HARD KNOCKSCONSULTING
Your insurer sent an adjuster.
Now you have one too.
If the check doesn't cover the repair, you're not imagining it — and you're not stuck with it. A public adjuster works for you rather than the insurer: we re-document your loss, rebuild the estimate line by line, and take it back to the carrier. Southeast Michigan homes and businesses, from first notice through appraisal.
No fee unless we recover · Reviewed personally by Stanley, usually within one business day
Recent Recoveries
What a second look is worth
Gross settlements, before fee
and before the deductible
Wind & Hail · China, St. Clair Co.
Carrier scoped a repair. Full roof and siding replacement awarded on appraisal.
Flat Roof Loss · Warren, Macomb Co.
Written off as wear and tear. Full flat-roof replacement plus business income.
Fire · Royal Oak, Oakland Co.
Arson. Garage a total loss, fire to the rear of the home, smoke and contents throughout.
Who You'll Be Working With
Stanley Cleveland II
“Most people handle exactly one contested claim in their life. The carrier handles thousands a year. My job is to close that gap — read the policy properly, document the loss properly, and make sure the estimate reflects what it actually costs to put your home back.”
Licensed Adjuster for the Insured, State of Michigan. Retained as independent appraiser and umpire by parties on both sides of a claim.
What We Do
Four ways we stand between you and the carrier
Public Adjusting
01Full representation — documentation, estimating, and carrier negotiation from first notice of loss to settlement.
LEARN MORE →Appraisal Services
02Independent appraisal under MCL 500.2833 when carrier and policyholder can't agree on the amount of loss.
LEARN MORE →Umpire Services
03Neutral third-party umpire work resolving deadlocked appraisal panels between competing party appraisers.
LEARN MORE →Xactimate Estimating
04Detailed ESX scope and line-item estimates built to current market pricing for negotiation or litigation support.
LEARN MORE →How It Works
From first call to final check
STEP 01
Free Claim Review
We read your policy and the carrier's position at no cost, then tell you honestly whether we can help.
STEP 02
Inspection
Field inspection, photo evidence, and a full Xactimate estimate supporting every disputed line item.
STEP 03
Negotiation
We deal with the carrier directly — and invoke statutory appraisal when the file calls for it.
STEP 04
Settlement
We don't sign off until the number reflects the actual scope of your loss.
What clients say
“Insurance companies minimize everything, hoping the customer will not question the payout. Hard Knocks makes sure you are correctly compensated.”
STEVE S. — FACEBOOK RECOMMENDATION
Damage photo or
client property
Areas Served
Southeast Michigan, county by county
Based in Royal Oak. Older masonry homes raise matching and code-upgrade issues; newer subdivisions raise installation and spec disputes. Knowing the housing stock is part of the job.
Frequently Asked
Questions we hear most
What does a public adjuster actually do?+
A public adjuster is licensed to represent you — not the insurance company — in preparing, presenting, and negotiating a property claim. That means documenting the damage, building the estimate, and handling the carrier so you don't have to.
How is Hard Knocks Consulting paid?+
Claims representation is contingency-based — a percentage of what we recover, and nothing if we don't. Appraisal and umpire work follow a separate structure we walk through before any engagement.
Do you take claims that were already denied or underpaid?+
Often. Many files we open have already been adjusted, paid short, or partially denied. A denial letter is the carrier's position on a given day — not always the last word.
What is appraisal, and when does a claim need it?+
A statutory process under MCL 500.2833 that either side can invoke when you can't agree on the amount of loss. Each party names an appraiser; a neutral umpire resolves what remains. Usually faster and cheaper than litigation.
Get Started
Not sure if your claim was underpaid?
Send us the carrier's estimate. We'll tell you — free, and with no obligation — whether it holds up.
Request a free claim review
HARD KNOCKS CONSULTING
220 South Main Street
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(947) 241-2950
stanley@hardknocksconsulting.com
State of Michigan — statewideNPN 20573993