“Will This Cost Me Anything?” The Hidden Cost of Going Without a Public Adjuster

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Understanding Client Expectations, Value, and the Realities of Public Adjuster Fees

For many policyholders, the first question they ask when contacting a public adjuster is not about experience, strategy, or results—it’s:
“Will this cost me anything?”
The second usually follows quickly:
“How am I supposed to get my work done if I have to pay you a percentage of my insurance payout?”

These questions are common, understandable, and—when handled properly—powerful opportunities to build trust and set clear expectations. But they also reveal something deeper about the way homeowners think when they’re facing a crisis.

Let’s explore why these concerns arise, what they mean for the client–adjuster relationship, and how to navigate fee resistance without compromising professional value.

Why Some Policyholders Expect Public Adjusting to Be Free

When someone’s home is damaged, their emotional, financial, and cognitive bandwidth shrinks dramatically. They are dealing with:

• Unexpected expenses
• Interrupted living conditions
• Confusing insurance terminology
• Fear that the settlement won’t cover repairs

In this moment of vulnerability, policyholders often assume that everyone connected to their claim should be working for them as part of the insurance process, including contractors, inspectors, and public adjusters. Many don’t understand public adjuster fees and presume this additional cost is detrimental.

To the untrained eye, it feels like:
“The insurance company hired their adjuster for free—so why do I have to pay for mine?”

Homeowners also misunderstand what their insurance premium entitles them to. They believe they purchased not just insurance coverage but a fair outcome. When that doesn’t happen, they feel wronged—and they hope someone will “fix it” at no personal cost. This highlights the need for education when it comes to understanding public adjuster fees.

This mentality is not malicious. It is a blend of:

• Financial fear
• Desperation
• Misunderstanding of how insurance claims really work
• A belief that the carrier should pay for the professional needed to negotiate against them

Unfortunately, that belief is both wrong and costly.

“If I Pay a Percentage, Will I Still Have Enough to Repair My Home?”

This is the most human concern.

Homeowners fear that paying a public adjuster will reduce their ability to rebuild. What they often don’t realize is that:

You don’t reduce their recovery—you improve it.

Through collaboration with the insurance carrier, a skilled public adjuster routinely secures:

• Previously undervalued damages
• Overlooked building code items not addressed in the carrier scope
• Overhead & Profit (O&P) where it belongs
• Supplements the carrier adjuster did not proactively offer
• Accurate scopes that reflect enforceable repair requirements

The simple truth is this:

A policyholder who hires a public adjuster typically receives more—even after the fee—than they ever would have on their own.

But clients don’t know this unless we explain it in relatable, real-world terms. Public adjusters do not artificially inflate insurance claims. We are sometimes the more experienced adjusters involved with the claim process and provide the value of recognizing all coverages that should be afforded the policyholder.

Are These Clients “Good Clients”?

Here’s the truth no one wants to say out loud:

Clients who resist paying any professional—contractor, attorney, or public adjuster—are often the same clients who:

• Expect the impossible
• Resist documentation
• Struggle to follow processes
• Blame the public adjuster when repair funds fall short
• Have unrealistic expectations about timelines, authorization of code upgrades, and depreciation recovery

They may not be “bad people,” but they can be high-maintenance, low-trust, and high-risk relationships.

A client who enters the relationship already resentful of the fee is sending a clear message:
“I value the money more than the expertise.”

That mindset makes collaboration unnecessarily difficult.

Should You Accept These Clients?

Not always.

A client who cannot or will not accept the basic premise that:

• Your labor has value
• Your expertise drives results
• Your fee structure is lawful and industry standard

…may not be a good long-term fit.

But fee hesitancy alone doesn’t automatically disqualify a client. Many simply need education. They need someone to explain:

• How you create value
• Why the fee exists
• What their realistic recovery will look like
• How you handle supplements
• What happens if the carrier underpays

If the hesitation is rooted in fear and lack of understanding, it is salvageable.
If it is rooted in entitlement, distrust, or a desire to extract free labor, it is not.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Clients and Protecting Both Sides of the Relationship

Public adjusting is at its best when both the adjuster and the policyholder enter the relationship with clarity, trust, and shared expectations. While it is tempting to help everyone who reaches out, not every prospective client arrives ready for the partnership and discipline required to navigate a complex insurance claim. Understanding a client’s mindset before representation begins is critical—for their protection as well as yours.

It is equally important to remember that public adjusters work under state-specific consumer protection laws, many of which include heightened oversight when dealing with elderly, disabled, or otherwise vulnerable policyholders. These clients may be more anxious, more financially strained, or more confused about the claims process. Public adjusters should proceed with extra care, ensuring all communications are clear, all disclosures are thorough, and no assumptions—especially about fees—go unaddressed. Protecting vulnerable clients is not simply good business practice; in many jurisdictions, it is a legal requirement.

As you evaluate whether to accept a client who is fee-averse or resistant to the value of professional representation, this initial conversation becomes a powerful indicator of how the claim may unfold. But declining a poor fit doesn’t mean the conversation ends—sometimes it simply means the discussion needs to evolve.

In our next post, we’ll explore how to overcome fee concerns and build strong, collaborative client relationships, including practical ways to reframe the conversation, demonstrate value, and create trust from the very first interaction.

Disclaimer: Green Public Insurance Adjusting does not employ attorneys and does not provide legal advice. All information presented is for general educational purposes only. Policyholders should consult with a licensed attorney regarding legal questions or issues involving contract interpretation, litigation, or statutory rights.

Related Links:

• Invoicing Best Practices for Public Adjusters: Setting Expectations and Protecting Your Business
• The Insurance Check Whac-A-Mole
• No Heads-Up, No Thanks: Why Referral Partners Deserve Better
• Should Contractors Refer All Insurance Clients to a Preferred Public Adjuster?
• When One Storm Becomes Three Claims: Understanding Causation and Policyholder Remedies