Take Your Power Back

Most people go into a property claim with no idea what they are allowed to ask. The adjuster runs the conversation, the answers stay vague, and by the time something goes wrong there is nothing in writing to point back to.

These nine questions fix that. Ask them on every claim, get the answers by email, and the burden of proof shifts back where it belongs: onto the insurance company, not onto you. Ask before things get ugly. That written record is what matters if the claim ever moves to appraisal or into a courtroom.

The nine questions

1. Is my claim covered? The single most important question you can ask, and it should be asked in writing. A “no” is not the end of the conversation. It just changes the direction you need to go to get paid for your loss.
2. What happens if my loss exceeds my policy limits? A framing question. It forces the adjuster to show their hand early. Do they start working toward a fair answer, or do they start stonewalling? Either way, you learn who you are dealing with.
3. Are there exclusions in my policy that apply to this claim? Get this answer in writing and keep it somewhere you can find fast. It is your best defense against the “we don't pay for that” objection showing up later, out of nowhere, after you have already made decisions based on what you were told.
4. Will my insurance company pay all the necessary costs to put my property back the way it was? The follow-up to question 3. When a desk adjuster starts cutting your invoice or estimate line by line, you can point back to this answer: you told me you would pay what it takes to put this back the way it was.
5. Can I choose my own contractor to do the repairs? (If not, why not?) This gets straight to the heart of the “preferred vendor” pitch. You are entitled to the real answer, not the sales version. If you want a recommendation for a reputable contractor, we suggest a member of the Restoration Rebels group.
6. Is there anything else you can tell me that would help settle this claim faster? An open door. Adjusters who want to help will walk through it. Adjusters who don't will go quiet, and that tells you something too.
7. When can I expect my first check, how much will it be, and when will the remaining checks go out? This sets the tone. It tells the adjuster you are serious about a prompt, complete settlement, not just a first offer.
8. What happens if the total of all the checks isn't enough to finish the repairs? This lets the adjuster know you are already thinking ahead to actually completing the work, not just cashing a check.
9. Are you authorized to settle my claim? Get their name, title, phone number, and email. Ask this of everyone you deal with on the carrier side, and keep asking until you are actually talking to the person who can say yes.

Why asking beats arguing

There is a version of a claim where the homeowner spends six months arguing about an estimate. There is another version where they asked four straightforward questions in week one, got the answers in an email, and never had to argue at all, because the answers were already on record.

That is the whole idea. You are not trying to start a fight, and you are not trying to catch anyone out. You are building a paper trail while everyone is still being cooperative, so that if the claim does go sideways later, you already have what you need.

Two ways to use it

Grab the worksheet using the form above and you get both: an interactive version you can fill in on your phone while you are actually on the call with the adjuster, and a printable PDF you can keep in the claim file. Same nine questions, whichever way you work.