You just had a pipe burst in your basement. Or a storm ripped shingles off your roof. You filed an insurance claim, and now someone from the insurance company is coming out to "assess the damage."
Here is the part most people do not realize: that adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you.
Their job is to settle your claim for as little as possible. That is not a conspiracy theory. That is just how the business works.
So who is looking out for you? That is where a public adjuster comes in.
What Does a Public Adjuster Actually Do?
A public adjuster is a licensed insurance professional who represents you, the policyholder, during the insurance claims process. We review your policy, document the damage, prepare the claim, and negotiate directly with your insurance company on your behalf.
Think of it this way: if you got sued, you would hire your own attorney. You would not rely on the other side's lawyer to treat you fairly. The same logic applies to insurance claims.
A public adjuster handles the entire process from start to finish:
- Reviewing your insurance policy to understand exactly what you are covered for
- Documenting every bit of damage with photos, measurements, and detailed reports
- Preparing a comprehensive claim estimate that accounts for the full cost of repairs
- Negotiating with the insurance company to make sure you receive a fair settlement
- Handling paperwork and deadlines so nothing falls through the cracks
Three Types of Adjusters (and Only One Works for You)
This is where things get confusing for most homeowners. There are actually three types of adjusters involved in insurance claims, and understanding the difference matters.
1. Company Adjusters (Staff Adjusters)
These are salaried employees of your insurance company. They show up after you file a claim, look at the damage, and write an estimate. They are decent people doing a job, but their employer is the insurance company. Their goal is to close the claim quickly and cost-effectively for their employer.
2. Independent Adjusters
These adjusters are contractors hired by the insurance company when they are short-staffed or when a big storm hits and claims pile up. Despite the word "independent," they are still working on behalf of the insurer. Same incentives, different employment arrangement.
3. Public Adjusters
Public adjusters are the only type of adjuster who works exclusively for you. We are licensed by the state, we answer to you, and we only get paid when you get paid. That is a huge difference.
Why Most People Have Never Heard of Public Adjusters
If public adjusters are so helpful, why does almost nobody know we exist?
Simple: insurance companies do not advertise our existence. There is no pamphlet in your policy packet that says "By the way, you can hire your own adjuster." It is not in their interest to tell you.
Most people find out about public adjusters one of two ways:
- They get a lowball settlement offer and start searching for answers online.
- A friend or neighbor who used one tells them about the experience.
The insurance industry has been around for centuries. Public adjusters have been around almost as long. But the industry prefers that you do not know about us.
When Should You Hire a Public Adjuster in Ohio?
Not every claim needs a public adjuster. If you have a small, straightforward claim and your insurance company is handling it fairly, you might be fine on your own.
But you should seriously consider hiring a public adjuster if:
- Your claim is large or complex. Think fire damage, major water damage, or significant storm damage. The bigger the claim, the more room there is for the insurance company to underpay.
- Your claim was denied. A denial is not always the final word. Public adjusters reopen and win denied claims regularly.
- You received a lowball offer. If the insurance company's estimate does not come close to covering your actual repair costs, that is a problem we can fix.
- You do not have time to fight. Managing a major claim is practically a part-time job. Between documentation, phone calls, and follow-ups, it can eat up weeks of your time.
- You are dealing with commercial property damage. Business owners cannot afford to wait months for a fair settlement. Revenue is on the line.
How the Contingency Fee Works (No Upfront Cost)
Here is the part people love: you do not pay a public adjuster anything upfront.
Public adjusters work on a contingency fee basis. That means we only get paid a percentage of the settlement we recover for you. If we do not get you money, you owe us nothing.
It works a lot like hiring a personal injury attorney. The risk is on us to deliver results.
In Ohio, contingency fees for public adjusters typically range from 5% to 15% of the claim settlement, depending on the size and complexity of the claim.
Here is the math that matters: if your insurance company offered you $15,000 on a claim, and a public adjuster gets that increased to $45,000, even after paying the adjuster's fee, you are still walking away with significantly more money than you would have had on your own.
Ohio Licensing: What to Look For
In Ohio, public adjusters must be licensed by the Ohio Department of Insurance. This is not optional. Anyone offering public adjusting services without a license is breaking the law.
When hiring a public adjuster in Ohio, make sure they:
- Hold a valid Ohio public adjuster license
- Carry errors and omissions insurance
- Have a track record of successful claims in your area
- Are willing to explain their fee structure in writing before you sign anything
At Always Thankful Claims, founder Shukri Salem holds Ohio Public Adjuster License #1714261 and is HAAG Certified, which means he has specialized training in assessing roof and storm damage. That combination of licensing and certification means your claim is backed by real expertise.
The Bottom Line
You pay for insurance every single month. When something goes wrong, you deserve every dollar your policy entitles you to. A public adjuster makes sure that happens.
The insurance company has an entire team working on their side. You should have someone on yours.