Home Insurance Claim Adjuster Secret Tactics: How to Deal With Them

It’s common for an adjuster to hint that minor cracks or leaks predated your covered loss. Adjusters may cite older repair marks, faded paint, or even past maintenance logs to suggest your damage wasn’t sudden. To counter this, photograph every inch of your home immediately after the event, before any cleanup, so you have time‑stamped proof of the exact damage.

Instead of valuing each damaged item separately, they may lump broken windows, a damaged roof, and gutter damage under “exterior maintenance.” This vague label often carries a much lower allowance than the sum of individual repair costs. When an adjuster groups damage together, ask them to break down the costs line by line.

Insurers often steer you toward a list of “approved” contractors whose estimates the adjuster knows are below market rates. While marketed as a convenience, these vendors deliver lower-quality work for a price that justifies the insurer’s reduced settlement. You’re under no obligation to use these preferred vendors. If you choose your own contractor, insist that the adjuster review that bid.

From supplemental forms to itemized lists, an adjuster may inundate you with documents that seem urgent. The volume can tire you out or lead to accidentally missed deadlines, giving the insurer grounds to deny parts of your claim. Stay organized with a simple binder or digital folder labelled by date and document type. If a form seems unnecessary, ask why it’s needed.

Adjusters know that homeowners expect gradual wear, so they apply this broad term when it benefits the insurer. If they deem any portion of your damage as maintenance-related, they’ll recategorize that repair as outside of coverage. Ask the adjuster to point to the exact language in your policy that defines “wear and tear” exclusions. Often, policies talk about gradual deterioration over the years, not sudden failure.

You might hear an adjuster reference a clause in your policy that supposedly excludes certain damage. If they don’t quote the exact language or show you the clause, you won’t have the information needed to dispute whether it applies. Always carry a copy of your policy to meetings and ask the adjuster to cite the exclusion clause aloud. If they can’t locate the clause quickly, it’s a red flag that the exclusion may not apply or could be misinterpreted.

Slow replies, postponed site visits, or repeated requests for the same documents can stretch your claim over weeks or months. As frustration grows, you may feel pressured to accept a lower offer to prevent any more claim delays. Keep a timestamped log of every phone call, email, and visit. If you notice that promised follow‑ups aren’t happening within the timeframe they gave you, send a polite but firm email summarizing the missed deadlines and requesting a new schedule.