Ben Johnson is a licensed Texas public adjuster that lives and works in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. He brings to his position a well-established background, starting with running a flooring store for 10 years, to working in the telecommunications industry for 15 years. He worked for 3 different public adjusting firms before creating his own adjusting firm. In the past few years, he has built up a strong network connection with attorneys who can litigate claims if necessary.
Why Do I Need a Public Adjuster?
Why Do I Need a Public Adjuster?
Why Do I Need a Public Adjuster?
I can file my own claim, why would I need you? The average consumer files only 1 insurance claim in their lifetime. Many of these claims are well into the thousands of dollars. If you only had one opportunity at filing a claim that you have never done before and it involved your property that would cost you time and money to repair or replace, would you take this issue and handle it yourself? Or would you trust the ability of an experienced adjuster to guide you in making wise decisions as you proceed? Do you know the proper time frames to expect a response? Do you know how to respond when you do not have correspondence from your carrier? Have you fulfilled all your responsibilities under the duties of the insured in the policy? How long do you have to file a claim? How long do you have to repair the damage after you have received the funds from the carrier? What if the estimate is short? An experienced public adjuster can answer all of these questions.
Difficult Claims
Why Do I Need a Public Adjuster?
Why Do I Need a Public Adjuster?
Some of the more difficult claims to move forward include wind claims, even when the wind has removed shingles. The best situation is to always claim wind and hail. Typically, the carrier will hire a engineer to evaluate if the damage is enough to pay for full replacement, which is why you will need to hire your own engineer or public adjuster to move the claim forward. The guideline always includes if there was a storm created opening. What if there isn't? What if a leak occurred inside after the storm that wasn't there before? If a leak was caused by the storm, it's a part of the claim whether there is a "storm created opening" or not. Know your rights and know that you need to be made whole. Hiring a public adjuster will ensure you are treated fairly and are indemnified.
Know the Guidelines
Why Do I Need a Public Adjuster?
Receiving Payment From the Carrier
Guidelines are what insurance companies use to clearly define what can and cannot be considered damage to a property. This makes sense because without some boundary, all items would be considered damaged and would be a loss for the insurance industry every time. Some of these guidelines are within reason and some are not. As an insured you may not know where the guidelines fall. Many of the guidelines are subjective in nature and are neither reasonable nor realistic. Having someone on your team that has experience and a basic knowledge of where guidelines fall is a real advantage to you, the insured.
Receiving Payment From the Carrier
Receiving Payment From the Carrier
Receiving Payment From the Carrier
You have filed and claim and the carrier has sent you a check. Does cashing it mean you agree with their estimate? In a word, NO. When they send you the check this is not a settlement notice. Take the check and deposit the funds. However, if you don't do anything else, this may very well be the only check you will receive, especially if you don't take action and fulfill your duties under the loss. You have informed them you have a claim. Now tell them how much you expect them to pay for the damages. Begin the process of getting estimates to them. Document all interactions and start recording your conversations with them on the phone, create a file that includes photos, the actual policy, and the estimates the time logs of how long the carrier is taking. Treat this claim like it may not go your way. Eighty-six percent of insured do not fight back against their carrier, even when the estimate will not cover the costs of repair. The loyalty to the carrier is really amazing. If you are not interested in hiring a professional to handle and assist your claim, then at least start collecting estimates for the proper repair of your property. The carrier will only take the claim as seriously as the insured does.
