You can expect the biggest lowball scam that exists. $1 for every $10 that you need. Hire a public adjuster.

We had to put in a claim for roof damage last week with USAA, and adjuster was great. As soon as he saw that that was our first claim in over 24 years, everything was smooth sailing.

What akrogirl said.

Thank you! I feel like I have a lot of damage and we have a good policy but would like for this to go as quickly as possible! We dont have a stove or a sink right now but we haven’t been advised on how we can use the loss of use policy that we are covered for so things haven’t been going great so far. Hoping we have a great adjuster that I don’t have to go back and forth with when the major damage is obvious!

I had a minor flood last year caused by an idiot upstairs - I am in a high rise.

I had the emergency water remediation come out to dry out the walls. I needed an asbestos remediation company to check for asbestos and then they had to be paid to remove the drywall because it contained asbestos. I then had to have the drywall installed AND there was damage to the ceiling because the asbestos people tape up a plastic "room" and the tape destroyed the ceiling.

I didn't have problems with my insurance company as they paid me what it cost less my deductible. I presented them with the invoices. They approved my choice of the water and asbestos remediation companies and paid their invoices. I presented them with the estimate from the GC for repairs - including repairs for the ceiling damage caused by the asbestos company - and they paid that fully as well.

Obviously you need to find out what it is going to cost to completely repair the damage. I have insurance with full replacement value. Something I didn't realize is that they deduct the depreciation until AFTER you finish. In my case this was moot since I had actually just finished a full remodel so there was no remediation.

Before hiring a third party, why don't you wait to see if there are issues with the insurance company. Find out what they require in terms of estimates for repairs - e.g. how many bids do you have to provide. My insurance adjuster was great and my neighbors who had even more extensive repairs necessary also didn't need a third party to help them. Some of their claims were pretty massive in terms of gutting kitchens; replacing flooring in an entire floor as well as two months of hotel accommodations and meals because they had to move out while repairs were being done.

Depends on the adjuster. We had just moved in in 1997 and had a hail storm. The roof and siding were replaced on a 7 month old house. 17 years later another hail storm and we had to get a public adjuster. The house burned down 3 months later. Take videos of everything you own and the house. We were lucky, but it sucks.