What Sets Apart a PA Specializing in Commercial Claims From One Who Handles Residential Claims
INTERVIEW ON THE PRICE OF BUSINESS SHOW, MEDIA PARTNER OF THIS SITE.
Recently Kevin Price, Host of the nationally syndicated Price of Business Show, interviewed Jenny Lyon.
The Jenny Lyon Commentaries
On a recent Price of Business, Host Kevin Price visited with Jenny Lyon, a professional public adjuster for businesses.
They discussed: What are the qualifications and differences between residential and commercial Adjusters and Public Adjusters?
What’s the difference between your company and those that focus on residential?
Among other factors, our deep knowledge of the claims process and “how” to deal with commercial adjusters, engineers and building consultants to reach that correct number, outcome. This is a very difficult task that requires finesse.
Residential adjusters and IA’s in the field tend to “turn and burn” inspections and thus their estimates, whereas working commercial claims is a very detailed process involving many players. Because many commercial adjusters and IA’s have years in the game it requires not only more patience and ability to be calm and focused, one has to somewhat fearlessly stand up to Goliath, while building our clients’ faith in us. We also consider ourselves experts on the related materials and construction issues and demonstrate this with ability to “write” “large” and detailed complex estimates. There is much more negotiation involved!
Did you have to get special training to focus on business?
Our training comes mostly from 12 years of experience on both the carrier side as an IA and as a Public Adjuster. Prior to that, to cut my teeth, if you will, I learned a good deal in the construction arena. I worked for both a large national homebuilder and then a commercial builder. I also am an interior designer by college so have an extensive understanding of finishes and high end materials. Since entering the field of adjusting and growing the passion I have for it, I knew I wanted to work as a commercial adjuster and made sure to take advantage of all carrier training and certifications as well as put in the time and expense of FIre and Water remediation certifications through IICRC, and others. As is life it is a constant strive for learning towards excellence.
What made you decide to focus on business rather than residential?
Many PA’s specialize in residential. We of course can write those large fire and water claims as well. We identified that the folks who have invested not only their financial futures into their buildings, but their hearts and souls as well – really needed that support and expert help! They are, for the most part, completely UNaware of how vulnerable both their building repairs and their bottom line really ARE when they have a claim – WHAT IS ACTUALLY AT RISK FOR THEM. Millions of dollars can be at risk and no, these insurance companies as a whole do not want to bear the burden of their own fiduciary responsibility to their policyholders.
These words are not popular as one can imagine, but myself and my team fight the fight we must and fight for what is right for the policyholder. We won’t fix the system but we sure try to impact those claims that we can for a fair and balanced outcome.
Jenny Lyon, PA got her start working in the property claims industry as an “IA”, or, Independant Adjuster, over 12 years ago, working Catastrophe or “CAT” claims for major insurance carriers across the nation. She quickly advanced to the handling of commercial claims and has specialized in commercial and large loss claims ever since. This year her team will resolve over $20-30,000,000 in losses.
Jenny experienced, and thusly identified several problems within the property claims system. Including, when she realized the product she turned over to the insurance carrier(s) oftentimes would vary vastly from what the insured actually received as payment. Only if and when she got a call from these upset insured would she realize that, although her license is what backs up her work, it was too often irrelevant. She knew this unfair treatment of the insured was not what she personally, ethically stood for.
She has since split her career between helping the insured for the insurance carrier side and now helping the insured to recover, FROM the carrier side. She formed her PA Firm, Pinnacle Public Adjusting LLC, in 2020 and has been helping the insured get “Fully Paid” what they are owed, ever since.
Jenny, who is a master estimator, along with her team of professionals (including Pinnacle PA staff, specialty engineers, appraisers and attorneys) like other PA’s in Texas – work on a contigency basis primarily but also provide estimate services and professional consulting – aiding the insured by, as she says, carefully navigating the dangerous waters that make up the property claims profession. Ideally her team will take a claim from the outset of the loss – negotiating through to final and full recovery of depreciation, using their expertise and experience throughout every step of the way.
Learn more at fullypaidclaims.com.
Follow Jenny on social media:
Explore more insights at https://thedailyblaze.com/.
About Author
