A public adjuster is licensed to represent a policyholder in a claim, while a contractor documents and prices the proposed construction work. A contractor that writes estimates in Xactimate can provide a directly comparable line-item scope when the carrier used the same platform. Which professional is appropriate depends on whether the issue concerns construction scope, claim representation, or both.
Do You Need a Public Adjuster or a Contractor Who Knows Xactimate?
A public adjuster is licensed to represent a policyholder in a claim and may charge a fee under a written agreement subject to applicable law. Ask for the license, services, fee basis, cancellation terms, and conflicts in writing. A contractor who works in Xactimate prepares a line-item construction scope that can be compared directly when the carrier also uses that platform. Integrity CRR writes roofing estimates in house. Integrity CRR, LLC currently holds Georgia company license GCCO009212, with Zachary Chastain Whyte as qualifying agent under GCQA009212; verify both current records in the live state lookup.
The two roles are licensed differently in Georgia. A public adjuster’s license comes from the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire; a contractor’s license covers construction work. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.12) bars a residential roofing contractor from offering or advertising to represent or negotiate a homeowner’s claim. Integrity documents observed conditions, writes its repair scope, and may submit supported contractor information for carrier review; it does not represent the owner in a claim dispute.
Public Adjuster vs. Insurance Claim Specialist vs. Roofer
“Insurance claim specialist” is not a separate Georgia license. When a contractor uses that phrase legitimately, it describes the inspection, documentation, scoping, pricing, and supplement-support portion of the repair — not representation or claim negotiation.
| Role | Primary job | What the role does not replace | Typical payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public adjuster | Represents the policyholder and negotiates the claim with the carrier | A licensed contractor to perform the repair | Usually a contingency fee set by contract |
| Claim-focused contractor | Inspects, documents, writes the repair scope, prices it in Xactimate, and supports supplements as contractor of record | A public adjuster for a coverage or settlement dispute | Included in the repair relationship; confirm contract terms |
| Roofing contractor | Builds the roof and may also inspect and scope the damage | Claim documentation, unless the contractor expressly includes it | The agreed repair price |
A roofing contractor can be strong at installation without offering claim-scoping support. Ask who inspected the damage, who wrote the estimate, and whether that same company will build the approved work. Those answers reveal whether important line items can be lost in a handoff.
What a Public Adjuster Actually Does
A public adjuster inspects the damage, prepares or reviews the claim on your behalf, and negotiates directly with the insurance company’s adjuster to reach a settlement number. That negotiation is licensed work in Georgia, separate from construction, and it’s the right tool when a claim has already been denied, lowballed, or when a homeowner doesn’t want to deal with the carrier directly at all. Public adjusters don’t perform repairs. Once the claim is settled, you still need a contractor to build the work, which means paying the contingency fee on top of the repair cost — on a $30,000 claim, a 15% fee is $4,500 out of the settlement before repairs even start.
What a Contractor Who Uses Xactimate Actually Does
A claim-focused contractor documents observed property conditions with photos and measurements and writes a detailed repair scope in Xactimate. When the carrier used the same platform, the two scopes can be compared for supported differences in quantities, operations, or pricing. If the approved estimate appears incomplete, the contractor can submit construction documentation with a supplement request for the carrier to evaluate.
Ask any contractor bidding an insurance job whether it prepares the scope in house or uses a third-party estimator. If another firm is involved, ask how inspection notes, scope questions, and revisions are transferred and checked.
How Integrity CRR Handles Xactimate In-House
Integrity CRR’s in-house team writes roofing estimates in Xactimate, so corresponding roofing line items can be compared when the carrier uses the same format. When engaged for roofing, its own crews can perform the contracted work and answer construction questions about its bid. Verify current licensing before award.
Once a claim is approved, Integrity CRR writes a detailed repair scope based on observed conditions. That may include applicable code upgrades, detached structures when relevant, and labor or materials documented after the roof is opened during authorized work. If the approved estimate appears incomplete, Integrity documents the gap and submits a supplement request as the contractor of record. The carrier decides coverage and payment under the policy. Integrity does not guarantee approval or a particular payment and does not negotiate, adjust, or settle claims on an owner’s behalf.
