Insurance Appraiser vs. Public Adjuster in Florida
When your insurer underpays a property claim, you have two primary options for professional help: a public adjuster or a policyholder-side insurance appraiser. They overlap in purpose but differ sharply in process, timing, and fee structure. If you are considering the formal appraisal route, start with the Florida appraisal clause guide. You can alsobrowse all guides or check the FAQ index for related process questions.
Public Adjuster
A public adjuster (PA) is licensed by the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) to represent policyholders in the claims adjustment process. They negotiate directly with the insurer's adjuster on your behalf — reviewing the policy, documenting the loss, and pushing for a fair settlement.
- When: Best engaged early, before you accept a settlement offer. Can be hired any time during the open claim process.
- Fee: Florida caps public adjuster fees at 10% for losses from a declared state of emergency and 20% for all other claims. No recovery, no fee.
- Authority: Negotiates, but cannot compel arbitration or invoke the appraisal clause.
Policyholder-Side Appraiser
A policyholder-side appraiser is engaged specifically to participate in the formal appraisal clause process — a binding dispute-resolution mechanism written into most Florida property policies and governed by Florida Statute § 627.7015. Once you demand appraisal, your appraiser and the insurer's appraiser attempt to agree on the loss amount; if they can't, an umpire decides. If you are comparing candidates, our Florida guide to choosing an insurance appraiser outlines what to look for.
- When: After a claim settlement offer has been made and you've formally invoked the appraisal clause. Requires a dispute about amount of loss, not coverage.
- Fee: Hourly or flat rate — typically not percentage-based. You pay your appraiser; the insurer pays theirs. Umpire fees are split 50/50.
- Authority: Participates in a binding process. The award is enforceable without litigation.
Can You Use Both?
Yes. A public adjuster can help you build and document your claim before invoking appraisal. Some public adjusters also serve as appraisers, but you should confirm they're working exclusively in one role — dual roles on the same claim can create conflicts. For a broader overview of what happens after appraisal begins, see our insurance appraisal process guide. Cost questions also usually start with the insurance appraiser cost FAQ, and many storm-loss readers first review can I choose my own insurance appraiser.
Which Do You Need?
- Insurer hasn't made an offer yet → public adjuster
- You've received an offer and disagree on the amount → consider invoking appraisal and hiring an appraiser. Our guide to invoking insurance appraisal explains how to start.
- Coverage denied entirely → neither; you need an attorney. If valuation is the real issue, compare the paths in our insurance appraisal vs. litigation guide. For statewide storm context, compare the Florida hurricane insurance claim guide.