What the Insurance Adjuster Does
An adjuster inspects the damage, checks it against your policy, and estimates what the insurer should pay to repair or replace it.
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Who the adjuster works for
The adjuster who comes to inspect the damage is usually hired or employed by the insurance company, not you. Their estimate reflects what the insurer determines your policy owes. That's why it can come in lower than what repairs actually cost.
What they check against
The adjuster reads your policy's declarations page and the fine print on what's covered, then matches it to the damage they find. Anything excluded or capped in your policy, like certain water damage or a sublimit on jewelry, lowers the payout no matter what the repair costs.
How the payout is figured
Most adjusters estimate using the home's dwelling coverage limit, the deductible you owe first, and either the repair cost or your policy's depreciation rules. If your policy pays actual cash value instead of replacement cost, the estimate subtracts wear and age before you see a number.
If the offer is low
You can ask the insurer for the adjuster's full written estimate and compare it against independent repair quotes. If the gap stays large, most policies let you invoke an appraisal clause, hire a public adjuster, or file a complaint with your state's insurance department.
If this claim came in lower than expected, the adjuster's number was shaped by the policy already in place, not the one that would have paid it out fully. A policy with better replacement cost terms, a lower deductible, or higher sublimits on things like jewelry or water damage could have closed that gap. Comparing what's available now shows whether a different policy would have covered more before this happened again.
What happens during and after the adjuster's visit
The inspection itself is usually quicker than people expect. The adjuster walks the property, photographs the damage, takes measurements, and may pull up a roof or pull back drywall to see how far it goes. They're building a record, not making a decision on the spot. Most won't tell you a dollar figure while they're standing in your kitchen, and that's normal. The number comes later, after they've written it up and run it against your policy.
Before they arrive, it helps to have your own documentation ready. Photos or video of the damage, a list of what was affected, receipts or model numbers for anything destroyed, and any repair quotes you've already gathered. If you made emergency repairs to stop further damage, like tarping a roof, keep those receipts too. Most policies cover reasonable costs to prevent additional loss, and having proof of what you spent and why makes it harder for the adjuster's estimate to leave that out.
Once the written estimate comes, read it line by line against what you actually see in your home. Adjusters sometimes miss damage that's not visible from a quick walkthrough, like moisture trapped behind a wall or a cracked foundation under new flooring. If something's missing, you can ask for a follow-up inspection before accepting the offer. This is also the point where a second opinion matters most. A licensed contractor's estimate, based on actual bids for the repair work, carries weight when you're comparing it to what the insurer's adjuster wrote down.
If you disagree with the payout after that, you're not stuck with the first number. Send a written response laying out specifically where the estimate falls short, with your supporting documents attached. Insurers are used to this kind of back-and-forth and many claims get revised at this stage without needing to go further. Keep a copy of everything you send and everything they send back. If the claim drags on or the insurer stops responding, your state's insurance department can tell you what timelines the insurer is required to follow and how to file a complaint if they're not being met.
What to expect when the adjuster comes
The inspection itself is usually quicker than people expect. The adjuster walks the property, photographs the damage, takes measurements, and may pull up a section of roof or pull back drywall to see how far it goes. They're building a record, not making a decision on the spot. Most won't give you a dollar figure while they're standing in your kitchen, and that's normal. The number comes later, after they've written it up and run it against your policy.
Before they arrive, it helps to have your own documentation ready. Photos or video of the damage, a list of what was affected, receipts or model numbers for anything destroyed, and any repair quotes you've already gathered. If you made emergency repairs to stop further damage, like tarping a roof, keep those receipts too. Most policies cover reasonable costs to prevent additional loss, and proof of what you spent and why makes it harder for the estimate to leave that out.
Once the written estimate arrives, read it line by line against what you actually see in your home. Adjusters sometimes miss damage that isn't visible on a quick walkthrough, like moisture trapped behind a wall or a cracked foundation under new flooring. If something's missing, ask for a follow-up inspection before accepting the offer. This is also where a second opinion matters most. A licensed contractor's estimate, based on actual bids for the repair work, carries weight when set against what the insurer's adjuster wrote down.
If you disagree with the payout after that, you're not stuck with the first number. Send a written response laying out specifically where the estimate falls short, with your supporting documents attached. Insurers are used to this kind of back-and-forth, and many claims get revised at this stage without needing to go further. Keep a copy of everything you send and everything they send back. If the claim drags on or the insurer stops responding, your state's insurance department can tell you what timelines the insurer is required to follow and how to file a complaint if those aren't being met.
Before you sign anything
Check your declarations page for your dwelling limit, deductible, and whether you're covered at replacement cost or actual cash value. Those three numbers explain most of what the adjuster's estimate will say.
