Most people have been brought up to respect authority and follow the rules. For example, if the bank officer says that interest rates on six-month CDs are 3%, you accept that. Likewise, if your child's teacher tells you that your child needs to work on penmanship, you'll help your child tidy up his writing. If the insurance adjuster says that your claim is worth $5000, you'll smile and take the settlement check to the bank.



But wait! That settlement check might not be enough to cover your losses! Many of your belongings may not have been represented and hidden damage may not have been discovered.

First, realize that your insurance company wants to: - Settle your claim as quickly as possible - Minimize their losses

While it's terrific to have a speedy claim, speed doesn't lend itself to thoroughness. If the insurance adjuster zips through your damaged home, he's less likely to notice all of the covered losses. Likewise, the adjuster represents the insurance company who employs him - not you. His loyalties lie with his employer who wants to save money in order to be profitable.

You can respect authority but you don't have to settle for less than you're entitled to. In fact, you can respectfully disagree with your insurance adjuster and ensure a fair settlement offer.

Doing so involves work on your part. You can't simply say, "I want more money." Instead, you must document why you need more money and present this information to the adjuster. This can be done on your own or with the help of other professionals such as contractors and public insurance adjusters.

When documenting damage on your own, you'll need a good digital camera with plenty of storage, a notebook, dedicated folder for receipts and estimates, and a detailed inventory of your damages. Start by taking pictures of everything related to your loss. Take notes documenting all conversations you've had with insurance companies, draw diagrams, and keep track of everything. Hang on to all receipts including those for emergency repairs, temporary living expenses, and anything else related to your loss.

Obtain your own estimates for repairs and replacements so that you have real world documentation to compare against your insurance adjuster's estimates. For example, if the insurance adjuster says that it will cost $70 to repair a flooded bathroom floor and you have estimates in hand from a legitimate contractor saying that repairs will cost $500, you will be in an excellent position to make sure that these repairs are fully paid for.

In this scenario, the adjuster may say all that's needed is a carpet cleaning while the contractor's estimate will dispute that by pointing out further damage requiring repairs such as drywall and wallpaper replacement, new flooring, and electrical repairs. If possible, ask your contractor to be present during the insurance adjuster's visit.

Do the legwork and you can have the final word.