Ever heard of someone catching both mice and snakes in their house after filing an insurance claim? Sounds wild, but that’s exactly what can happen if a big insurance claim drags on without results.
What Happens When a Big Insurance Claim Gets Messy?
Filing your first big insurance claim is already stressful enough. But what if the process stalls—or worse, the insurance adjuster seems to be working against you? That’s what happened in one real-life story where a homeowner faced thousands in damages after a pipe burst. Four rooms were ruined, but instead of help arriving quickly, the process got complicated—fast.
Here’s how it unfolded:
- State Farm approved $7k for flooring right away.
- The rebuild estimate ($24k) sat untouched for months.
- A new adjuster was assigned out of nowhere and approved just $8.5k.
- After pushing back on this low offer, the revised estimate was even lower.
- The homeowner ended up with only about half of what was needed—and open walls letting in critters.
It’s not supposed to work like this. But unfortunately, adjusters sometimes undercut estimates or deny parts of claims—especially with bigger jobs.
Why Do Insurance Adjusters Push Back on Big Claims?
Insurance companies are businesses. Their job is to pay valid claims—but also to keep costs down. With a big insurance claim involving major home repairs, an adjuster might:
- Apply extra depreciation (reducing how much they’ll pay based on “wear and tear”)
- Omit line items or entire rooms from estimates
- Switch up personnel mid-claim without explanation
- Reduce or reverse previously approved work
Sometimes it’s due to paperwork errors or miscommunication. Other times it feels more like stonewalling—especially if the numbers keep dropping each time you ask questions.
What Can You Do If Your Homeowners Insurance Adjuster Is Unfair?
Feeling steamrolled by your insurer isn’t just frustrating—it can leave you living in unsafe conditions. Here are some practical steps if you feel stuck:
- Document everything: Keep detailed notes of every conversation and save emails/letters from your insurer and contractors.
- Get written estimates: Ask both your contractor and any specialist (like flooring) for itemized quotes showing all required repairs.
- Request written explanations: Ask the adjuster why certain items were cut or depreciated. Insist on written responses.
- Escalate within the company: Many insurers have supervisors or internal review teams. Don’t hesitate to ask for another review.
- File a complaint: If progress stalls, contact your state’s department of insurance. They can investigate unfair practices.
- Consult an independent adjuster: For large discrepancies, hiring a public (independent) adjuster may help get fair value for repairs—but check fees first.
A Real-Life Example: From Flooded Floors to Wildlife Intruders
Let’s get personal for a second. In this Reddit story from user siaiix, months passed while their house sat half-dismantled from water damage. Not only did State Farm keep lowering the payout—even canceling previously approved flooring—they also left holes in walls and floors as winter approached.
With no insulation or completed rebuilds in those rooms, siaiix caught two mice and two snakes making themselves at home indoors! It took repeated calls just to get written explanations about why payments were cut so drastically—and even then, answers were slow.
The contractors confirmed missing rooms and missing overhead/profit in estimates—things that should never slip through the cracks with a well-handled big insurance claim.
Bounce Back Stronger—Don’t Let Your Big Insurance Claim Go Unanswered
First time dealing with major damage at home is hard enough without feeling pushed around by an unresponsive insurer. If you’re running into suspiciously low estimates or endless delays:
- Persistently follow up in writing
- Ask for supervisors when needed
- Keenly document every step—dates, names, promises made
If things don’t improve soon—or wildlife starts moving in—it may be time to escalate outside the company or bring in extra help.
Ever had trouble with an insurance claim before? What worked—or didn’t work—for you?
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