Frequently Asked Questions

What is a public adjuster & why do I need one?

Incurring serious property damage to your home or business often marks only the beginning of a difficult, stressful and uncertain time. Whether you have damage as a result of a sinkhole, hurricane, fire, water or wind, the burdens of proving and substantiating your losses are on you! Filing and substantiating your own insurance claim can be intimidating if not impossible and it involves an array of risks. If attempted on your own it will become a full time job! By hiring Smarto Public Adjusting Group licensed by the State of Florida as your Public Adjusting firm to represent your financial interests and help relieve you of the pressure and leveling the playing field for negotiations and a just settlement is just part of our representation. We document ever aspect of your loss to prove why the insurance company owes you much more than they are willing to pay.

What’s the difference between a Public Adjuster and an insurance adjuster?

• Company Adjusters work directly for an insurance company.
• Independent Adjusters contract with insurance companies to provide adjusting services.
• Public Adjusters are independent contractors that work for the policyholder in settling claims.
• As you can see a Company or Independent Adjuster works solely for the insurance company whereas a Public Adjuster works for you the insured!

Is it too late for you to help if I have received money on a claim?

Usually no. Florida allows up to five years to file a supplemental claim from the date of loss. If you feel you may have not been paid fairly or are just unsure, we will conduct a Free Claim Review and Free In-Home Inspection of Damages!

Why should I retain Smarto Public Adjusting to obtain what is rightfully due to me?

Preparing an insurance claim is a complicated and complex task. Left unchecked an insurance company will look out for their own bottom line and get away with paying you pennies on the dollar. I have always said “Insurance adjusters are not evil people they just don’t have the fiduciary interest or the drive to make sure every item of damage is accounted for.” Substantiating and documenting your loss is your job, not the job of the insurance company’s adjuster. There are just too many details and variables which arise that are often overlooked. Public Adjusters will almost always obtain much greater settlements than individuals, attempting resolving their claims on their own primarily because Public Adjusters know the “in’s and out’s” of the industry.

How is a Public Adjuster paid for their services?

We are paid a small fee on the total amount of money paid to you the insured. If we don’t help you collect then our fee is zero. Until money is collected from the Insurance Company we work for FREE.

Who do Public Adjusters represent?

Public Adjusters represent homeowners and business owners. Anyone who sustains damage to a particular property.

Can my agent help me with my claim?

Agents simply place you with your insurance company. That is where their responsibilities essentially end. An agent’s expertise is in selling insurance policies, thus they do not have the experience, license or the time to help with the complexities of a property damage claim.

When should I retain Smarto Public Adjusting to help me with my claim?

Timing is crucial in an all insurance claims. The earlier we are involved in a claim, the smoother the adjusting process generally proceeds. The insurance company often will not take certain positions when they know we are involved. Most people don’t understand that it is up to you, the insured, to prove your loss and that is where we come in. We will document what the damage is, how much it will cost to repair / replace the damage and why the insurance company needs to pay you more.

Will my insurance company cancel my policy if I hire a Public Adjuster?

No. It would be a serious violation for any insurance company to discriminate against you for hiring a public adjuster.