Frequently Asked Questions

A public adjuster is an insurance claims professional licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance to represent policyholders. Unlike the insurance company’s adjuster, a public adjuster works only for you: inspecting the damage, reviewing the policy, preparing the claim and negotiating the settlement.

Local knowledge: Houston-area repair pricing, Fort Bend County storm history, and how carriers handle Sugar Land claims. We can also inspect quickly and attend re-inspections in person.

No upfront fees. Texas caps public adjuster compensation at 10% of the insurance settlement. See the fee calculator and our full guide to fees.

Use the Texas Department of Insurance license lookup. Our firm is Rise Public Adjusting LLC, license #3356839.

Usually the opposite: a complete, well-documented claim reduces back-and-forth and re-inspections.

No. We prepare and negotiate insurance claims. If your claim needs litigation, we will tell you so you can consult an attorney.

Ideally right after the damage and before the insurer’s inspection—but we can help after a denial, a low offer or even a closed claim.

Often, yes. We review the denial reason against your policy and the evidence, document what was missed, and present a supplemented claim or invoke appraisal where it fits. See denied & underpaid claims.

Many policies allow supplemental claims when additional damage is found or the original scope was incomplete, usually within a time limit set in the policy.

On a replacement cost policy, the insurer typically holds back depreciation until repairs are complete. That held-back amount is recoverable once you document the work. Try the depreciation calculator.

Texas’s Prompt Payment of Claims Act sets deadlines for acknowledging, deciding and paying claims. Map yours with the claim deadline calculator.

You must cooperate with your insurer, but you can prepare first. Stick to facts, don’t guess about causes or amounts, and consider talking to a public adjuster beforehand.

Wind damage generally is—Fort Bend County is outside the TWIA coastal area, so wind coverage comes from your regular policy, often with a percentage wind/hail or named-storm deductible. Rising water requires separate flood insurance.

Sudden and accidental water discharge is generally covered; long-term leaks and seepage often are not. See water damage claims.

No. River and surface flooding is excluded from standard homeowners policies and covered only by NFIP or private flood insurance. See flood claims.

Our live storm center shows current conditions, NWS alerts, radar, the tropical outlook and the Brazos River gauge.