Working with a Licensed Adjuster (and 3 Critical Questions to Ask)

A contractor who possesses the All Lines Adjuster License must complete extensive studies and pass a test to become licensed. This license includes property and casualty for residential, commercial, automobile, farm & ranch, inland marine, ocean marine, and Workers’ Compensation.

Earning the All-Lines insurance adjuster license certifies that an individual can handle all the different lines of insurance and truly represents the most comprehensive license available.

Line of Insurance

The following provides a bit more insight into the lines of insurance an All Lines Adjuster License holder is qualified to support.

• Residential – property used primarily for dwelling; this would include property damage including roof damage
• Commercial – property used for business, recreation, worship, etc. (not for a dwelling)
• Auto – cars, motorcycles, and covered vehicles used for non-commercial transport
• Farm & Ranch – dwelling, outbuildings, barns, animals, equipment, crops in storage (crops in the field typically require separate crop insurance)
• Inland Marine – commercial trucks in transit and their cargo; docks, piers, bridges
• Ocean Marine – sea vessels and their cargo (the first type of insurance as we know it today)
• Workers’ Compensation – workers injured while on the job

The staff at Metro City Roofing have earned this All Lines Adjuster License. We are better trained to inspect and assess damages with the same lens that your insurance adjuster will.

Different Types of Adjusters

Let’s discuss the different types of adjusters. The staff at Metro City Roofing are roofing contractors with the All Lines Adjuster License credentials.

Independent insurance adjusters generally work for independent adjusting firms. These individuals are deployed wherever needed on a contracted basis and represent the insurance company that contracts them. The city or state where an independent insurance adjuster lives has no bearing on where s/he works, so when meeting with an insurance adjuster representing your insurance company, this individual may not live locally. As contractors, independent adjusters work for themselves and can take deployments when and where they want.

Storm damage and catastrophes occur from coast to coast. Forest fires, floods, hailstorms, ice storms, earthquakes, or tornados are just a few of the major natural disasters that occur every year. For the insurance industry, these events mean the mass deployment of thousands of insurance adjusters all over the country.

By contrast, staff adjusters are salaried employees of the insurance company. They may still travel, but the likelihood is these insurance adjusters work within a specific region and often service the metropolitan area. Staff insurance adjusters have steady, reliable work from their insurance company, which is excellent for those who may need to stay close to home.

The tradeoff for working where you live is that compensation is usually lower than what an independent adjuster earns.

There is another type of adjuster – a public adjuster. A public adjuster is a professional insurance claims adjuster who advocates for the insurance policyholder in appraising and negotiating an insurance policyholder’s insurance settlement. State-licensed public adjusters can legally represent the rights of an insured during an insurance claim process.

All Lines Adjuster License Qualifications

• Age 18 years or older
• United States citizen or legal alien who possesses a work authorization from the US Immigration and Naturalization Services
• Complete the required All Lines Adjuster Pre-licensing coursework and certification testing
• Pass a background check, including fingerprint submission

We have a 99% success rate to successfully get your roof claim approved when we recommend you file an insurance claim.

What Roofing Contractors Can & Cannot Do

One cannot be both a contractor and an insurance adjuster; this would pose a conflict of interest. Contractors can inspect your property, write up an estimate of what it will take to restore your property, and complete an agreed scope of work. It is also proper for a roofing contractor to manage the insurance claims process on your behalf, including spending time with your insurance company to discuss the scope of your property insurance repairs.

A roofing contractor may also hold an All Lines Adjuster license, which will better equip him/her to inspect and assess any roofing damage with the same lens as an insurance adjuster.

3 Critical Questions and Answers About Your Homeowners Insurance Policy and Claims Process

The following are questions and answers we receive from homeowners associated with the insurance claims and roof replacement and restoration process when hail damage is involved.

Is the insurance adjuster’s estimate final?

No. There are many factors in this process. Commonly, your roofing contractor and the insurance adjuster will need to reconcile several items. As a homeowner, you should not be concerned that your initial insurance company estimate is different from your roofing contractor. Your roofing contractor should be your advocate to maximize your insurance claim value so you can confidently and thoroughly complete the scope of work. Your roofing contractor should also submit to include any code requirements so that your new roof replacement meets the current code.

What are the terms listed on my insurance estimate: RCV, ACV, and Depreciation?

RCV stands for Replacement Cost Value. RCV is the current retail value amount to replace your damaged items.

ACV is the Actual Cash Value, which is the RCV adjusted for age and condition. For example, if you have an asphalt shingle with a 30-year life expectancy and your roof is 15-years old. Your insurance claim RCV is $10,000. Your ACV would be $5,000 (50% of the $10,000).

Depreciation or Recoverable Depreciation is the difference between the RCV and the ACV. In the above example, this represents $5,000. Provided you have an RCV insurance policy, you are entitled to this $5,000. Depreciation is paid with most insurance companies after you or your roofing contractor submits a final invoice stating all work is completed.

Your Deductible is the amount for which you, as the policyholder, are responsible. The initial check you receive from your insurance company will also deduct for your Deductible. If you have a $1,000 deductible, per the example above, the initial check you receive will be $4,000 (ACV – Deductible). Once you complete all the work, you will receive your Depreciation.

Why is the check I received from my insurance company less than the total amount to replace my roof?

There are two main deductions from an insurance company’s estimate of what your roof replacement or roof repair will cost. The first is your Deductible, and the second is for Depreciation.

For our roofing customers, we will handle additional trades for your home, including gutters, insulation, painting, windows, skylights, solar, and more.