When You Actually Need Both
Some claims genuinely need both. If a carrier has denied a claim outright, if a homeowner and carrier are already in a dispute over cause of loss, or on a larger commercial loss with multiple buildings or business-interruption components, an owner may consider licensed representation. In that situation, the contractor’s line-item repair scope can provide construction documentation for the public adjuster or attorney to review.
When the disagreement concerns construction quantities, operations, or pricing, a contractor’s documented repair scope can clarify those differences for carrier review. If you’ve already retained a public adjuster, you may still seek a contractor’s opinion on the repair scope; the public adjuster handles licensed claim representation, while the contractor explains and builds the proposed repair.
The Process, Start to Finish
- Inspection — the contractor documents all storm or hail damage with photos, measurements, and notes, matching what an insurance adjuster looks for.
- Scope written in Xactimate — each proposed repair operation is itemized so it can be compared directly when the carrier used the same platform.
- Adjuster meeting — the contractor meets the insurance adjuster on site (or reviews their estimate against the contractor’s own) to compare numbers.
- Supplementing — any missing or underpriced item gets documented and submitted back to the carrier as a supplement request.
- Scope of repair — once the claim is settled, the same company that wrote the estimate performs the roofing work, since Integrity CRR self-performs roofing with its own crews.
Before signing, ask how the inspector documents roof conditions, whether the scope is written in Xactimate in-house, whether the contractor will show its line items beside the adjuster’s estimate, and whether the roofing crew is employed by the company that wrote the scope. Those checks distinguish a documented contractor process from a marketing title.
Roof replacement costs in the metro Atlanta market span a wide range depending on roof size, pitch, and material — those are general market figures, not an Integrity CRR quote, and an actual number requires an on-site estimate. That range is exactly why a complete Xactimate scope matters: if the carrier’s estimate is priced off the wrong roof size or missing a line item like decking replacement or code-required underlayment, the gap between what’s approved and what the job actually costs can be significant.
Integrity CRR is a service-disabled veteran-owned general contractor based in Atlanta and serving Georgia. Roofing is self-performed in house; on other trades like commercial build-outs and public works, Integrity manages vetted subcontractors as the GC. For storm and hail claims specifically, see storm restoration and roofing. You can review the team’s credentials on the about page, or see finished work on the projects page.
If you’re in Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Roswell, or anywhere else in metro Atlanta and you’re not sure which route makes sense for your claim, call (833) 423-6255 and ask for a free inspection before you sign anything with a public adjuster. Contact Integrity CRR to get the Xactimate scope written first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a contractor also be a public adjuster in Georgia?
No. Public adjusting and construction are separate activities with different legal boundaries. Integrity CRR does not undertake to negotiate, adjust, settle, or represent an owner’s claim. It writes roofing estimates in Xactimate and may submit authorized contractor documentation for carrier review. Verify the live contractor-license record before award.
How much does a public adjuster cost in Georgia?
Public adjusters generally work on contingency, commonly in the range of 10% to 20% of the final claim settlement, though the exact fee is set case by case. That fee comes out of the settlement in addition to whatever the repair itself costs, which is why many homeowners try an accurate Xactimate scope first.
What is Xactimate and why does it matter for my claim?
Xactimate is widely used property-loss estimating software. When both estimates use it, corresponding line items can be compared directly instead of relying only on a general argument about the total.
Does Integrity CRR negotiate directly with my insurance adjuster?
Integrity CRR meets with the insurance adjuster on site and compares its Xactimate-written scope against the carrier’s estimate, and documents and submits supplements for anything missing or underpriced. That is contractor documentation work, not licensed negotiation or settlement on the homeowner’s behalf, which stays with a public adjuster if one is involved.
Is a public adjuster worth it for a small roof claim?
It depends on the nature and complexity of the disagreement, the amount at issue, and the public adjuster’s contract and fee. A contractor’s itemized repair scope can clarify construction differences, while a licensed public adjuster can represent the policyholder on claim negotiation. Neither role guarantees a coverage or payment outcome.
Can I hire a contractor and a public adjuster at the same time?
Yes, and on a denied or heavily disputed claim it can make sense — the contractor’s line-item Xactimate scope becomes documentation the public adjuster uses in negotiation. If you’ve already signed with a public adjuster, you’re still free to choose which licensed contractor prices and builds the repair; the public adjuster’s role stays limited to negotiating the settlement.