Alfred Smith from Alfred Smith CPCU Claims Services LLC After a fire, storm, leak, or other property loss, the first calls often happen fast. A contractor may show up. The insurance company may ask for a recorded statement. An adjuster may schedule an inspection. In the middle of all that, one decision can shape the entire claim: who is looking out for you from the beginning? That is why calling a public adjuster first can matter so much. A public adjuster works for the polic

Your public adjuster. A homeowners policy can look solid on paper and still come up short after a major loss. The reason is often simple: the home was not insured for what it would actually cost to rebuild. That gap is what insurance to value is meant to address. In a homeowners policy, insurance to value, often shortened to ITV, compares the amount of dwelling coverage on the policy to the estimated cost to rebuild the home with similar materials, labor, and features. This i

Xactimate can make an estimate look official. That does not mean the estimate is complete, accurate, or fair. Contractor bids,In the world of property insurance claims, Xactimate is everywhere. Adjusters use it. Contractors use it. Consultants use it. Carriers rely on it as a common pricing language. And because it looks official, many people assume an Xactimate estimate must be complete, accurate, and fair. That assumption is wrong. Xactimate can be helpful, but it is not a

A homeowners insurance policy is meant to protect you from the financial shock of unexpected damage or loss. But many homeowners don’t realize that their policy has very specific limits, exclusions, and conditions. Knowing what is and is not covered can save you from surprises when you need your insurance the most. Below is a straightforward overview of the typical coverages found in a standard HO‑3 homeowners policy—the most common type in Massachusetts—and the situations wh

A denied or delayed insurance claim can feel personal. A tree falls through a roof, a basement floods, a driver rear-ends your car, and the company that promised protection suddenly asks for more forms, more proof, and more time. Insurance companies do pay many valid claims. The industry exists to spread risk, and policyholders rely on that promise every day. Still, the claims process often feels stacked against the person who paid the premiums. That perception is not imagina