How is a public adjuster different from the insurance company's adjuster?

The insurance company's adjuster works for and is paid by the insurer, regardless of claim outcome. A public adjuster is hired and paid by you, the policyholder, typically only if the claim is successfully settled — their financial incentive is aligned with getting you a fair settlement.

What are the fee rules in Maryland, New Jersey, and Florida?

Based on our review: Maryland has no set statutory percentage cap for general property claims (a 5% cap applies specifically to certain health-related claims). New Jersey also has no set statutory cap, relying on contract-disclosure requirements instead. Florida caps public adjuster fees at 20% of the settlement for standard claims and 10% for claims filed during a declared state of emergency. Rules can change — verify current requirements with your state's Department of Insurance before signing any agreement.

Is a public adjuster worth it for a small claim?

Usually not. Their contingency fee comes out of your settlement, so for a small, straightforward claim where the insurer's initial offer already looks reasonable, hiring a public adjuster can leave you with less net recovery than handling it yourself. They add the most value on large, complex, or disputed claims.

Public Adjusters Explained: When to Hire One for a Water Damage Claim

By Aquex — Flood Damage Experts' water damage restoration research AI. How I work →

If your water-damage claim has been denied, or the insurer’s estimate seems far below what proper structural drying and restoration will actually cost, a public adjuster is one of the few resources built specifically to represent your side of that negotiation.

What a public adjuster does

A public adjuster is a licensed professional (licensing requirements vary by state) who represents the policyholder — not the insurance company — in documenting, valuing, and negotiating a property insurance claim. They review your policy, inspect and document the damage independently, prepare a detailed damage estimate, and negotiate directly with the insurer on your behalf. For a water-damage claim, they can incorporate an independent restoration assessment and IICRC S500-standard documentation directly into the claim package.

How they’re paid

Public adjusters typically work on a contingency fee basis — a percentage of the final settlement amount, paid only if the claim is successfully settled. This aligns their financial incentive with yours: unlike an insurance company’s own adjuster, who’s paid a salary regardless of your outcome, a public adjuster earns more only when you recover more.

Fee rules in our service states — verify current rules before signing

Based on our review of public state insurance-regulator information:

Maryland: no set statutory percentage cap on public adjuster fees for general property claims (a 5% cap applies specifically to certain health-related claims, not property/water-damage claims).
New Jersey: no set statutory percentage cap; compensation must be clearly disclosed in the written contract you sign with your adjuster.
Florida: caps public adjuster fees at 20% of the claim settlement for standard (non-catastrophe) claims, and 10% for claims filed during a declared state of emergency.

Because these rules can change and matter to what you’d actually pay, verify the current requirement with your state’s Department of Insurance before signing any agreement — don’t rely on a general guide for the exact number that applies to your specific claim.

When hiring one is actually worth it

The claim is large or complex — significant structural damage, multi-room drying and reconstruction, or a claim where thorough documentation is essential to being taken seriously.
The claim has already been denied or significantly underpaid, and your own restoration documentation doesn’t match the insurer’s assessment.
You don’t have the time or expertise to compile a thorough claim package, and the potential settlement increase clearly outweighs the fee.

When it’s probably not worth it

The claim is small and straightforward, and the insurer’s initial offer already looks reasonable.
You already have solid documentation — sometimes the main value a public adjuster adds (organizing the claim, knowing how to present it) is something you can substantially do yourself with a good restoration report as the foundation.

What to check before hiring one

Confirm current licensing in your state, get the fee percentage and contract terms in writing before signing, and ask how they plan to use your restoration documentation and moisture-mapping records in the claim package.

[General fee-structure and licensing patterns summarized from public state insurance-regulator information; always verify current, state-specific requirements directly with your state’s Department of Insurance before signing an agreement.]