6 Types of Residential Property Claims Handled by Claims Adjusters
Claims Adjuster
3 min read
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Many independent adjusters are prepared to tackle more than one type of claim. Why? Here are a couple of reasons: Being able to manage different categories of claims makes work more interesting and rewarding. It also can increase an adjuster’s earning potential by opening up more opportunities to get hired.
So, let’s take a look at six common types of homeowner claims handled by independent adjusters.
1. Catastrophe Claims
2. Wind and Hail Claims
3. Fire and Lightning Claims
4. Water Damage Claims
Accidental water damage can result from rain, snowmelt, water main breaks, or indoor plumbing failures, such as a leaky pipe or a backed-up drain. Mold damage, a related problem, can wreak havoc as well and requires safe, professional mitigation measures to prevent the spreading of dangerous mold spores.
Most homeowners’ coverage does not include flood insurance. But some insurance customers may have purchased a separate flood insurance policy to keep their homes protected.
What the assignment involves: inspecting and reporting on all water damage within a home, including signs of mold.
READ MORE: 7 Reasons to Create a Digital Floor Plan Sketch During Water Damage Assessment
5. Cleanup Claims
These types of job assignments can be classified as second-time-around claims. More specifically, a cleanup claim will surface out of an insured’s dissatisfaction with the outcome of a previous claim adjustment. This means a second home insurance adjuster is typically assigned to the case to help arrive at a resolution.
What the assignment involves: becoming familiar with the initial claim’s specifics and settlement; visiting and investigating the claim site; being extra meticulously and observant to spot previously overlooked damages; reporting on findings in a clear, thorough and detailed manner.
6. Daily Claims
Independent adjusters are responsible for handling a good amount of local or ‘daily’ claims that happen around the country. These are common claims that stem from everyday living and are usually smaller in scale. Causes vary, but include accidental mishaps such as broken windows.
Daily claims are typically less impactful than other types of claims, require little travel, and can provide a source of steady income for independent adjusters. These types of claims usually pay less than the larger claims listed above, but are faster and easier to process. Some independent adjusters even specialize in handling daily claims, avoiding other types of claims altogether.
What the assignment involves: being ready and willing to act at a moment’s notice; knowing how to collect a homeowners’ testimony and how to document physical evidence with photos and floor plan sketches (the same basic steps required for other types of claims).
A Time-Saving Tool for Handling Property Insurance Claims
Time is money, right? That’s why every independent adjuster can benefit from using a mobile floor plan app. It’s a digital drawing tool that allows floor plans to be created quickly, and then used to generate reports in record time.
A good-quality floor plan app will combine a high degree of augmented-reality automation with easy-to-use features to make the room-mapping process remarkably faster. By harnessing the power of this advanced and intuitive technology, independent adjusters can boost their productivity significantly. And that frees up more time to take on more claims.
Wrap-Up
If you are just starting a career as an independent adjuster, you can gain a lot by learning how to handle different types of insurance claims. The better you are at handling multiple claims, the more likely you are to boost your reputation, win more jobs and elevate your income!
Continue reading our guide on how to land work as an independent adjuster.
Or find out how to become an independent adjuster.
