When a home insurance claim happens, the process can feel overwhelming fast, and the first steps you take can affect your settlement, timeline, and stress level.

In this episode of the Kern County Real Estate Review, Laurie McCarty is joined by Chris Mooney of Waypoint Adjusting to explain what a public adjuster is, how a public adjuster differs from the insurance company’s adjuster, and why homeowners hire one to help with property damage claims. They cover what the claims process looks like from start to finish, the most common types of homeowners insurance claims (fire, wildfire, smoke damage, water damage, and more), and the mistakes homeowners make early on that can accidentally hurt a claim.

You will also learn what “covered” really means, what to watch for in your homeowners policy, where claims delays usually happen, and what to consider before accepting a quick settlement. If you have ever wondered whether to bring in a public adjuster on day one, after a denial, or somewhere in the middle, this conversation breaks it down in plain English.

Keywords: public adjuster, homeowners insurance claim help, insurance claim settlement, fire claim, wildfire claim, smoke damage claim, water damage claim, denied insurance claim, California homeowners insurance, FAIR Plan, property damage claim, Waypoint Adjusting, Kern County Real Estate Review.