The “Do-It-Myself” Insurance Claim: A Funny Story With a Not-So-Funny Lesson
- alfredsmithcpcu
- Aug 9
- 2 min read
Every homeowner thinks they can handle an insurance claim on their own… until they actually try to handle an insurance claim on their own.
Here’s a lighthearted story about one Massachusetts homeowner who learned—very quickly—why not hiring a CPCU public adjuster can put you in a less‑than‑favorable position.
Meet Bob.
Bob is a good guy. Bob is handy. Bob once fixed a leaky faucet using a YouTube video from 2011.
So when a pipe burst in his basement, Bob said the five words that have doomed homeowners since the beginning of time:
“I can handle this myself.”
Stage 1: The Phone Call
Bob called his insurance company and confidently explained the situation.
Except… Bob forgot a few details. Like the part where the water ran for three hours. And the part where it soaked the drywall. And the part where it traveled under the flooring into the laundry room.
Bob told the insurer: “Yeah, it’s just a little water.”
The adjuster wrote down: “Minor water damage.”
You can see where this is going.
Stage 2: The Inspection
The insurance adjuster arrived. Bob tried to show the damage, but he didn’t take photos, didn’t save receipts, and didn’t move anything out of the way.
The adjuster looked around and said, “Well, I don’t see much.”
Bob said, “Yeah, it dried.”
The adjuster said, “Great.”
Bob said, “…Wait.”
Stage 3: The Estimate
Bob received the estimate. It covered:
One piece of drywall
A small section of flooring
A “quick cleanup”
Bob stared at the number. Bob blinked. Bob blinked again.
Bob said, “This won’t even cover the shop vac I had to buy.”
Stage 4: The Contractor Visit
Bob’s contractor arrived, took one look, and said the words every homeowner dreads:
“Yeah… this is way worse than the insurance estimate.”
Turns out the water traveled into:
The wall cavity
The insulation
The electrical outlet
The laundry room
The hallway
And somehow, mysteriously, the coat closet
Bob asked, “How did it get into the coat closet?”
The contractor shrugged. “Water is sneaky.”
Stage 5: The Realization
Bob sat at his kitchen table, surrounded by:
A lowball estimate
A contractor quote triple the amount
A stack of receipts
A wet‑vac
And a growing sense of regret
Bob finally said the words he should’ve said on Day One:
“I should’ve hired a public adjuster.”
Where Alfred Smith CPCU Claims Services LLC Comes In
A CPCU public adjuster would have:
Documented all the damage
Explained the loss correctly
Identified hidden water migration
Managed the inspection
Negotiated the scope
Ensured the estimate matched the real repairs
Prevented Bob from becoming a cautionary tale
Instead, Bob became a blog post.
The Lesson
Insurance claims aren’t DIY projects. They’re not like fixing a faucet or hanging a shelf. They’re complex, technical, and full of pitfalls that homeowners don’t see coming.
Hiring a CPCU public adjuster—especially early—keeps you out of the “Bob situation” and ensures your claim is handled correctly from the start.
Don't Be like Bob
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