Frequently Asked Questions

A Public Adjuster is a licensed professional who represents policyholders in the insurance claim process. Unlike company adjusters who work for the insurance company, public adjusters work exclusively for you — the policyholder. We document your loss, prepare your claim, and negotiate with the insurance company to ensure you receive a fair settlement.

The insurance company's adjuster (known as a 'company adjuster' or 'independent adjuster') works for the insurer and has their financial interests in mind. A public adjuster works solely for you, the policyholder. We advocate on your behalf to maximize your settlement, ensure all damages are properly documented and valued, and negotiate aggressively so you receive every dollar you're entitled to under your policy.

No. An insurance agent or broker sells insurance policies. A public adjuster helps you after a loss has occurred by managing and negotiating your insurance claim. We don't sell insurance — we ensure you get the maximum payout from the policy you already have.

Yes. Public adjusters must be licensed by the state's Department of Insurance in every state where they operate. Metropolitan Adjustment Bureau is fully licensed and bonded in all 5 states we serve — California, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado. You can verify our licenses with each state's insurance department.

Insurance policies are complex legal documents, and insurance companies have teams of adjusters, engineers, and attorneys working to minimize payouts. A public adjuster levels the playing field. Studies show that policyholders who use public adjusters receive settlements 35-75% higher on average than those who handle claims on their own. We understand policy language, damage valuation, and negotiation tactics that most homeowners don't.

Contact a public adjuster as soon as possible after a loss occurs. Early involvement allows us to properly document all damage before any cleanup or repairs begin. However, we can also help if you've already filed a claim, received a low settlement offer, or had your claim denied. It's never too late to get professional help with your insurance claim.

During your free initial consultation, we review your insurance policy, assess the damage to your property, and explain your coverage and rights as a policyholder. We'll give you an honest assessment of your claim's potential and explain exactly how we can help. There's no obligation and no cost for this consultation.

We conduct a thorough inspection of your property using professional equipment and industry-standard methodologies. This includes detailed photography, video documentation, moisture readings, structural assessments, and itemized inventories of damaged contents. We also work with engineers, contractors, and other specialists when needed to ensure every aspect of the damage is properly documented.

The timeline varies depending on the complexity of the claim and the responsiveness of the insurance company. Simple residential claims may be resolved in 4-8 weeks, while complex commercial claims or those involving business interruption can take several months. We work diligently to expedite the process while ensuring maximum recovery. Throughout the process, we keep you informed of every development.

A denial is not necessarily the final word. Insurance companies deny claims for many reasons, and many denials can be successfully overturned. We review the denial letter, your policy, and the circumstances of your loss to determine if the denial was justified. If we believe you have a valid claim, we prepare a detailed rebuttal with supporting documentation and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.

In many cases, yes. If you've received a partial payment or accepted an initial settlement that doesn't fully cover your damages, we can often reopen the claim and negotiate for additional funds. Insurance policies typically allow for supplemental claims when additional damage is discovered or when the original estimate was insufficient.

While it's helpful for you to be present so you can point out all areas of damage and share your observations, it's not strictly required. We can conduct thorough inspections independently. We'll coordinate scheduling that works best for you and provide detailed reports of our findings.

Public adjusters typically work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid when you receive your settlement. Our fee is a percentage of the claim settlement, so there are no upfront costs to you. The percentage varies based on the complexity and size of the claim. We discuss all fees transparently during your free initial consultation before you sign anything.

No. Metropolitan Adjustment Bureau works on a contingency basis — you pay nothing upfront and there are no hidden fees. Our fee is clearly outlined in our contract before you sign. If we don't recover money for you, you don't pay us. It's that simple.

Absolutely. Studies consistently show that policyholders who hire public adjusters receive significantly higher settlements — often 35-75% more than those who handle claims on their own. Even after our fee, most clients end up with substantially more money than they would have received without professional representation. Additionally, we save you the time, stress, and frustration of dealing with the insurance company yourself.

No, the insurance company does not pay for public adjusters. Our fee comes from the settlement proceeds. However, because we typically recover significantly more than policyholders receive on their own, most clients net more money even after our fee than they would have without our help.

We handle all types of property damage claims including fire, smoke, water, plumbing, flood, earthquake, wind, hurricane, tornado, hail, theft, vandalism, mold, collapse, and more. We work with both residential and commercial properties, from single-family homes to large commercial complexes, across 5 states — California, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado.

Yes, commercial claims are one of our specialties. We handle property damage claims for businesses of all sizes, including business interruption claims, extra expense claims, and loss of income claims. We understand the complexities of commercial policies and work to recover not just the cost of physical repairs, but also the financial losses your business suffers during the recovery period.

Absolutely. Earthquake claims are among the most complex property damage claims, and California is our home base. We have extensive experience with earthquake damage assessment, including structural damage, foundation issues, chimney damage, and contents losses. We understand CEA (California Earthquake Authority) policies and standard earthquake endorsements.

Yes. With our headquarters in Southern California, wildfire claims are a major part of our practice. We handle total losses, partial losses, smoke damage, evacuation expenses, additional living expenses, and landscaping losses. We also help with the complex debris removal and environmental cleanup aspects of wildfire claims.

Water damage claims from plumbing failures, burst pipes, appliance malfunctions, and roof leaks are among the most common claims we handle. These claims can be deceptively complex because water damage often extends far beyond what's visible. We use moisture detection equipment to identify hidden damage in walls, floors, and ceilings to ensure your claim captures the full extent of the loss.

Metropolitan Adjustment Bureau is headquartered in Encino, California (Los Angeles area) and serves clients in 5 states: California, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado. We have particular depth of experience in Southern California, where we've been serving the community since 1972.

Our team speaks 9+ languages including English, Armenian, Farsi, French, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Turkish, and Vietnamese. We're committed to serving our diverse community and ensuring that language is never a barrier to getting the help you need with your insurance claim.

Yes. We handle claims for all types of properties including owner-occupied homes, rental properties, investment properties, vacation homes, and commercial buildings. For rental and investment properties, we also help recover loss of rental income and additional expenses related to tenant displacement.

Yes. We have extensive experience with HOA and condominium association claims, which involve unique complexities around shared structures, common areas, and the interplay between individual unit owner policies and the association's master policy. We help both individual unit owners and associations navigate these complex claims.

First, ensure everyone's safety. Then: (1) Call 911 if there's an emergency. (2) Document the damage with photos and video before any cleanup. (3) Prevent further damage by making temporary repairs if safe to do so (save all receipts). (4) Contact us for a free consultation. (5) Notify your insurance company of the loss. Do NOT sign anything from the insurance company or accept any settlement offers before speaking with us.

No. Your right to hire a public adjuster is protected by law and is typically referenced in your insurance policy. Insurance companies work with public adjusters regularly and understand it's a normal part of the claims process. In fact, having professional representation often leads to a smoother, more efficient claims process because all documentation is thorough and properly prepared.

We believe in transparent, proactive communication. You'll have a dedicated adjuster who keeps you informed at every stage. We provide regular updates via phone, email, or text — whichever you prefer. We also provide written reports and documentation so you always know exactly where your claim stands. You can reach us anytime with questions or concerns.

Yes. We stand behind our work and want you to be completely satisfied. Our contracts include cancellation provisions that comply with state regulations. We'll discuss all terms clearly during our initial consultation so there are no surprises.

Absolutely. We're proud of our track record and happy to provide references from satisfied clients. We also have numerous testimonials from homeowners, business owners, property managers, and religious organizations we've helped over our 50+ years in business. You can read many of these on our testimonials page.