Tried the thermal camera route once after a hailstorm—figured it’d be high-tech enough to impress the adjuster. Nope. He looked at the images like I’d handed him a Rorschach test and just shrugged. Ended up crawling around the attic with my phone flashlight, snapping pics of the underlayment through every vent I could find. Honestly, I think they just want to see you sweat a little before they approve anything. Anyone else ever get a drone stuck in a tree, or is that just my luck?
That whole process sounds way too familiar. I’ve tried bringing out the “fancy” tools a few times—infrared, moisture meters, you name it—and half the time the adjusters just look at me like I’m making their job harder. I get why they want to see things with their own eyes, but it does feel like a bit of a circus act sometimes. Crawling around attics with a phone flashlight is basically my cardio at this point.
And about drones... yeah, I’ve had one wedged in a pine tree behind a fourplex for two weeks before I could get it down. Not my proudest moment. Honestly, sometimes the old-school methods (ladders, flashlights, and a lot of patience) end up being more convincing for insurance than any tech gadget.
Glad you finally got your policy approved, though. It’s always a headache, but persistence seems to be the only thing that actually gets results with these claims folks.
Man, I hear you on the phone flashlight workouts. I’ve tried showing adjusters moisture readings and the guy literally shrugged like I’d handed him a Sudoku puzzle. It’s weird—sometimes the more high-tech you go, the less they trust it. Funny how the “old school” crawl-and-point routine seems to get the paperwork moving faster, even if it feels like you’re stuck in the Stone Age.
Funny how the “old school” crawl-and-point routine seems to get the paperwork moving faster, even if it feels like you’re stuck in the Stone Age.
That’s been my experience too. I’ve had adjusters look at thermal camera images like I was showing them an X-ray of a dog—just blank stares. But if I poke a shingle with a screwdriver or point out a water stain, suddenly it’s “noted for the file.” It’s wild how much they still rely on what they can see and touch.
Curious if you’ve ever had luck getting them to accept photos or readings from moisture meters as actual evidence? I’ve tried printing out reports, but half the time they just want to see the damage in person. Maybe it depends on the company or even the adjuster’s mood that day.
Also, when you finally got your policy approved, did you have to go back and do that old school walkthrough, or did any of your tech actually help move things along?
I’ve had the same issue—moisture meter readings just don’t seem to carry much weight unless there’s visible damage. I’m curious, did you ever try bringing in a contractor’s written assessment along with your tech reports? Wondering if that combo makes any difference or if it’s still all about what the adjuster can see for themselves.
