Send an itemized demand letter to the insurance company Because the insurance company is likely to respond with an offer for less than the amount requested in the demand letter, you must ask 25 to 100 percent more than you would be willing to accept. If an adjuster makes a first offer so low that it's obviously just a negotiation tactic to see if you know what your claim is really worth, don't immediately lower the amount you put on your demand letter. Instead, ask the appraiser to give you the specific reasons why the offer is so low and to take note of what they say. Then write a short letter responding to each of the factors that the adjuster has mentioned.
See an example of a response to an excessively low liquidation offer. If in your first conversation, the appraiser makes such a low bid that it's obviously just a negotiation tactic to see if you know what your claim is really worth, don't immediately lower the amount you put on your demand letter. Instead, ask the appraiser to give you the specific reasons why the offer is so low. Depending on the strength of the reasons of the adjuster, you may slightly reduce your demand, but wait to see if the adjuster moves before going down a little.
You might think you can get money on your own. The insurance company may even put pressure on you and ask you not to contact an attorney. They might say you don't need one and they'll make you an offer quickly. However, those initial offerings are often too low to meet all your needs.
