The Hidden Struggle: What Homeowners Face in the Insurance Claims Process

When disaster strikes, most homeowners believe their insurance company will step in quickly and fairly. After all, that’s what years of premiums are for. But the reality of the insurance claims process often tells a very different story.

A recent Senate hearing laid bare what many contractors and homeowners already know: families hit by natural disasters are too often met with lowball estimates, delays, and endless frustration. You can watch the full hearing here: Examining the Insurance Industry’s Claims Practices Following Recent Natural Disasters.

My Firsthand Experience with Lowball Offers

I’ve experienced these same challenges in my own work. A homeowner I helped after a tree fall was initially offered just $17,000 from their insurer. From the beginning, I warned them that dealing with insurance adjusters would be a fight — and unfortunately, I was right.

After months of negotiations, revised estimates, and exhausting back-and-forth, the claim finally settled for nearly $90,000. That’s more than five times the original offer. Even then, it still felt like we left money on the table, because the true home restoration costs were higher.

This is what homeowners rarely believe until they see it firsthand. The first settlement check is rarely enough to rebuild — and the battle for fair coverage can be long and draining.

What the Senate Hearing Confirmed

The stories in the Senate hearing echoed my own experience:

• Independent adjusters testified they were pressured to lower damage estimates.

• Homeowners shared how their storm damage claims were undervalued by tens of thousands of dollars.

• Lawmakers called out insurers for betraying the very people they’re supposed to protect.

What Homeowners Can Do

If you ever face a major claim, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Expect a fight – the first offer is almost always too low.

• Document everything – photos, videos, and independent inspections are your best defense.

• Get help – public adjusters, experienced contractors, or legal counsel can level the playing field.

• Be patient but persistent – fair home insurance settlements take time.

Final Thoughts

Recovering from disaster is hard enough without battling your own insurance company. Yet, for many families, this second battle is unavoidable. My hope in sharing both my story and the Senate’s investigation is simple: to prepare homeowners for what to expect when filing home insurance claims — and to push for real accountability in an industry that too often works against the people it’s supposed to serve.