The key difference is who they represent
After a property loss, several people may be called an adjuster. They may inspect the same rooms, review the same photographs, and discuss repair costs, but they do not all have the same role. Before relying on someone to handle your claim, ask whom they represent, who engaged them, and what work they are responsible for.
In New York, Insurance Law § 2101 distinguishes a public adjuster acting on behalf of the insured from an independent adjuster acting on behalf of an insurer. An insurance company may also assign its own staff adjuster. Understanding that distinction helps you decide whether you need your own representative and how to communicate with the carrier’s team.
What an insurance company adjuster does
The insurer’s adjuster investigates the reported loss and evaluates it for the insurance company. That work can include inspecting damage, requesting documents, preparing an estimate, and communicating the company’s position. Some claims involve a field adjuster who visits the property and a desk adjuster who reviews records and manages correspondence.
The person inspecting your home may be an employee or an outside independent adjuster retained by the insurer. The word independent describes that working arrangement; it does not mean the person has been hired to represent you. Ask for their name, company, assignment, and contact information so you know where to send evidence and follow-up questions.
What a public adjuster does
A public adjuster is engaged by the policyholder to help document and present a property claim and negotiate with the insurer. The New York DFS homeowners guide explains that public adjusters represent the insured and require a public-adjuster license. You can check a proposed representative through the DFS license-search instructions before signing.
Triboro’s process is Inspect → Document → Estimate → Negotiate. We review the loss and carrier position, organize supporting records, prepare or review the repair estimate, and present the supported claim. That work does not transfer the insurer’s authority to make coverage decisions, remove your policy obligations, or guarantee that the company will accept every item claimed.
Similar tasks do not mean identical responsibilities
Both sides may measure rooms, inspect damaged materials, and review contractor proposals. Their estimates can differ because they recorded different damage, used different quantities, or reached different conclusions about necessary repairs. A useful comparison identifies those differences rather than treating the job title as proof that one estimate is correct.
For a fire damage claim, the scope may need to distinguish burned materials from smoke and soot damage and firefighting-water impacts. A room without flame damage is not automatically unaffected, but additional damage needs documentation. Photographs, qualified observations, and itemized estimates should support the discussion.
Who pays, and what should you agree to?
You do not normally hire the insurer’s assigned adjuster under a separate public-adjuster compensation agreement. When you hire your own public adjuster, review the proposed fee and responsibilities before signing. Ask which payments the fee applies to, how earlier payments are treated, and what happens if the agreement ends.
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. This describes Triboro’s fee policy; it is not a statement that 12% is New York’s legal maximum. Ask for clarification of any term before agreeing to it.
You remain involved in the claim
Hiring a public adjuster does not make the claim disappear from your responsibilities. You may still need to provide truthful information, make the property available for inspection, sign documents, or answer the insurer’s questions. Tell your representative about new requests, payments, letters, and deadlines promptly so the record stays complete.
Save evidence for each part of the loss. Keep a room-by-room inventory for a contents claim and preserve receipts for potentially eligible hotel and living expenses. A building estimate does not automatically account for those categories. Each must be evaluated under the relevant policy terms and supporting records.
When handling the claim yourself may be enough
A small loss with an understandable estimate and no meaningful dispute may be manageable directly with the carrier. Start by asking the assigned adjuster to explain the scope, payment calculation, and any missing information. An itemized contractor proposal can help you identify whether a difference concerns the work, the price, or coverage.
Professional representation may be useful when the loss is large, affects multiple areas, involves substantial contents or displacement records, or requires more time than you can reasonably devote. It may also help with an underpaid claim when specific damage or repair operations were missed. Evaluate the proposed work and fee together rather than assuming representation is always necessary.
Know the limits of each role
A contractor prepares or performs repair work; that does not automatically make the contractor your licensed claim representative. A public adjuster documents and negotiates property claims; that does not make the adjuster your attorney. When a dispute requires legal advice or litigation, ask whether an attorney should be involved.
No adjuster can responsibly promise a particular outcome before the policy and facts are evaluated. The insurer and your representative may continue to disagree about the scope or coverage. The next step should follow the actual dispute and applicable deadlines, with a clear explanation of what remains unresolved.
A practical way to start
Write down what happened, the affected rooms, what the carrier has inspected, and what it has said or paid. Gather the estimate, letters, photographs, and emergency-work records. Then ask who will handle your file, how updates will work, and what evidence is still needed.
Request a free claim review from Triboro to discuss your property loss and the carrier’s position. We represent policyholders, not insurance companies. We serve NYC, Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk in person and take claims throughout New York State.
Important: General information, not legal advice. Coverage and payment depend on the policy, evidence, and applicable law.
Primary sources
- New York Insurance Law § 2101(g) — public and independent adjuster definitions.
- New York DFS: Homeowners and Tenants Insurance Guide — public adjuster licensing, representation, and compensation agreements.
Sources checked October 10, 2026.