Over the years, I’ve seen my fair share of complex property claims. And one question I keep coming back to is this:
Why don’t property insurance policies—especially on the residential or small commercial side—offer an option or endorsement that allows the policyholder to bring in their own coverage expert, like a licensed public adjuster?
In my work, I’ve come across some higher-end commercial policies that include provisions for hiring experts. These can be used to assist with things like preparing inventory documentation or analyzing business income loss. Those policyholders are often better positioned to navigate complex claims because they have professional help built into the policy.
But that kind of support hasn’t made its way into the standard residential or small business market—at least not that I’ve seen.
At the same time, insurance companies routinely bring in their own experts: engineers, consultants, preferred contractors. These services are covered by the policy and designed to support the carrier’s position.
So why isn’t there a similar option for policyholders who want professional representation on their side?
To be clear, not every claim requires a public adjuster. But when things get complicated—when there’s a dispute about scope, coverage, or value—having access to an expert who works solely for the policyholder can make all the difference.
I’m not making an argument here, just asking a question. One that I think deserves more attention:
Should policyholders have the ability to add coverage for their own representation when dealing with a property loss?
It’s something worth thinking about as we talk more about fairness, transparency, and balance in the claims process.