When they are being difficult, quoting these promises back to them in your written communication is a powerfully effective strategy. “Your company’s slogan promises I’m ‘in good hands,’ yet the current offer doesn’t even cover the basic cost of materials. How does that align with your public promise?” This holds up a mirror to their own words and highlights the gap between what they promise and what they deliver.
Stop letting the adjuster change the subject. Do gently guide the conversation back to your unresolved issues instead.
Be a Broken Record of Politeness
Adjusters are often trained to deflect and pivot. When you ask about your repair payment, they might start talking about a different, unrelated document they need. This is a deliberate tactic to keep you off balance. Your job is to be a polite, professional, “broken record.” Let them finish, and then gently bring the conversation back: “I will be happy to get that for you, but first, we need to resolve the outstanding issue of the repair payment we were just discussing.” This polite persistence keeps the train on the tracks you set.
Stop accepting their verbal “denial.” Do demand a formal denial letter that specifies the policy language they are using instead.
Make Them Show You the Rule in the Rulebook
A verbal denial over the phone is meaningless. It’s a ghost. It has no substance and gives you nothing to fight against. If an adjuster denies any part of your claim, your immediate response must be: “Thank you for that information. Please send me a formal denial letter that specifically cites the exact language in my policy that you are using to deny this part of the claim.” This forces them to go on the record and hand you the very tool you need—their specific argument—to begin dismantling their position.
The #1 secret to dealing with a new adjuster mid-claim is to get a written summary of the claim status.
The “Previously On…” Recap for Your Claim
When a new adjuster takes over, they are often starting from scratch. They may not have read the whole file, leading to massive delays as they get up to speed. To prevent this, you must take control of the transition. Send a polite, detailed email to the new adjuster (and cc their supervisor) that summarizes the entire claim history: what’s been paid, what’s been submitted, what promises were made by the previous adjuster, and what the immediate next steps are. This creates an official “recap” and gets them on the right page immediately.
I’m just going to say it: Adjusters are trained negotiators; you are at a disadvantage without your own expert.
Don’t Step into the Ring with a Professional Boxer
Facing an insurance adjuster in a negotiation is like an amateur stepping into a boxing ring with a professional who has thousands of hours of training. The adjuster knows all the moves, the tactics to wear you down, and how to exploit your weaknesses. They do this every single day. You do this once a decade, if that. Hiring a public adjuster is like having your own professional boxing coach in your corner, guiding you, calling out the opponent’s moves, and giving you the expert strategy you need to win.
The reason the adjuster is using a “matching” clause to deny part of your claim is because it’s a common cost-saving tactic.
The Patchwork Quilt That Destroys Your Value
Imagine a hailstorm damages ten shingles on your roof. The insurance company agrees to pay to replace only those ten shingles, but the problem is your shingles are 15 years old and that color is no longer made. The result is a roof that looks like a patchwork quilt, which significantly lowers your home’s curb appeal and resale value. This “matching” issue is a huge fight, as insurers try to save money by fixing just the broken squares, while your property deserves to be made whole again.
If you’re still being adversarial without cause, you’re losing the potential for a reasonable negotiation.
You Can Catch More Flies with Honey Than with Vinegar
While you must be firm, starting every interaction with anger and aggression is like trying to put out a fire with gasoline. It puts the adjuster on the defensive and makes them want to fight back, not cooperate. The most effective stance is one of professional, relentless politeness. You can be incredibly tough and demanding without ever raising your voice. This approach, “killing them with kindness” while meticulously documenting everything, is far more likely to lead to a reasonable negotiation than starting a war from day one.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that the adjuster’s first estimate is based on a thorough inspection.
It’s a Quick Sketch, Not a Final Blueprint
The adjuster’s first estimate is not a document of facts; it is an opening offer in a negotiation. It is often created using software programmed with the cheapest local labor rates and basic material costs. The adjuster may walk through your house for 20 minutes, missing dozens of details that a professional contractor would spend hours finding. This estimate is a quick, lowball sketch designed to set a very low anchor for the negotiation. It is your job to present the detailed, realistic blueprint from your own contractor.
I wish I knew to be present for every single inspection the adjuster conducts.
Be the Narrator of Your Own Story
Allowing an adjuster to inspect your property alone is like letting the other team’s lawyer interview your key witness without you in the room. They will see what they want to see and create their own narrative. When you are present, you become the tour guide. You can point out hidden damage they might “miss,” explain how things were before the loss, and ensure their photos and notes accurately reflect the full scope of the problem. You are there to control the narrative and make sure your complete story is told.
99% of people make this one mistake: thinking the adjuster is the only person they can talk to at the insurance company.
Don’t Argue with the Cashier, Ask for the Manager
If a cashier at a store gives you an answer you don’t like, you don’t just walk away defeated. You know there is a manager, a corporate office, and a whole chain of command. It’s exactly the same with an insurance company. The adjuster is the frontline employee. If you reach a dead end with them, your next step is to find out who their direct supervisor is and escalate the issue. An adjuster’s “no” is often just an invitation to take your case to the next level of authority.