Home Burst Pipes
Receiving Payment From the Carrier
Business Burst Pipes
My house just had pipes burst, now what? 1. Turn off the water: Your duty as the insured is to protect your home. Part of that is to stop the further damage to the property. 2. Mitigate the damage: Either do it yourself or hire a company to do it but get that water out of your house! 3. Take an inventory of all contents damaged: Everything not attached to the structure is typically considered personal contents and will need to be accounted for. The structure will come later. 4. Take photos of everything: You should have at least 200 photos of what has happened in your home. Make sure you can tell the story by the pictures alone. This includes contents, the damaged area, the thermostat setting, the temperature gauge, the water shutoff valve, the pipe that bursts - all of it. 5. Call in the claim to the insurance company: This is very important. Tell the operator the time, the date, and that it is water damage. Do not say “FLOOD” or “MOLD.” These words trigger certain guidelines that will limit or eliminate coverage for the entire claim. 6. Collect your own estimates: Do not wait for the insurance company to give you an estimate. Get your own. Tell them how much it will take to fix your house. Tell them how much it will be to stay elsewhere during reconstruction. Tell them or they will tell you. 7. Save all receipts: Start a new file for everything this is costing you above and beyond your normal lifestyle: dining out, hotels, drying fans, tarps, spoiled food in the refrigerator, gas to and from work, city permits, estimates from contractors, plumbers, electricians, cabinet builders, receipts from the kennel for your animals, etc. 8. Document all interactions: Keep a journal. Record conversations with adjusters, write down all approved and disapproved items on your estimates, note the date, time and who was being spoken to about what. Be prepared for 3-4 months of turmoil in getting back to normal. 9. Request a full copy of your policy: Knowing what is covered and what is not covered, deadlines to send in documents to the claim, and how long you have to begin the work on the repairs is important. Knowing what time frames to expect from the carrier will keep you from being frustrated as well. What is your deductible? Is the mortgagee correct on the policy? By law the carrier is allowed to review your estimates and get back to you within certain time frames. Hiring a public adjuster will take away many worries and frustrations and will ensure the thoroughness needed to properly document your claim.
Business Burst Pipes
Receiving Payment From the Carrier
Business Burst Pipes
My business just had pipes burst. Where do I begin? 1. Turn off the water: Your duty as the insured is to protect your property. Part of that is to stop further damage. 2. Mitigate the damage: Hire a water mitigation company to remove the water. Do not hire out of towners, only local companies. 3. Business interruption: Most businesses will have BI coverage. Engage your accountant now to start averaging the last 3 years of revenue to provide an average of future revenue for the next 12 months. This includes outflows as well, such as payroll. This takes time, so start the process now. 4. Blueprints: If you have blueprints of the property, this will be an amazing time saver in reconstructing the property on paper. Your GC needs to provide an estimate based on what the structure’s current state is. The carrier will not pay for upgrades you may plan to do. 5. Code compliant: If you have non-code compliant items on your property that now need to be upgraded due to new city ordinances, you should have coverages for this in your policy. Request the policy and review this section to see how much coverage you have. 6. Prepare as though you are going to trial: Keep meticulous notes concerning every interaction, receipt, estimate, time frame, mitigation, accountant fees, attorneys fees, public adjuster fees, GC fees, and permits. Be organized and realize this claim is now your new job for the next few weeks/months, unless you hire a public adjuster to manage it. We can help you get your business back up and running.
A few of our clients' settlements with the help of TPA:
- Cat 3 water backup offered $8,424, settled for $231,586
- Interior water damage offered $49,047, settled for $175,000
- Interior frozen pipe denied claim ($0), settled for $104,236
- Interior water damage offered $89,297, settled for $240,456
- Wind & hail damage to roof denied claim ($0), settled for $79,692
- Wind & hail damage to roof denied claim ($0), settled for $32,407
- House fire offered $577,982, settled for $767,577
- Wind & hail damage to roof offered $11,963, settled for $94,272
- Wind & hail damage to roof denied claim ($0) , settled for $60,342
Meet the Texas Public Adjusting Team
Ben Johnson
Samantha Reyna
Samantha Reyna
Ben is originally from Florence, TX and graduated from Texas A&M in 1999. He has been married to Grace since 1998 and they have 4 children, including Samantha. He has been in the Dallas area since 2007. Ben has had a career in the flooring industry and tel-com and believes in a hands on approach in his work.
Samantha Reyna
Samantha Reyna
Samantha Reyna
Samantha was born in Bryan, TX and has lived in The Colony for the last 17 years. She worked in dentistry out of high school for 5 years before becoming a public adjuster. She enjoys being able to help people with their claims and is glad to be a part of a family-run business.
