Step 1
Document
Document the loss thoroughly
Licensed Ohio Public Adjuster #1367111
Public Adjuster vs Contractor: Who Handles Your Ohio Insurance Claim?
After wind, hail, fire, or water damage, Ohio homeowners often hear two pitches at once: “We can fix the roof” and “We’ll work with your insurance.” Those are different jobs. Mixing them up is how people end up with an incomplete claim file—or a conflict they did not see coming.
Keathley Claims Consultants is a licensed Ohio public adjusting firm (Ohio Public Adjuster License #1367111), based at 155 N Main Street, Wellington, OH 44090. We work for you, the policyholder. When we represent you on your claim, we do not work for the insurance company. We are not attorneys, not a law firm, and do not give legal advice. We are not a contractor and do not sell or perform repairs.
Answer in plain English
A contractor’s job is to mitigate, repair, or rebuild your property. A public adjuster’s job is to document the loss and help present and negotiate the insurance claim for the policyholder. They are different licenses and different roles; mixing them can confuse the claim. Many Ohio homeowners work with both: a public adjuster on the claim file and a contractor on the rebuild. Keathley Claims Consultants is a licensed Ohio public adjusting firm (License #1367111), not a contractor, and does not work for the insurance company in regards to your claim.
Need help now? Call (419) 504-1601 · claims@keathleyclaims.com · Contact https://www.keathleyclaims.com/contact/.
Different Jobs
Quick answer: repairs vs claim representation
- Contractor = inspect for repair/rebuild, price the work, perform mitigation and construction
- Public adjuster = document the loss for the insurance claim, present the file, negotiate with the carrier on the policyholder’s side
- KCC is not a contractor and does not sell roofing or restoration
Partner hub for trade firms (different purpose from this page): contractors
Roles
Side-by-side roles
| Contractor (roofer / restoration) | Public adjuster | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary job | Repair, rebuild, mitigate | Document and negotiate the insurance claim for the insured |
| Works for | You (repair/construction contract) | You (adjusting contract)—policyholder side |
| Licensing | Contractor / trade licensing as applicable | Ohio public adjuster license (ours: #1367111) |
| How paid | For construction / restoration work | For claim adjusting under a written PA contract (structure in writing—no invented % here) |
| Typical deliverable | Scope of work, materials, labor, completed repairs | Inspection, documentation, claim presentation, negotiation |
| Negotiates settlement? | May “work with insurance” on paperwork; claim advocacy is not the same as being your PA | Yes—on the policyholder’s claim file |
Estimates from contractors and estimates from carriers often disagree. That gap is common on roof/siding and storm losses. Closing the gap is claim work—not the same as swinging a hammer.
Contractor Role
What contractors can help with on a claim (and where the line is)
A strong contractor often helps by:
- Taking damage photos and documenting visible conditions
- Preparing a repair/rebuild estimate
- Attending carrier inspections to answer construction questions
- Explaining code, materials, and what it takes to restore the property
Where the line is (high-level consumer caution—not legal advice): negotiating or settling the insurance claim, or holding out as an adjuster, can create confusion and compliance problems. Ask who holds the Ohio public adjuster license before anyone claims to “adjust” your claim. Verify the license. Read every contract.
How KCC collaborates with repair pros without being one: contractors
Public Adjuster Role
What a public adjuster adds
A licensed Ohio public adjuster can help with:
- Independent claim documentation for the policyholder
- Policy/file review and presentation of amount and scope
- Negotiation while the claim is live
- Continuum into appraisal services when coverage is accepted but amount of loss remains disputed
We do not work for the insurance company in regards to your claim.
Overview: Ohio public adjuster · License #1367111 · Ohio only.
Fees are disclosed in a written contract—we do not invent a percentage on this page. See how much a public adjuster costs in Ohio.
Honest Framing
When a contractor alone may be enough
Not every claim needs a public adjuster.
A contractor alone may be enough when the loss is straightforward and limited in scope, the carrier estimate looks complete and fair, and you are comfortable managing documents and carrier calls yourself.
Honest “when not to hire” beats hype. More: Do I need a public adjuster?
Claim Stage
When hiring a PA (with or after a contractor) often makes sense
Discuss a public adjuster when:
- The carrier payment is under the real repair scope — underpaid claim help
- Rooms, systems, or matching items are missing from the estimate — roof and siding claim help
- The claim was denied — denied claim help
- The file is delayed or stalled — delayed claim help
- The loss is multi-trade (fire/smoke, major water, structural) — fire and smoke claims · wind and hail claims
Clear Lanes
Working together without mixing roles
Ideal sequence:
Step 2
Settle
Settle claim scope and dollars on the insurance file
Step 3
Rebuild
Rebuild with a contractor of the homeowner’s choosing
KCC may coordinate with contractors for documentation. KCC does not perform the repairs and does not take a cut of the construction contract. You stay in control of who repairs your property.
Watchouts
Red flags
- Pressure to sign a repair contract and an “we handle insurance” package before you understand fees
- Anyone unwilling to put claim-related fees in writing
- Guarantees of a specific settlement amount
- Unlicensed “helpers” offering to adjust your claim
- Confusion about who holds the Ohio PA license
FAQs
FAQs
Should I hire a public adjuster or a roofing contractor first? +
It depends on the claim. Emergency mitigation and safety come first. For a disputed or underpaid insurance file, claim documentation often needs attention before you lock into a full rebuild path. Many homeowners eventually need both. Ask for a claim review if the carrier number and contractor estimate are far apart.
Can my contractor also be my public adjuster? +
Different licenses and different roles. Be cautious when one party tries to wear both hats. Verify any public adjuster license separately. KCC is a PA firm—not your roofer.
Does a public adjuster replace my contractor? +
No. A PA does not replace the contractor who will repair or rebuild. We work the claim; the contractor works the property.
Will hiring a PA delay my repairs? +
Not necessarily. Emergency mitigation should not wait. The goal is a clearer claim file so repair funding matches documented scope—not delay for its own sake. Timing depends on your claim’s facts.
Related pages: Ohio public adjuster, public adjuster cost in Ohio, public adjuster vs attorney in Ohio, and contractor partner hub.
Next Step
Next step
If a contractor estimate and the carrier number are far apart—or someone is asking you to let them “handle insurance” without a clear license—get a policyholder-side review.
Call (419) 504-1601 · claims@keathleyclaims.com · Contact · Ohio public adjuster · contractors · FAQs · About
Ohio only. We are not attorneys and this is not legal advice. Not a law firm. Not
a contractor. When we represent you on your claim, we do not work for the insurance
company—we work for you, the policyholder.
Keathley Claims Consultants · Ohio Public Adjuster License #1367111 · 155 N Main Street,
Wellington, OH 44090 ·
(419) 504-1601
·
https://www.keathleyclaims.com/