Burst pipe claim settled for $31k after they initially offered $8k - here's what I did

Wanted to share this because i spent a lot of time on this community reading other peoples stories when i was going through my claim and it genuinely helped. Pipe burst in my basement in January, flooded the finished basement, destroyed flooring, drywall, HVAC unit, washer and dryer. Filed the claim the same day.

The initial offer was $8,200. I almost cried. The HVAC alone was going to cost more than that. I got three contractor estimates averaging $34,000 and they still said $8,200 was fair and that their estimate reflected standard depreciation. i hired a public adjuster that week.

The PA found things i never would have found myself - code upgrade requirements, asbestos testing required before demo in homes our age, additional living expenses for when we had to stay in a hotel during remediation. The final settlement came to $31,400. PA took 12% so i netted about $27k but still, that's $19k more than the original offer. If youre dealing with a significant water claim and the offer feels low, please at least consult with a public adjuster before accepting anything.