Start with the claim, not the sales pitch
Choosing a public adjuster is a decision about who will document your loss, communicate with your insurance company, and help you evaluate the claim. After a fire or serious water loss, that decision can feel urgent. You may be arranging temporary housing, dealing with repairs, and receiving calls while you are still trying to understand what happened. A clear process matters more than a confident promise.
Begin by identifying what help you need. Is the property still unsafe? Has the carrier inspected? Is the problem a missing repair scope, a low price, a coverage denial, or a lack of time to manage the paperwork? Write down those questions before speaking with anyone. The right conversation should connect the adjuster’s proposed work to your actual loss.
Check the New York license
The New York DFS homeowners guide explains that public adjusters require a license and represent the insured rather than the insurance company. Before signing, use the DFS license-search instructions to check the professional and the business that will appear on your agreement. Confirm the licensed name, license type, and current status rather than relying on a business card or website badge.
A business registration, contractor license, or insurance-industry résumé is not a substitute for checking the relevant public-adjuster license. If a name differs between the agreement and the person you spoke with, ask for an explanation before proceeding. Keep a copy of the agreement and the contact information for the person responsible for your file.
Ask who will actually handle the work
Find out who will inspect, write or review the estimate, organize the evidence, and communicate with the carrier. Some firms assign different people to those tasks. That arrangement is not automatically a problem, but you should know who owns the file and whom to contact when a document is missing or a deadline is approaching.
Ask how often you will receive updates and what each update will contain. Useful updates distinguish work completed, documents still needed, questions sent to the insurer, and the next action. A promise to keep you informed is less useful than an explanation of how that communication will work. Also ask whether your inspection will be in person or whether the review will begin remotely.
Look for experience relevant to your loss
Different losses create different documentation problems. A fire claim may involve smoke, soot, firefighting water, damaged contents, and access restrictions. A water claim may require tracing the release through walls, floors, and lower levels. A rented multifamily property may have a different policy and different records from an owner-occupied house.
Ask how the adjuster would approach those issues in your situation. You do not need a technical lecture, but you should hear a practical explanation of what will be inspected and what records will support the claim. Avoid treating a large settlement figure from another property as a forecast for your own. Coverage, damage, limits, and documentation differ.
Understand the fee before signing
The DFS homeowners guide describes public-adjuster fees as negotiable and requires a signed compensation agreement stating the compensation. Ask what percentage is proposed, which insurance payments it applies to, and how payments already made will be treated. Read the cancellation notice and ask about any provision you do not understand.
Triboro’s fee is negotiable and never more than 12% of the insurance payments made after you hire Triboro. The agreed rate is set out in a written agreement before any work starts. If you don't get paid, we don't get paid. That is Triboro’s stated fee policy, not a claim that 12% is New York’s legal maximum. Compare the agreement’s terms, the work proposed, and the likely benefit after the fee—not just the percentage.
Review the plan for evidence and repairs
An adjuster should explain what evidence is needed without asking you to delay necessary emergency protection. Ask how photographs, measurements, mitigation records, contractor estimates, and damaged-item inventories will be organized. For a low offer, ask whether the review will compare specific rooms, materials, quantities, and repair operations against the carrier’s estimate.
Clarify the difference between claim representation and construction work. If someone recommends a contractor or other specialist, ask who hires that person, who pays, and whether there is a financial relationship. You should understand the responsibilities before agreeing to additional services. Do not assume hiring a public adjuster includes repairs or expert testing.
Watch for promises that do not fit the facts
No one can responsibly promise a particular payment before reviewing the policy and evidence. Be cautious about guaranteed increases, guaranteed reversals of denials, or claims that every loss needs professional representation. A small, straightforward claim may be manageable directly with the insurer. A serious scope dispute or complicated loss may justify help, but the reasoning should be specific.
Ask what could prevent an additional payment. Good answers may include excluded damage, limits, prior releases, insufficient evidence, or policy deadlines. A public adjuster can document and negotiate a supported claim; an attorney may be needed for legal advice or litigation. Knowing those limits is part of making a sound hiring decision.
Make the decision with a short checklist
Before signing, confirm the license, the person handling the file, the inspection arrangement, the documentation plan, the communication schedule, and the written fee terms. Request time to read the agreement. Save the signed copy and establish how you will securely provide the policy and claim records.
Triboro follows Inspect → Document → Estimate → Negotiate and represents policyholders on property claims. In-person service covers NYC, Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk, and we take claims throughout New York State. Request a free claim review to discuss the damage, the carrier’s position, and whether representation may be useful. Coverage and payment depend on the policy and facts of the loss.
Important: General information, not legal advice. Coverage and payment depend on the policy, evidence, and applicable law.
Primary sources
- New York DFS: Homeowners and Tenants Insurance Guide — public adjusters, compensation agreements, and appraisal.
- New York DFS license-search instructions — access the official Producer/Licensee Search.
Sources checked October 10, 2026.