When your home is damaged by a hurricane, fire, or a busted pipe, you expect your insurance company to step up. Instead, you’re thrown into a fight you didn’t sign up for—one where the opponent has the rulebook rigged in their favor.
At the heart of this battle? Insurance adjusters. These are the people standing between you and the money you need to repair your home. And not all adjusters are created equal. Some work for the insurance company, some for third-party firms, but none of them work for you.
Here’s what you need to know about the three types of adjusters you will fight with—and how to protect yourself.
1. The Staff Adjuster: The Company Man
These are full-time employees of your insurance company. They wear the company badge, attend company meetings, and follow company orders. Their paycheck comes from the insurer, and their primary job is to protect the company’s bottom line—not to get you the best payout.
What to Expect:
• A friendly face with a hidden agenda – They’ll act helpful, but their training prioritizes saving the insurer money over paying your claim fairly.
• Scripted decisions – They are trained to follow internal policies that minimize payouts. If you push back, they often ‘need to check with their manager.’
• Quick but lowball settlements – They want to close claims fast and for as little as possible. The less you push, the less they pay.
How to Fight Back:
✓ Don’t accept the first offer. It’s almost always lower than what you deserve.
✓ Request everything in writing. Insurance companies love verbal promises that they later ‘forget.’
✓ Get your own estimates. Never trust the adjuster’s numbers without independent verification.
2. The Independent Adjuster: The Freelancer with a Quota
The name ‘independent adjuster’ makes it sound like they’re neutral. They’re not. They work for independent adjusting firms that are hired by insurance companies to handle claims when there’s a high volume, like after hurricanes or other disasters.
What to Expect:
• Inconsistent experience levels – Some are seasoned professionals, others are fresh out of a two-week crash course. You never know what you’re going to get.
• A rush job – They’re overloaded with claims, so they might miss important damage or rely on incomplete information.
• No real authority – Even if they wanted to pay your claim fairly, they don’t have the power to make the final call. They report back to the insurer, and the insurer decides.
How to Fight Back:
✓ Ask for their license number and background. Know who you’re dealing with.
✓ Make them document everything. If they skip parts of the inspection, call them out on it.
✓ Request a second opinion. If they’re rushing through, you have the right to dispute their assessment.
3. The Desk Adjuster: The Remote Rejection Specialist
The desk adjuster is the one you never meet in person. They’re sitting in a call center or home office, reviewing your claim from behind a computer screen. They rely on photos, phone calls, and sometimes AI-generated estimates—but they’re the ones deciding what gets paid.
What to Expect:
• Low authority, but high denial rates – Their job is to find ways to reduce or deny claims based on policy loopholes.
• A reliance on questionable estimates – If a field adjuster’s report is incomplete, they’ll still base their decision on it.
• Excuses and delays – Need more money? They’ll say they need ‘manager approval,’ which drags things out.
How to Fight Back:
✓ Challenge their findings. If they underpay or deny your claim, demand specific reasons and proof.
✓ Provide your own documentation. Don’t rely on their photos—submit your own evidence.
✓ Escalate when needed. If they’re stonewalling you, request a supervisor or file a complaint.
The Bottom Line: This Is a Fight—Be Ready
Insurance adjusters may wear different hats, but they all serve one master: the insurance company. Their goal isn’t to help you—it’s to pay as little as possible and close the claim quickly.
You don’t have to accept their first offer, their delays, or their denials. You have rights, and you have options:
✓ Hire a public adjuster – Someone who works for you, not the insurer.
✓ Demand an appraisal – If their numbers don’t match reality, you can fight back.
✓ Document everything – The more evidence you have, the stronger your case.
Your insurance company isn’t going to play fair. That’s why you need to fight smarter.
Need Help With Your Claim? Contact Me Today!
You are up against a billion-dollar industry that has perfected the art of underpaying and denying claims. Their policies, procedures, and adjuster training are all designed to work against you. You need an advocate who knows how to fight back.
If your claim has been denied or underpaid, I can help. I spent years working for insurance companies, and now I use that knowledge to fight for homeowners like you.