Frequently Asked Questions

A public adjuster is a licensed insurance professional who represents policyholders — not insurance companies — in property damage claims. They inspect damage, prepare detailed estimates, review policies, and negotiate directly with insurance carriers to maximize settlements. Public adjusters are licensed by state departments of insurance and must pass examinations and maintain continuing education. Learn more on our public adjusting page.

DCS PIA works on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we recover money on your claim. Our fee is a percentage of the settlement. There are no upfront costs, hourly fees, or charges if we don't recover.

The best time is before you file your claim, but we help at any stage: before filing (to ensure proper documentation), after a low offer (to negotiate for more), or after a denial (to reopen the claim). The sooner you involve us, the better — but it's never too late.

Your insurance company's adjuster works for and is paid by the carrier. Their job is to assess damage within the company's guidelines, which often results in lower estimates. A public adjuster works exclusively for you and has a financial incentive to maximize your settlement. Read our detailed comparison article.

Contractors repair damage; public adjusters handle the insurance claim. A contractor can provide a repair estimate, but they cannot legally negotiate with your insurance company on your behalf — that requires a public adjuster license. We work alongside your chosen contractor to ensure the insurance settlement covers the full repair cost.

Timelines vary based on claim complexity, carrier responsiveness, and damage extent. Simple claims may resolve in weeks; complex claims can take months. Having a public adjuster typically accelerates the process because we submit complete, professional documentation from the start.

At minimum: your insurance policy declarations page, photos of all damage, a detailed description of what happened and when, and any correspondence from your carrier. We help gather everything — start with what you have and we'll guide you on the rest.

In many cases, yes. If you discover additional damage after settlement, or if the original settlement was insufficient to cover repairs, you can file a supplement. Texas and Florida both allow supplemental claims. Contact us to review your situation.

A denial is not necessarily final. Common wrongful denial reasons include misapplication of exclusions, failure to investigate, and cause-of-damage disputes. We review denied claims, gather additional evidence, and resubmit. See our denied claims page for more.

Generally yes, if the damage was sudden and accidental — like a burst pipe or appliance failure. Most policies exclude gradual leaks, flood (requires separate policy), and maintenance issues. See our water damage claims page for details.

It depends on the cause. Mold resulting from a covered water loss (like a burst pipe) is typically covered, though Texas policies often cap mold coverage at $25,000. Mold from neglect or maintenance is not covered. See our mold damage page.

A regular deductible is a flat dollar amount. Hurricane/wind-hail deductibles are usually a percentage of your dwelling coverage (1-5%), which means they can be thousands of dollars higher. In Texas, wind/hail deductibles are often 1-2% of dwelling coverage.

This covers the cost of bringing your property up to current building codes during repairs. If your home was built under older codes, repairs may need to meet newer standards — and that extra cost is covered under ordinance and law (if your policy includes it).

If your home is uninhabitable due to covered damage, ALE covers reasonable costs for temporary housing, meals, and other expenses above your normal living costs. This is a commonly overlooked coverage that we always pursue for displaced policyholders.

Texas Insurance Code Chapter 542 (the Prompt Payment of Claims Act) requires insurers to acknowledge claims within 15 days, investigate within 45 days, and pay within 5 business days of approval. Violations can result in 18% annual interest penalties. See our Texas homeowners rights article.

Many Texas policies use a percentage deductible for wind/hail claims (typically 1-2% of dwelling coverage) instead of a flat dollar amount. On a $300,000 home, a 2% deductible means $6,000 out of pocket before insurance pays.

Florida Statute §626.9744 requires that when an insurer repairs or replaces damaged property, the result must match in quality, color, and appearance to adjacent undamaged areas. This often means replacing an entire roof or section rather than just patching the damaged area.

Florida hurricane deductibles are typically 2-5% of dwelling coverage and apply once per hurricane season (not per storm event). On a $400,000 home with a 2% deductible, you'd pay $8,000 before coverage kicks in.

We serve the Greater Houston, Texas metropolitan area (Harris, Montgomery, Galveston, Fort Bend, Brazoria, and Polk counties) and South Florida (Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties). See all our service areas.

Yes. We handle commercial property claims of all sizes — office buildings, retail, warehouses, restaurants, and multi-family properties. We also handle business interruption and extra expense claims. See our commercial claims page.

Call us at 833-4UR-LOSS (833-487-5677) or submit a free claim review. We'll review your situation at no cost and let you know how we can help.