Top 10 Most Used Home Insurance Claim Adjuster Secret Tactics
If you have insured your home and are filing for an insurance claim, you can expect the visit of a home insurance claim adjuster. What they do is inspect your home and make sure that whatever you are claiming is legit.
Most people are unaware that these home insurance adjusters are rigorously trained in sophistication, making sure that they ask all the right questions and ensure that there are no loopholes in the story.
On the other hand, some insurance companies can even hire adjusters who work like contractors to use different sleigh techniques in the hopes of you minimizing the actual value of the claims you have initially made.
In this article, we will discuss ten home insurance claim adjusters’ secret tactics, which can give you an idea about what they do and how you can avoid manipulation.
What does a home insurance claim adjuster do?
Home Insurance adjusters ensure that the claims you make about the damages incurred in your home are legitimate. Once they investigate and examine the extent of the damages you are claiming from your insurance company, they will give you an estimate of how much the company owns you and approve your claims so that you will get the compensation you are owed through your insurance company.
They are the ones who examine the extent of the damage incurred, gather evidence as well as determine the total value of everything that has been lost. Only through the adjusters’ approval will the company fund your needs according to your claims.
It’s in your favor to avoid catastrophic damage to your house as much as possible, so you don’t have to deal with this in the first place. It’s always best to be informed about disaster management and how you can avoid them, such as fire safety practices.
You can also read up on tips about how you can respond to natural calamities like tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods to be on the safe side.
Top 10 most used home insurance claim adjuster secret tactics
Getting you to admit your fault:
Adjusters will try their best to put words in your mouth and get you to admit that you were at fault. The claims can be minimized if they try to coax you into admitting that it was wholly or partially your fault. They are trying to manipulate your answers to get the one they want to hear.
If these home insurance claim adjusters’ secret tactics are new to you, it might be easy to get fooled by their words and unknowingly fall into their trap. It’s a very vulnerable position to be in but try to stand your ground and remain unmoved by their suggestions.
Giving you fake deadlines:
The ultimate goal for any insurance claims adjuster is to get the lowest insurance claim possible from the clients. They will give you an unreasonably low offer compared to what you are claiming and tell you that you have a set deadline to accept the offer, or else it goes off the table.
This is a common tactic to get people in a frenzy and think, “something is better than nothing,” when you could have demanded more. The reality is that you have every right to ask for more money than what they are trying to settle for.
The lowball offer:
Adjusters will always give you a lower offer than what you initially claimed. This is just their way of making you feel like you have overestimated your claims from the beginning.
While this is not the case, many people fall for this undervalued tactic and usually come to an agreement in the middle, which was what the adjuster wanted in the first place.
Long-drawn negotiations:
Because the end goal of an adjuster is to get you to settle for less, they will draw out the negotiations so long that you eventually feel fatigued. They want you to be so sick and tired of the process that you eventually give in and settle.
Don’t fall for this tactic. Instead, stand and fight teeth and bone for what is rightfully yours to claim.
Insurance policy loopholes:
If you’ve ever signed an insurance policy, you know the lengthy pages of rules and regulations. This is done to get you to overlook some of the points that might not favor what you want.
They will use these reasons to tell you that you don’t have coverage for certain damage in your home, which is usually a policy loophole they found. You should have in-depth knowledge about Homeowners Insurance before signing any contract. You can even hire a professional to help you understand the policies.
Asking for credentials:
Some adjusters will even ask you for documents that are not necessary for the process. This is a way for them to get you to panic.
They know you don’t have the said documentation, but they ask for it anyway to make it seem like you don’t have the required tools to carry the process forward.
Delaying the process:
All insurance claims adjusters know that time is money, so they will do whatever they can to delay the process for as long as possible. This puts you in a position of frustration and urgency, which means that you are more likely to accept any offer they put on the table, regardless of whether it is much lower than what you initially claimed.
Telling you not to get an attorney:
Adjusters like to be the only “professional” on the job when they are dealing with insurance claims. Hence they will always advise you against hiring an attorney who might reveal their secret tactics.
They will give you points like how it is a waste of money or against the policies, but it is not valid. When you have an attorney by your side, there is a higher chance that you will end up with more settlement money than without.
Faking kindness:
Adjusters know just how to play into the hearts of their clients. Once they have your trust, they know that you believe whatever they say, so you’ll probably end up agreeing to whatever settlement they come up with.
While it is okay to be civil to them, there’s no need to show vulnerability because they are not your friends.
Making fake promises:
Insurance home adjusters will do what it takes to settle for a lowball offer. They will even make false promises that they say are in your favor, but in reality, it plays the odds against your interests.
Their main priority is getting paid for their job, not their well-being. Some adjusters even get paid bonuses for a lower settlement so that you could be just another one of their baits.
Closing thoughts:
Home insurance claims adjusters are equipped with many tricks and tactics that might even frustrate you during the inspection, but it is all part of the process.
These home insurance claim adjuster secret tactics exist to ensure that you are not staging a fake scene for insurance claims and, at the same time, trying to cut a cheaper deal with you which is just as bothersome.
Above all, it is good practice always to read end to end on Claims Information, so you are always at the top of your game.
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