The insurance adjuster’s starting offer will be guaranteed to be too low. Insurance adjusters know it is their job to keep settlements as low as possible to the advantage of their insurance company.
It’s been said that adjusters are authorized by their bosses to try to settle all claims not any higher than a pre-agreed like $50,000, but to start with an initial offer of something like $30,000. If the adjuster thinks the claimant is vulnerable to an amount lower than $30,000, he will make that offer.
It is never smart to take an adjuster’s initial offer, no matter if you think it is too low or adequate. They will go higher with their offers as the negotiations are extended. Remember that states give insurance claims at least a whole year to come to an agreement before a party can file a suit in court.
If a claimant is unsure on how much his claim is actually worth and the adjuster gives an offer that makes the claimant excited enough to agree, he still should not. Even if the amount is uncommonly huge for the claimant, there ’is a strong possibility that it is still at the bottom the range he has been authorized to dangle. What the claimant must do is refuse the offer and demand a higher price.
Always keep in mind to mentally estimate the higher range whenever the adjuster makes a low offer. If the adjuster offers you a $30,000 settlement, her higher limit is around $50,000.
Never say yes too quickly, let the negotiations and the backward and forward offers and counteroffers go on, constantly increasing the adjuster’s offer.
It would not do good for the claimant to demand for a ridiculous price too high above what the adjuster is currently offering. If he starts with $30,000, make counteroffers within that range, not immediately go for $100,000. It is all right to demand more than what is offered if it keeps the negotiations moving forward.
