The Insurance Agent and Broker's Guide to Supporting Your Clients Through Property Claims

Disclaimer: This article reflects our experience managing hundreds of Minnesota property claims and is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or claims advice. Every claim is unique and requires individual evaluation.

You've built your insurance practice on trust and relationships. When your clients face property damage, they often turn to you first - even though claim handling isn't part of your daily expertise. We recognize that this puts you in a challenging position. In this guide, you'll learn about the reality of property claims, and why your colleagues in Minnesota have not only referred clients to us, but have hired Parker Public Adjusting for their own private property claims!

The Reality of Property Claims

Every agent has faced that moment: a valued client calls about a major property claim, and suddenly they're asking you to navigate unfamiliar territory. Policy sales and claim handling are completely different worlds, and your training and expertise (and your agency or broker agreements) has taught you that being honest about this protects both you and your clients.

Think about it:

• When was the last time you read a complete policy jacket?

• Were you aware that the renewal packet that home office sends to policyholders may not be their full policy?

• Do you know all the endorsements and how the claims department applies the language in claims?

• Are you confident explaining replacement cost versus actual cash value calculations, and how things Paid When Incurred (PWI) might apply?

• Can you spot potential claim pitfalls before they become problems, or have they snuck up on you in the past?

• Do you know the major claim deadline differences between commercial and homeowners policies?

In our experience, we've seen many instances where agents or brokers were not familiar with recent home office changes in the policies they were selling, or were not familiar with how the claims department applies the language they knew, which resulted in surprises for both them and their policyholder clients during claims. Things like functional damage requirements, cosmetic exclusions, limited or full matching exclusions, ACV endorsements, and even full exclusions for any type of hail damage to windows.

Nurturing Your Client Relationships

Your clients trust you to guide them when purchasing insurance, but may not be aware that the claims department is a separate department. When complex claims and possible issues arise, suggesting claim expertise from professionals like us isn't admitting defeat; it's providing additional value. Professional claim management from an experienced public adjuster:

• Keeps all stakeholders informed without getting bogged down in claim details

• Might reduce your E&O exposure by letting a licensed claim specialist handle complex claim issues

• Can reduce client frustration with claim delays and denials

• Makes the delineation between your sales role and the claims department more clear to policyholders

The Minnesota Difference

Our state's unique challenges demand local expertise and experience. From understanding our building codes to navigating policies across different carriers and property types, local knowledge matters in claim resolution.

Want to Learn More? Parker Public Adjusting helps Minnesota insurance agents protect their client relationships through professional claim management. Reach out confidentially to discuss how our claim expertise can support your practice.

Our founder Sarah Parker also provides lunch and learn presentations for insurance associations and professional groups, having spoken at conferences and events nationwide for insurance and legal professionals, sharing insights from hundreds of Minnesota property claims. Producer and/or adjuster CE or CLE accreditation may be available for select presentations. Please contact in advance to discuss and arrange.

Contact us privately to explore how professional claim management can strengthen your client relationships, not hinder them.