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Did Your Home Burn Down? You Might Not Be Getting Everything You’re Owed

Contact Us Why Choose Noble?

Property Insurance Claim Insights from Noble Public Adjusting Group

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 2, 2025

If your home was damaged or destroyed by one of California’s wildfires, you’re probably dealing with insurance. Or maybe you’ve already received a payout. But here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Many wildfire victims in California are being paid only a portion of what their policy actually covers.

At Noble Public Adjusting Group , we’ve seen this story unfold in state after state. Now that we’re fully licensed to operate in California, we’re hearing the same thing again:

“I got paid, but only a percentage of my policy. I don’t know why.”

Let’s be clear: If your house burned down and your policy had limits to cover the full rebuild, contents, and loss of use, you should be getting 100% of what you’re entitled to. But most homeowners don’t realize how easy it is to miss out on sub-limits, special provisions, or cost escalations buried in the fine print of their policy.

This is where a public adjuster makes all the difference.

What Is a Public Adjuster and Why Should You Call One Before Accepting a Settlement?

A public adjuster is a licensed insurance claim professional who works for you, not the insurance company. When a major disaster hits, insurance carriers send their own adjusters to evaluate the damage and write up the claim. That person’s job is to protect the company’s bottom line. Not yours.

A public adjuster, like our team at Noble Public Adjusting Group , flips that model. We:

  • Review your policy in full
  • Document every detail of the damage
  • Account for code upgrades, sub-limits, outbuildings, landscaping, fencing, debris removal, personal property, and more
  • Negotiate the maximum allowable payout under your policy
  • Handle all the legwork while you focus on recovering and rebuilding

Here’s the key: You need to bring in a public adjuster before you agree to or sign off on the final settlement. Once that claim is closed, it’s closed. No do-overs.

California Wildfires: A Perfect Storm for Underpaid Claims

When wildfires tear through entire neighborhoods, as they’ve done again and again in California, insurance companies get overwhelmed. Claims pour in by the hundreds. Adjusters are flown in from out-of-state. Things get rushed.

What we’re seeing on the ground:

  • Generic repair estimates that don’t reflect local building costs
  • Missed line items like electrical work, site prep, or code-mandated fire-resistant materials
  • Under-documented contents because homeowners didn’t have time to inventory every lost item
  • Loss of use limits capped prematurely, even when families are still displaced

All of this adds up to one outcome: you get shortchanged.

You Could Be Missing Out On Tens of Thousands—Even If You Think You Were Paid Fairly

A homeowner gets a check from their insurance company. Maybe it covers part of the rebuild, some living expenses, and a little bit for contents. It feels like a relief after all the chaos. But that check might only represent 70% or 80% of what they’re truly owed.

And we’re not just guessing.

“Insurance providers frequently determine your coverage limits, yet when a loss occurs, they often withhold or minimize payments,” says Susan McGee , a licensed public adjuster with Noble Public Adjusting Group, currently helping wildfire survivors across California. “Insurers set the limits, then stall when it’s time to pay. They cap your coverage, then dodge the payout.”

Susan isn’t just looking at the numbers,she’s walking scorched lots, sitting across kitchen tables with displaced families, and uncovering policy details most people miss. She’s helping homeowners discover coverage they already paid for but weren’t told how to claim properly.

Let’s look at where money is often left on the table:

1. Sub-Limits

Most policies have separate caps for things like:

  • Detached garages and sheds
  • Trees, shrubs, and landscaping
  • Fencing
  • Debris removal
  • Temporary housing

If these aren’t claimed correctly and with detailed documentation, they’re often paid out at the minimum, or skipped entirely.

2. Code Upgrades

California building codes change regularly, especially after wildfires. If your home needs fire-resistant siding, upgraded electrical systems, or sprinkler systems to meet new regulations, those upgrades cost money, and should be covered under Ordinance or Law provisions in your policy.

But most insurers don’t volunteer this information unless pressed.

3. Loss of Use

Many policies cover additional living expenses (ALE) while you’re displaced. But some adjusters apply artificial deadlines or lowball estimates of rental and food costs. We make sure you get every dollar you’re entitled to while you’re out of your home.

4. Contents

After a total loss, you need to provide an itemized list of personal property. That’s hundreds, sometimes thousands, of items. It’s one of the most stressful parts of the claim.

We handle that for you. Our team builds a complete inventory, prices it accurately, and ensures you’re compensated for replacement value, not garage sale value.

The Clock Is Ticking—Here’s Why You Need to Act Before It’s Too Late

Once you accept a settlement and sign a release, the claim is closed. You can’t go back and ask for more if you later realize something was missed. That’s why it’s so important to involve a public adjuster before you accept the final offer.

You’re dealing with:

  • Legal deadlines
  • Pressure to settle quickly
  • Emotional exhaustion
  • Complicated paperwork

We take all that off your plate.

Why Noble Public Adjusting Group?

At Noble, we’re not new to disaster claims. We’ve handled large-loss cases across the country, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and wildfires. Our team is now licensed to serve the people of California, and we’re bringing national-level expertise to the local wildfire crisis.

What You Get With Noble:

1.) Full policy review 2.) Complete damage assessment 3.) Contents inventory & valuation 4.) Cost breakdown for full rebuild 5.) Negotiation with your insurance carrier 6.) Peace of mind that your claim is being handled by your team

And yes, our fees are only paid as a percentage of the claim we help you recover. If we don’t win you more, you don’t pay more.

Think You’re Covered? Ask Yourself These Questions

Before you cash that insurance check, stop and think:

  • Did I receive 100% of my dwelling coverage?
  • Were all my personal items accounted for with replacement value?
  • Was my additional living expense coverage calculated accurately?
  • Did anyone walk me through code upgrade provisions?
  • Was there anything in my policy I didn’t understand—but signed off on anyway?

If you hesitate on any of those, call us.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Get a Second Shot at a Total Loss

The tragedy of losing your home should never be compounded by losing what you’re owed.

As Susan McGee puts it: “Coverage limits upfront, excuses later. Insurers promise coverage, then pull back when it counts.”

Don’t let that happen to your family. You deserve a full, fair, and final settlement that reflects the true cost of recovery.

We’re proud to now serve wildfire victims throughout California. And we’re ready to go to work for you.

Need Help With Your Property Claim?

Noble Public Adjusting Group represents policyholders nationwide to maximize claim recovery. Contact us today for a complimentary claim review.

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