What work are you hiring the adjuster to do?
A public-adjuster agreement should be understood before it is signed, even when the loss feels urgent. Start by asking what the representative will do on your actual claim. Does the work include inspection, estimate review, document organization, contents, and communication with the insurer? A general promise to handle everything is less useful than an explanation of the tasks.
Describe the current situation: when the loss occurred, whether the carrier inspected, what it offered or denied, and which requests remain open. Ask how the proposed work addresses those issues. Do not delay emergency protection while evaluating representation, and do not assume signing an agreement extends a policy deadline or resolves a coverage dispute.
Whose name and license are on the agreement?
Confirm the individual and business names that will appear on the document. Use the NY DFS license-search instructions to reach the official Producer/Licensee Search. Check the relevant license type and status. If the agreement uses a different name from the person who spoke with you, ask for an explanation before proceeding.
Also ask who will actually inspect, prepare the estimate, and negotiate. Will a named adjuster remain responsible, or will tasks be assigned to others? Request contact information for the person managing your file. An industry résumé or contractor relationship does not replace checking the appropriate license and understanding who is accountable for the work.
What is included, and what needs separate help?
Ask whether the proposed scope includes every category relevant to the loss. A water claim may require plumbing findings and mitigation records, while a burst-pipe claim may involve conditions below the original leak. The agreement should be discussed in relation to those needs rather than another client’s settlement.
Clarify whether estimating, expert assessments, inventory assistance, or other services are included or require a separate arrangement. For commercial claims, ask how building damage and business records will be handled. Find out who engages and pays any specialist. Do not assume hiring a public adjuster also hires a contractor, accountant, or attorney.
What is the fee, and which payments does it apply to?
Ask for the proposed percentage, the payment categories it covers, and how the fee is calculated. Discuss insurance payments already received, future payments, and any situations that could change the amount owed. A low percentage is not enough information if the agreement’s payment base or responsibilities remain unclear.
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 is Triboro’s stated fee policy, not a claim that 12% is the legal maximum. Read the actual agreement and ask about any unclear term.
What cancellation information will I receive?
Read the cancellation notice and confirm how and where a cancellation must be delivered. The New York DFS disaster-recovery guidance explains that a public-adjuster compensation agreement may be canceled without penalty until midnight of the third business day after signing. Confirm the dates and instructions shown on the agreement rather than relying on an informal assurance.
Keep the signed agreement and the notice, along with evidence of any cancellation you send. If the document is incomplete, the dates conflict, or the consequences after the cancellation period are unclear, resolve the question before signing. Do not assume that sending a message to the insurance company cancels your separate representation agreement.
What will I still need to do?
Ask which documents you must provide and what requests will require your direct participation. You may still need to answer questions truthfully, permit inspection, review figures, and sign submissions. Hiring representation does not remove those obligations. Establish how new carrier letters, requests, payments, and deadlines will reach the person handling your file.
For a contents claim, ask who prepares the inventory and how ownership and value records are collected. Be clear about missing receipts or uncertain ages. The adjuster should work with an accurate record; you should never be asked to invent damaged items, change dates, or sign a statement you know is incorrect.
How will communication and decisions work?
Agree on how updates will be delivered and whom you should contact when a question arises. Useful updates identify completed work, documents still needed, requests sent to the carrier, and the next action. Ask how estimates and settlement proposals will be explained so you can understand what is included and what remains disputed.
Confirm how you will review significant submissions and decisions. Ask how disagreement between you and the representative will be handled. Triboro’s Inspect → Document → Estimate → Negotiate process describes the main stages, but your own claim still needs a clear communication plan and an accurate record of the carrier’s position.
How are repair work and claim payments handled?
Ask whether a contractor recommendation involves a separate agreement or financial relationship. Identify who selects the contractor, who authorizes repairs, and who is responsible for the work. The claim agreement and construction contract serve different purposes. A recommendation does not by itself establish a contractor’s scope, price, or obligations.
Ask how payments, mortgagee requirements, and any proposed check instructions will be handled. Read any additional document before signing it and keep a copy. If you own a single-family or 2–6 family home, make sure the arrangement fits the insured ownership and policy. Seek appropriate legal advice when a document’s legal effect is uncertain.
What outcome can reasonably be promised?
Ask what the adjuster believes was missed and which evidence supports that view. No responsible representative should guarantee an increase, reversal of a denial, or a particular settlement before reviewing the facts. A small, straightforward claim may be manageable without representation. Evaluate the proposed work and fee together, including what could prevent additional payment.
Request a free claim review from Triboro to discuss the loss, the carrier’s position, and whether representation may help. Bring the policy, estimate, letters, and available photographs. Read the written terms before deciding. Coverage and payment depend on the policy and evidence, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
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 and compensation agreements.
- New York DFS: Disaster and Flood Recovery — public-adjuster representation and cancellation guidance.
- New York DFS: Insurance License Search Instructions — access to the Producer/Licensee Search.
Sources checked October 10, 2026.