DAY Adjusting & Consulting works as an ally for SWFL property owners and non-profit organizations during hurricane recovery efforts

The aftermath of Hurricane Ian has brought out the best and the worst in people in Southwest Florida. The best has been seen through the many non-profit organizations that have stepped in to help those in need, and the worst is the scammers who are taking advantage of those in desperate situations.

DAY Adjusting & Consulting is locally owned and operated by Blake Day and he says he is all too familiar with the horror stories that follow a hurricane. Scammers prey on people in turmoil and many of his friends have even fallen for people posing as legitimate roofers or repairman. Day says it’s confusing to homeowners and he has been speaking to this problem at various townhall meetings throughout the area. He’s trying to bring awareness of this issue along with encouraging those in need of services to consult with local professionals before making hasty decisions.

Day recently told a townhall audience that his goal was to educate as many people as he could whether his company was hired or not. His message was that a Public Adjuster is the resource no insurance company will tell you about because they work for the homeowner or non-profit to get the best outcome, not the insurance company.

“Microbial growth has a life of its own In Florida and needs to be dealt with quickly,” says Day. “If that didn’t happen, the entire structure is toxic and unsafe and insurance company adjusters don’t do the extensive inspections that a public adjuster will do. That’s just how it works. The insurance company adjuster works for the insurance company only – a public adjuster works for the homeowner or business property owner. There’s a big difference in priorities.”

He stated that Public Adjusters are highly regulated by the state in which they practice and mandated to operate according to state standards and statutes. In the state of Florida, Public Adjusters must go through a lengthy process in order to receive their licensing and credentials. They complete a rigorous insurance course and pass a state a state proctored exam; must comply with fingerprinting and background checks; be bonded for $50,000; and then apprentice under another licensed Public Adjuster for one year. DAY Adjusting and Consulting works on a large range of project types and offer a wide variety of claims services to both commercial and residential clients.

Not only did homeowners get hit by the hurricane but so did local churches, libraries, public buildings, and other non-profit organizations. FEMA has funds available to help these organizations through the Stafford Act, but it seems to be a well kept secret according to Day.

“In my opinion, if the State of Florida Chief Financial Officer would spend as much time in press conferences talking about the Stafford Act as he does in discouraging Florida homeowners from seeking assistance on their insurance claims then maybe churches, religious organizations and many other qualifying non-profits could save millions of out-of-pocket dollars,” says Day. “The Stafford Act is there to help these organizations, and no one is talking about these funds.”

Several points that Day wants to stress to those in hurricane recovery:

• There are a few key differences between the insurance company’s adjuster and a Public Adjuster. Insurance companies have their own adjusters that they send out to assess the legitimacy of an insurance claim, they are called staff adjusters or independent adjusters.

• Public Adjusters work exclusively for the public and are paid by the public, not the insurance company.

• Public Adjusters are different in that it is a more extensive process to become a state licensed Public Adjuster than a standard staff adjuster or independent adjuster. One major difference is the apprenticeship. Staff and independent adjusters are not required to apprentice for any set amount of time as a trainee. The motive is different, the program is different, the testing is different, and of course the state license and regulation is different.

• A staff or independent adjuster can become a Public Adjuster, but they have to concede to all of the requirements and relinquish their current license as a staff or independent adjuster.

• A staff or independent adjuster cannot represent both the insurance company and the policyholder because that would be a major conflict of interest.

• Staff and independent adjusters can often be one-sided, biased, and nit-picky, scrutinizing the damages to avoid awarding proper payment, or denying legitimate claims all together. The insurance company they work for keeps record of how much they’re paying out, and if it reaches a certain number, their job could be in jeopardy. They are essentially pressured to keep their claim payouts as low as possible to save the insurance company’s money.

• Public Adjusters are there to tip the balance scale back the other way, to look out for the interest of the policyholder. No longer are you left at the mercy of a job-scared biased party.

• A Public Adjuster can be hired by the policyholder to assess the claim, negotiate with the insurance company, and sometimes go to court as an expert witness to resolve your claim and get you the compensation you deserve for restoration of damages.

“When hiring a Public Adjuster, check their credentials,” adds Day. “It’s important that the person or firm who you choose is indeed carrying a license and bond from the state in which your loss occurred. You can find out if your public adjuster is licensed and bonded by calling your state department of insurance, or by visiting your state’s website for licensee searches. It’s a must do before signing anything.”
According to a government report (No.10-06) produced by OPPAGA (Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability), using a Public Adjuster increases insurance claim payout by 747%. Day reminds his audiences that there is no need to fight corporate insurance alone, it is the policyholders’ right to have a professional public adjuster represent them in order to receive every penny entitled to under the terms of your insurance policy.

ABOUT DAY Adjusting & Consulting
Day Adjusting & Consulting is locally owned and operated. The team of adjusters advocate for policyholders when filing an insurance claim. They handle the claim process with the objective to negotiate with the insurance company for a higher and more appropriate payout. Whether the claim has already been filed, needs to be filed, or has been closed with an unsatisfactory payout, Day’s company can represent the policy holder at any point in your claim process, even if your claim has been denied.

As President of Day Adjusting and Consulting, Blake Day, has a passion for helping homeowners overcome the challenges they face today with their insurance claims. With his 15+ years of in-depth knowledge of the insurance industry, the entrepreneurial-minded Day is a recognized as expert in first party property insurance claims.

Day’s career has focused on residential and commercial claims adjusting with a highlight on developing systems that optimize the claims handling timeline. His business model has led Day Adjusting & Consulting to be recognized in Financial Review Magazine as the top consulting firm in the nation; the company was named in Best of the Best by Naples News; and his recent interviews have included Blumberg News and The Economist.

For more information about DAY Adjusting & Consulting, please visit www.DayAdjusting.com or call (855) 729-0838.