When it comes to filing a property insurance claim, having a public adjuster on your side can be invaluable. In Florida, the maximum percentage that a public adjuster can charge for a claim is 20% of the claim paid after signing the contract with them. However, if the governor's office declares an emergency, that fee is reduced to 10% for any claim made in the first year after the date of loss. Public adjusters may also be paid an agreed hourly rate for the hours they work on a customer's complaint until it is resolved.
The most common rate structures for public appraisers include fixed rates, hourly rates, or contingency rates. It's important to note that independent appraisers represent an insurance company and will not work for a private client. A public adjuster can help policyholders reopen a claim and file a supplemental claim for additional payments with their insurer. The hourly rate will depend on the state you are in, the experience and knowledge of the public adjuster, your operating costs and the type of policy to which your application pertains.
If you have signed a public adjustment contract, your budget is included and you will not be separately billed for that service. Before entering into any agreement with a public adjuster, it's important to settle on a fee and form of payment. Highly qualified adjusters can be expected to be better able to achieve a higher benefit settlement amount than an adjuster who is not an expert. For more information about public adjusters in Florida, you may want to check with the state agency of public appraisers for more details.
In Georgia, this would be GAPIA.
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