After a major loss, two types of professionals can help you recover more money from your insurance claim: a public adjuster and a restoration contractor. Many homeowners don’t know the difference — and some don’t know either exists.
What Is a Public Adjuster?
A public adjuster (PA) is a licensed professional who represents the policyholder — not the insurance company — in a claim. They review your policy, assess the damage, prepare a detailed scope of loss, and negotiate directly with the insurance carrier on your behalf.
PAs typically charge 10-15% of the total settlement as their fee. For a $200,000 fire loss, that’s $20,000-$30,000 — but if they recover an additional $80,000 that you wouldn’t have gotten otherwise, it’s worth every dollar.
In Michigan, public adjusters must be licensed by the state. Always verify a PA’s license before signing any agreement.
What Is a Restoration Contractor?
A restoration contractor performs the actual repair and reconstruction work after a loss. They assess damage from a construction standpoint, prepare cost estimates, and execute the physical work — demo, framing, roofing, drywall, painting, and everything in between.
Some restoration contractors, including Phase III Construction, also provide strong claims support — documenting damage thoroughly, identifying missed line items, and supplementing claims when insurance payouts fall short. This is not the same as acting as a public adjuster, but it is aggressive advocacy for your full recovery.
When Do You Need Both?
On large, complex losses — major fires, significant storm damage, total losses — having both a public adjuster and a skilled restoration contractor on your side is the strongest position you can be in. The PA fights the dollar value of your claim. The contractor makes sure the scope of work is complete and accurate.
Phase III works alongside public adjusters on many large claims. We bring the construction expertise; they bring the policy expertise. Together, we leave nothing on the table.
Phase III’s Approach
For most standard claims — hail damage, water damage, smaller fire losses — Phase III’s in-house claims support is enough. We document thoroughly, supplement aggressively, and rarely leave money behind. For major losses or complicated policy disputes, we’ll recommend a trusted PA to work alongside us.
The goal is always the same: you get every dollar you’re entitled to, and your home is restored properly.
Phase III Construction | (734) 237-7322 | Claims Support + Restoration — SE Michigan