Essential Equipment

What equipment will I need when adjusting insurance claims?

There are many tools and pieces of equipment that an insurance adjuster will use everyday when working claims.  All of the items listed on this page are essential claims items that every adjuster must have to be prepared to run insurance claims.  Many of these items can be purchased at your local hardware store.  However, Amazon runs fantastic sales on these items every day!  Below you will find links to these items on amazon.com.  Please also check the Adjuster Gear page for a list of popular items that most insurance claims adjusters find helpful and like to use every day!

Vehicle

Independent adjusters must provide their own vehicles.  Anything will do, as long as you can fit a ladder on it.  Most adjusters use pick-up trucks or cargo vans for convenience.  Other adjusters have used cars with bicycle racks to carry ladders on top of them.  Just keep in mind that you will be spending a majority of your time traveling and finishing paperwork in the vehicle.  Using a vehicle that is comfortable to you will help.

GPS Navigation System
This is an essential tool for any adjuster!  Be grateful that we no longer live in a day and age where navigation is accomplished by reading a road map.  You will use your GPS everyday to get to insured’s properties.  Nowadays GPS systems can even help guide you away from toll booths and construction traffic.

Cell Phone

This is another tool that every independent adjuster will use.  You will need to use your phone to contact insured’s to schedule your inspections.  Your managers will also need a way to contact you while you are on the road.  While it seems like common sense, also make sure that you have a cell phone provider that has good coverage.

Ladders

Ladders are used by all insurance adjusters.  The size of your ladder governs the roof height you can access.  Most adjusters carry 2 different sized ladders.  A small 17’ ladder is useful to get onto a majority of the roofs that you will be climbing.  A larger 22’ to 26’ ladder will allow you access to about 90% of the remaining roofs that a smaller ladder would not reach.  The foldable type of ladder has become very convenient for adjusters.  They are easy to carry and compact (so adjusters who use cars or have limited space can utilize them).

Measuring Equipment

• A tape measurer will be one of your most used measuring tools.  It can be used to measure interior rooms, roof slopes and elevations.

• A laser measuring tool is extremely useful if you would like to save a little time while being high tech.  Laser measuring tools are beneficial when measuring interior rooms and elevation lengths.  It has also aided adjusters in measuring fence lengths.  Insurance Adjuster Help strongly recommend purchasing a laser measuring tool.  It will save you roughly 30 minutes per interior inspection and will greatly increase your productivity.

• A measuring wheel is also useful when measuring large objects.  They can be used when ground measuring structures and are also extremely useful when measuring fence lengths and elevations.

Clipboard

Clipboards will always be used by adjusters.  You will constantly be taking notes, writing down measurements and noting damages throughout your inspections.  When purchasing a Clipboard it may benefit you to invest a little extra in durability.  Ask any adjuster and they will tell you that their clipboards have all taken a nosedive off of a roof at some point.

Tool Belt

Tool belts will help keep you organized during a field inspection.  Finding the right belt for you depends on the equipment you plan on carrying.  Keep in mind that you will be climbing roofs often, so you need to be comfortable and on balance when using your tool belt.

Laptop Computer

While some insurance companies will provide a laptop to their adjusters while on storm, some require the adjuster to provide the laptop.  Proper software will then be loaded onto your computer for the duration of the storm. (some insurance companies require the independent adjuster to purchase a license to use Xactimate estimate software)

Digital Camera

Like the laptop computer, some insurance companies provide a digital camera to their adjusters.  Digital cameras are essential for photographing damages and properly documenting your inspection results.  You will ALWAYS have a camera with you at all times during claim investigations!

Proper Attire

As an adjuster you will be expected to be dressed professionally every day of work.  Acceptable adjuster attire includes a polo shirt (promoting the insurance company you are representing), clean cargo pants (useful to help store tools and other misc. equipment while inspecting) and a belt.  You should have your shirt tucked in at all times.


Cougar Paws (STRONGLY RECOMMENDED)

Cougar paws are special roofing boots designed to help you keep your footing on composite shingled roofs.  These boots will also help you climb steeper roofs safely.  Cougar paws have a specially designed rubber soul that is secured to the bottom of the boot by Velcro.  The rubber pads help to prevent extensive granular damage to the shingles of the roof (caused from foot traffic).  These rubber pads are interchangeable, as the rubber pads will decay over time.  My wife calls these boots “cheap life insurance” and is an invaluable asset to any adjuster’s arsenal.  Cougar paws and cougar paw pads may be purchased at Amazon.

Again, these items are essential for every insurance claims adjuster.  If you would like to view a larger list of popular products that most insurance adjusters cannot live without, please visit the Insurance Adjuster Equipment page. :)