As an insurance Property Adjuster you would be assisting homeowners and businesses recover from damage caused by catastrophes such as hurricanes, winter storms, tornados, and earthquakes. The requirements of an Adjuster include specialized training in insurance policies, property values, costs and repair methods and a basic working knowledge of accounting and constructions methods and materials. You may be working under adverse conditions and for extended periods away from home but your efforts will be well rewarded, both personally as well as financially.
Amcat has provided the information on this web site to help you determine whether a career in property adjusting is the right choice for you and to provide you with an opportunity to receive the necessary training and licensing to become an adjuster..
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To better understand what a property adjuster's work entails we suggest you click on the links above. Then, contact Amcat for the training and continuing education required to become a successful property adjuster. |
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- Property adjusters investigate insurance claims, negotiate settlements, and recommend payments.
- Adjusters must be physically able to inspect damage. This includes working on rooftops, attics, crawl spaces and areas with significant damage.
- Licensing and continuing education requirements vary by state.
- Adjusters understand how to read and interpret insurance policies and notices of loss.
- You will need a Personal Laptop Computer and Digital Camera as well as knowledge of insurance estimating software such as Xactimate, Simsol or MSB IntegriClaim.
- Training and continuing education is essential to successful claims adjusters.
 Individuals and businesses purchase insurance policies to protect against monetary loss. In the event of a loss, policyholders submit claims, seeking compensation for their loss. Adjusters work for property and casualty insurance companies, for whom they handle a wide variety of claims. The adjuster's main role is to determine coverage, investigate claims, assess damage, estimate repair costs, negotiate settlements, and make recommendations to the carrier. The adjuster must determine whether the customer’s insurance policy covers the loss and how much of the loss should be paid to the policyholder.
Following damage to a policyholder’s insured property caused by wind, hail, or hurricane the adjuster investigates a claim by interviewing the policyholder and inspecting property damage to determine the extent of the company’s liability. Adjusters may consult with other professionals, such as construction experts or engineers, who can offer a more specific evaluation of a claim. The information gathered, including photographs, diagrams and repair cost estimates, and a report with recommendations is delivered to the insurance company. Final payment and completion of the claim rests with the insurance carrier who has issued the insurance policy.
 Technology is reducing the amount of time it takes for an adjuster to complete a claim, thereby providing faster claim resolution to the policyholder. Claims adjusters use laptop computers from which they can download the necessary forms and files and construct an estimate report. Adjusters also use digital cameras, which allow images of the damage to be transmitted to the insurance company. Information about the damage is entered directly into their computers, where software programs produce estimates of damage on standard forms. These techniques allow for faster and more accurate processing of claims. This, in turn, allows an adjuster to work claims more efficiently, helping the insurer meet the needs of their policyholders and improves the earnings potential of the adjuster.
Working environments of claims and property adjusters vary greatly. Most adjusters work outside the office, inspecting damaged homes and commercial properties. Adjusters who inspect damaged buildings must be wary of potential hazards such as collapsed roofs and floors, as well as weakened structures.
 As independent contractors, adjusters are able to arrange their work schedules to accommodate timely appointments with policyholders. This accommodation sometimes results in adjusters working irregular schedules of more than 40 hours a week. Occasionally, field adjusters report to an office to get their assignments, however, increasingly adjusters receive work remotely via email or internet and spend their days traveling to inspection site. It is not uncommon for an adjuster to work entirely out of a hotel room situated close to claim assignment locations. Because they often work closely with policyholders, and other insurance professionals, claims adjusters must regularly demonstrate effective verbal and written communication.
In most cases catastrophe adjusters may be away for extended periods of time. The successful property adjuster will utilize strong time management skills, be well organized and exhibit sound reasoning to maximize performance. The beneficiary of these professional talents are the insurance company that gets rapid claims processing, the policyholder who gets timely payment for damages and the adjuster who reduces time away, controls expenses and improves financial returns . Working environments of claims and property adjusters vary greatly. Many claims adjusters work outside the office, inspecting damaged homes and commercial properties. Adjusters who inspect damaged buildings must be wary of potential hazards such as collapsed roofs and floors, as well as weakened structures.
 Training and entry level requirements vary widely for claims adjusters. No specific college education is required, but past experience can be an asset. For example, a claims adjuster who has a business or an accounting background might adapt well to the estimating software and reporting. An education in construction or engineering is helpful in adjusting industrial claims, such as those involving damage from fires or other accidents.
Licensing requirements for these workers vary by state. Some states have very few requirements, while others require Continuing Education (CE) to maintain certification. Some states that require licensing also require a certain number of continuing education credits per year in order to renew the license. These credits can be obtained from a number of sources. Amcat offers training sessions to educate adjusters as well courses and seminars on various topics having to do with claims, often with CE credit included.
Staff Adjusters may be employed directly by an insurance company with typical employee responsibilities and company benefits.
Independent Adjusters are self-employed contractors who set their own schedules, work under a specific contract and are not employees. Amcat utilizes Independent Adjusters to serve our insurance company customers.
According to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, appraisers, examiners, and investigators held about 263,000 jobs in 2004. Insurance carriers, agencies, brokerages, and related industries, such as independent adjusting companies, like Amcat, employed more than 8 out of 10 claims adjusters.
 According to most insurance trade groups the need for qualified claims adjusters continues to grow. The increasing number of severe weather related events like windstorm, hurricane ,hail and tornado and the resulting property damage from these storms within the United States insures a continuing demand for qualified property adjusters.
Many insurance carriers increasingly rely on independent adjusting firms like Amcat in an effort to contain costs.
Despite recent gains in productivity resulting from technological advances, the professional, Property Adjuster is still needed to respond to policyholder claims, physically inspect damaged property, and produce a comprehensive recommendation on how to settle a damage claim within the limits of the policy in question.
 Earnings of claims adjusters are limited only by the skill, hard work and knowledge of the position. Independent adjusters are generally compensated using a fee schedule that has been agreed between Amcat and the customer, which varies by region and event.
Personal benefits include - independence, reward for your own direct accomplishments and the knowledge that you have provided a valuable service to a homeowner or business owner.
Are you ready to begin your career as a licensed property adjuster? Get started today. Contact Amcat at 800-995-1433 or visit the Amcat Web Site to register for the training you will need to become a successful property adjuster.
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