Grace Johnson
Samantha Reyna
Grace Johnson
Grace is originally from Corpus Christi, TX and has been married to Ben since 1998. She was a radio DJ before becoming a mom of 4. She has mostly been a stay at home mom since. She recently had her own Etsy shop but now helps run the back office with Samantha. In her spare time she loves watching college football as well as making leather goods.
The Best of Texas Public Adjusting
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More Articles
Knowing How to Battle
Homeowner Insurance Premiums
Homeowner Insurance Premiums
Having been thrust onto the field of battle not of your choosing, your next most important mission to succeed is to collect information. You need to know the lay of the land, your position in it, and the opposing sides fortified position. What do you have at your disposal and where is the battle? The opposing force has been here before and knows the battle well, so gather information. Do it quickly because the fight has already started. Fill your mind with knowledge of the tactics that the insurance company uses in their processes. Know what pitfalls are out there to keep you from reaching the goal of full indemnity. Do not be lulled into thinking that there is no battle. Always fight to win.
Homeowner Insurance Premiums
Homeowner Insurance Premiums
Homeowner Insurance Premiums
In 1995, the average yearly insurance premium was $418 per year. Today the average is $1,784. That means that for 28 years you will, on average, pay $30,828 in premiums. The average insurance claim in America currently is $13,962.
I had a sweet, elderly client tell me they had not filed a claim in the 50+ years they had their insurance, but when they finally did for 3" hail that demolished their roof, she could not fathom why the carrier denied their claim. I gently explain it like this: the insurance company sees you like the farmer sees his chickens. The day you stop paying premiums and laying those golden eggs and start filing claims is the day your head is chopped off and you go in the pot. There is no love for the insured and no loyalty either. They do appreciate your premiums, which is what they will use to purchase skyscrapers in the downtown metro areas, and of course, pay themselves large corporate bonuses. Sometimes I wonder if a large savings account would be better than paying premiums.
Swollen Wood Floors
Homeowner Insurance Premiums
Swollen Wood Floors
If water has been on your wood floors for any length of time, your floors will probably experience swelling. Sometimes the swelling can be dried out if you address them quickly with a mitigation company. However, many times the damage is too far gone. The pressure of the swelling wood can crack baseboards, damage cabinets and countertops, and even ruin paint. Is your insurance adjuster going to include these items into your estimate? What about the appliances and backsplash? Can the cabinets be detached and reset? How do supplements work? A public adjuster works with your contractor to make sure all the line items in your estimate are accounted for. This needs to be done before submitting your proof of loss to the carrier. Without it being done correctly many items in the estimate will be lost and not paid for correctly.
Fire Claims
How to Handle a Claim
Swollen Wood Floors
The most notable thing about fire claims is that the fire doesn't always consume everything. There are always items that remain that are still identifiable and some items can even be cleaned. Just because an item survives a fire doesn't mean that it can't be replaced. These items must be accounted for and added to the claim. The carrier typically hires a 3rd party contractor to account for personal belongings lost in a fire. I have yet to have one of these companies over-count my estimates. I typically count 3 times as much and come close to, if not surpassing, policy limits. If this were my home, I would want every single item accounted for. We can help you do that.
How to Handle a Claim
How to Handle a Claim
How to Handle a Claim
When damage happens to your property, what do you do? What are the first steps? How do you handle this large problem that has been dumped in your lap? Take a moment and consider you have the strength to handle this. You will need help, and without a doubt you will need advice. The wise will seek council. Add to your team those that will help you get back to being whole again.
Fight Your Claim
How to Handle a Claim
How to Handle a Claim
In the 1960s, the KGB did some fascinating psychological experiments. They learned that if you bombard human subjects with fear messages nonstop, in 2 months or less most of the subjects are completely brainwashed to believe the false message to the point that no amount of clear information they are shown to the contrary can change their mind. For this reason, when clients tell me the story about how they had paid premiums for over 20 years and that they felt like they were in good hands until they weren't, I have great empathy for each one of them. We have all been told by advertisements how dependable and reliable and great the carriers are, but what happens when that is not the case? What happens when they don't treat you like a good neighbor, or give you the results you need? You really have 2 options: 1. You can sit back and continue to be mistreated or 2. You can fight it. Hiring a public adjuster levels the playing field and ensures a fair fight.