Maximize Your Insurance Claim with a Licensed Public Adjuster
We help property owners navigate property damage claims—from fire and water to mold, hurricane, hail, and more—so you get the full payout you deserve.
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Why chose Smart Start
5+ years of experience & licensing
We handle everything from start to finish
Guaranteed payout—no recovery, no fee
We fight for you, not the insurance company
Free property inspection and documentation

We believe that every policyholder deserves a fair settlement.
Our goal is simple: help you get the maximum settlement amount you’re rightfully owed, without the confusion or underpayments. At Smart Start, we handle the entire process—policy review, inspections, paperwork, and negotiations.
If you're dealing with property damage from fire, water, mold, hurricane, hail, or wind—we’re here to help you navigate the entire process.
Residential and Commercial properties
Denied, underpaid, or not filed claims
We are your trusted public adjusters.
Founded by Richard Elliott, a seasoned public adjuster, Smart Start was built to empower homeowners and business owners during one of the most stressful times—filing an insurance claim.
We help people get what they’re rightfully owed without the confusion, delay, and lowball offers so common in the insurance world. Whether it’s fire, water, storm, or other property damage, we know how to navigate the system and maximize your settlement.
Smart Start isn’t just a name—it’s our promise. From your first call to final payout, we guide you through the claims process with transparency, professionalism, and care.
Rich Elliott, Owner & Public Adjuster | License #W462903
Transparency is at the core of what we do.
We make your claim process honest and straightforward:
FREE
Insurance Claim Consultation
Our licensed adjusters will carefully review and analyze your insurance policy including any endorsements, exclusions, and limitations to help develop the best claim strategy for your situation moving forward.
FREE
Property Inspection & Documentation
Your assigned Public Adjuster provides a comprehensive property inspection and detailed documentation at no cost. We specialize in identifying damages that may be overlooked by you, your contractor, or the insurance company’s adjuster. Using advanced technology, we thoroughly detect, map, and document every detail to ensure nothing is missed.
Pay when we win
Claim Prep & Appraisal
Our experienced team will prepare a comprehensive claim package involving repair and replacement estimates of your damages that are backed by industry trade vendors and expert reports.
Pay when we win
Negotiation & Settlement
With our aggressive claim strategy and a detailed claim package, our skilled negotiators fight for the maximum claim payout possible. We ensure the maximum payout you're entitled to under your policy.
Why you should have Smart Start on your side
This client reached out to us when their insurance company underpaid their claim. Their property had sustained significant damage, yet they received a check for only $23,041.06 from the insurance company. After they engaged our services, we took action. We successfully recovered a total of $131,787.11 for this client.
Let us do the heavy lifting so you can focus on rebuilding and moving forward.
Before Hiring Smart Start Claims
After Hiring Smart Start Claims

We handle Commercial and Residential claims
& denied, underpaid, or not filed claims:
Hurricane
Hurricanes bring a destructive mix of wind, rain, and flooding—causing widespread damage to roofs, windows, and entire structures. The aftermath can be severe, even if your property wasn't directly hit.
Hurricane
Fire & Smoke
Fire and smoke can quickly destroy parts of your home or business—leaving behind structural damage, odor, and soot. Even small fires can cause costly, lingering effects.
Fire & Smoke
Water & Plumbing Damage
Water damage is often sudden, costly, and overwhelming—especially when caused by accidental leaks or flooding on flat surfaces.
Water & Plumbing Damage
Tornado & Wind
Tornado and wind damage can rip off shingles, topple fences, and send debris flying into your property. High winds often leave behind structural issues that aren't always visible right away.
Tornado & Wind
Hail
Hail damage—when ice strikes your property during severe storms—can dent roofs, crack windows, and damage sidings.
Hail
Mold & Mildew
Mold and mildew can spread silently, damaging walls, flooring, and air quality. Left untreated, they pose serious risks to both your property and your health.
Mold & Mildew
We offer free property inspections.
Let us do the heavy lifting so you can focus on rebuilding and moving forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We can help homeowners, property managers, business owners, and real estate investors who have suffered property damage. We handle claims of any size!
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Our adjusters hold multi-state licenses, allowing them to serve both local communities and travel to other states when needed. In the event of a natural disaster, our team is ready to assist in devastated areas. We’re licensed in multiple states and stay current with local insurance regulations and laws. This broad reach enables us to help clients across various regions, ensuring expert assistance wherever it’s required.
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Yes! Insurance companies may use scare tactics to discourage you from hiring a public adjuster – but you are absolutely within your rights to hire a public adjuster.
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Absolutely not! You are allowed to have a public adjuster represent you during the claims process. The insurance company and their adjusters will say anything to discourage you from hiring a public adjuster because they know they’ll have to pay you more. Don’t let the insurance company control your claim and don’t let them underpay you!
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You should always call a public adjuster first before you call your insurance company. A public adjuster will be able to provide guidance as to whether you should file a claim or not, how to properly report your claim, and the proper steps to mitigate your loss. If you call your insurance company first they will automatically file a claim and provide you with a claim number.
Having a public adjuster on your side directly after a loss will alleviate the stress and guide you through the process step by step. They will file the claim on your behalf, they will provide guidance on the mitigation process, meet with the insurance adjuster and document the damages from the beginning. Many times bringing in a public adjuster months after a loss can cause problems as damaged items have been cleaned up or removed without proper documentation, statements by the insured could have been misinterpreted and documents, not provided to the insurance company on time.
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Although a public adjuster can be hired at any point during the claim, you should call a public adjuster directly after any loss before you call your insurance company.
Having a public adjuster from the beginning provides you with an immediate advantage on your claim. The proper filing of your insurance claim and date of loss, documenting the damages properly, and using tools that detect hidden moisture and the extent of damage will ensure you are getting everything you are entitled to under the insurance policy.
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Insurance adjusters represent the insurance company. They are typically paid a salary and are direct employees of the insurance carrier. These adjusters are called “company adjusters”. When insurance companies require additional resources in adjusting their claims, they typically will contract out the adjusting portion of the claim to an “independent adjusting” firm or TPA (Third Party Administrator). These independent adjusting firms are paid contracted fees based on their performance of claim exposure. At the end of the day, both the independent adjuster and company adjuster represent the insurance company only.
The public adjuster strictly works for the consumer or policyholder. Think of their service as a private adjuster working specifically for you, the insured! Public Adjusters work to recover the maximum benefit for their clients given the terms and conditions of the insurance policy. The public adjuster charges a small fee related to the recovery of the insurance claim payout or settlement. Studies have shown that public adjusters can significantly increase an insurance claim as opposed to a policyholder handling their property damage claim on their own directly with the insurance company.
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Both a public adjuster and an attorney play an important role in the claims process. Most insurance claims can be resolved without the need for an attorney or litigation. The policyholder and the public adjuster should first try to amicably resolve the claim with the insurance company. Should the insurance company act in bad faith or reach an impasse then an alternative dispute resolution can be used such as retaining an attorney. If an attorney is used he or she will still need a public adjuster to document the loss with supporting evidence. A public adjuster and an attorney work in tandem with each other. The public adjuster firm should have excellent relationships with the law firms that handle first-party litigation involving property damage.
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We are usually hired on a contingency fee bases, which means if you don’t get paid, we get paid when you win. In the rare case that we don’t win, then our service is free.
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When the insurance company sends the check – until then, you won’t owe us a penny.