Check credentials and experience
Ask for the adjuster’s full name, business name, and applicable license details. Use your state insurance department to check current requirements, license status, and available disciplinary information.
Ask about experience with claims like yours and request references. Discuss who will inspect the property and who will handle your file. A directory profile is a starting point for these checks.
Compare the work and total cost
Ask each adjuster to explain the same scenario so you can compare proposals. A percentage alone does not tell you the amount you will owe.
- Which services, inspections, and documents are included?
- What amount is the fee based on: the entire settlement or another amount?
- Could a fee apply to money already offered or paid?
- What would I owe if there is no additional payment?
- Are there separate expenses, and how are they approved?
Read the agreement before signing
Review the named parties, services, payment terms, communication arrangements, and cancellation provisions. Ask for unclear language to be explained and keep a complete copy of the agreement.
License rules, fee limits, and cancellation rights vary by state. Confirm what applies with your state insurance department rather than relying on a rule from another jurisdiction. Do not treat a promise of a particular settlement as a guaranteed result.
These guides provide general education. Your policy, circumstances, and state requirements determine what applies to your claim. Sources from individual states support questions to ask; their rules do not apply nationwide.
Find your state insurance department