Chances are, this is your first or second time needing to deal with an insurance company over minor to major damage to your property. This is also probably the first time that you have hired a public adjuster like our team of disaster experts here at Bulldog Adjusters. Across this blog, we’ll go over what you can expect from our expert team here at Bulldog and walk you through the steps of the insurance claim process.
First, as part of the process of filing a claim, we begin by coordinating an inspection with your insurance company and our representative to show them the damage.
The insurance company’s adjuster will have asked for the following information:
The date of loss – This is the date that the damage/loss occurred and it’s necessary so they can confirm that the policy was in effect when the damage occurred.
What caused the loss – this information is used to determine coverage within your policy
What action you took to stop further damage – your insurance company will need to know that you took steps to protect your home from further damage as that is one of the main duties following loss (ie., tarping, dry out, etc.).
Our adjusters and in-house estimation team will prepare a written estimate which includes a detailed line by line item scope and damage report for the sole purpose of repairs. Once the estimate is completed, we’ll present it to you for approval and then submit it to the insurance company.
Your insurance company may also request additional documentation – which we will prepare for you – to further investigate your claim, this includes but is not limited to:
- Proof of Loss statement
- Receipts, invoices, and bills that pertain to your claim
- Recorded statements
- Contractor or Repair Proposals
After the initial inspection, your insurance company may request to send out a contractor and/or an engineer for any further property inspections. Our adjusters will make sure that this inspection is scheduled according to YOUR schedule.
After their inspections are completed, your insurance company will review their adjuster’s report and documents. This is one of the parts of this process that may be considered “lengthy” as your insurance company may take a while to go over the documentation that we provide in order to try and deny or lowball your claim.
Please be aware that insurance carriers have 90 days to make their decision on an initial file. We closely monitor this time frame throughout all the required steps making sure that your insurance company doesn’t blow past its deadlines. During this time, our team at Bulldog Adjusters will diligently pursue your claim settlement and reach out regularly in order to get updates on your behalf.
Finally, once your insurance company makes a determination on your claim, we will review their response and determine the best approach for settlement.
In the more likely case that your insurance company offers a lowballed settlement or denies your claim, that’s when Bulldog Adjusters’ expert negotiators can work their magic to ensure you get the results that you deserve.
Even if your claim is denied or low-balled, our team will keep fighting to obtain the settlement you deserve and that will help you bring your home back to pre-loss conditions. Bulldog Adjusters knows how to handle tough situations. As disaster experts, we stay on top of the latest in property insurance laws so YOU don’t have to worry. Whether you’re dealing with a five-alarm fire, a pipe break, or damage from a natural disaster such as a hurricane, trust Bulldog to have your back!
When you file a property damage claim with us, you’ll always get our full attention towards ensuring that you’ll get the largest possible settlement in the end!
