But fewer people are aware of the existence of loss assessors . . . these are the claimant's representatives in the event of loss or damage, whose experience and expertise will be at least equal to those of the loss adjusters . . . it is simply that they will be acting on behalf of the party which has suffered the loss.

While it is difficult to quantify how many claims are handled by loss assessors in modern Ireland, it has been estimated that only one in every six comes under the scrutiny of an assessor.

Which means that, in five out of every six cases, the expertise of dedicated professionals is not being utilised to get the best deal out of a sometimes complex case. And in certain cases, the discrepancies between what the adjuster is offering and what the assessor feels is his or her client's due can be substantial.

Like any financial or legal document, an insurance policy can be a complex thing, and because of this, many policyholders who suffer a loss may not be utilising the policy to its fullest, simply because they are not fully aware of the various items that can be claimed for under a policy. And if something is not claimed for, it will not be paid for by the insurance company . . . if you don't ask, you don't get.

"Loss assessors are not necessarily acting in an adversarial manner to loss adjusters, " explained, Mark Johnston of Johnston Beers Property Claims Assessment, one of Ireland's leading companies of loss assessors. "In fact, in most cases, there is a good working relationship between the two parties, which allows us to smooth over and fast-track any problems that may arise in the event of a claim. Essentially, we can cut out a lot of the red tape for our clients and ensure that they get the full extent of the claim."

Anyone who has suffered a loss which requires a claim under an insurance policy will well know the stress that such a loss can bring. Loss assessors can step in to represent people through this difficult time, and can take care of the seemingly endless bout of contacts and meetings that need to take place during this particular period of hardship.

The list of things to be done can be a long one, particularly in the event of serious loss or damage to a property.

For example, obtaining builder's quotations, getting estimates for the replacement of lost or damaged items and meeting the representatives of an insurance company may be the least pressing items on a person's mind in the event of, say, a catastrophic fire, but they all need to be done. But they do not necessarily need to be done by the policyholder.

Johnston Beers, for example, can put some order on the chaos. They can report the claim to the insurance company, can meet with and negotiate a settlement with the loss adjuster, and can even appoint and supervise any contractors employed to carry out repair or rebuilding work. The whole service has been designed to maximise the benefits of a policy for their clients.

"I believe that presentation is key to any claim, " said Johnston. "For example, in some cases, some items may be overstated, while others may be understated. Because of the need for correct presentation, we break down the claim into a lot more detail, such as claiming for the removal of debris and claiming for skip hire. In certain cases, people can also claim for alternative accommodation. Because we feel that this approach yields much better results than making large or spurious claims, which will not reflect well on the overall claim."

While people approach loss assessors in a number of manners, Johnston believes that the best time to employ their services is immediately upon suffering a loss.

"The ideal time to call in the assessors is at the outset of a claim, " he said. "Small things can arise even in reporting the claim to insurance companies, and can set an agenda for the rest of the claim, which is why we like to be involved from the start of the process - although we can also become involved after an initial payment has been suggested by the insurance companies."

The Harrington Kirwan Partnership, with offices in Limerick, Cork and Tipperary is another leading claims management consultancy. As ex-loss adjusters, the professionals at Harrington Kirwan Partnership know exactly how the industry operates, and on what criteria it bases its claims.

"Sometimes policyholders would not realise all that they are entitled to under the terms of their policies, " said Alan Harrington. "This is simply because they don't know all the terms and conditions of their policies. In calculating the quantum, we can measure the damage, and we can analyse the policy, so that people are guaranteed that they will get a fair settlement. Because we will be acting in their interests to ensure just that."

The business of loss assessors is a growing one in Ireland, both in the residential and commercial sectors.

"We operate with both private individuals and businesses in the event of a claim, " said Harrington. "And while the greatest volume of business is in residential claims, some of the larger settlements are in the commercial sector, so our business is growing across both sectors of the economy."

Of course, it is important for clients to be able to trust any sort of financial adviser, which is why a major piece of news is that, in the near future, loss assessors will be required to register with IFSRA, which will make the industry more regulated, and should in turn make it more professional.

Alan FitzGerald of Property Assess is a Chartered Loss Adjuster, which is the highest qualification achievable in the property claims area. A measure of the important of this qualification is the fact that insurance companies invariably instruct Chartered Loss Adjusters on large or more complex claims. FitzGerald is the only Chartered Loss Adjuster in Munster who currently acts for members of the public, and, according to him, it is critical to have someone in your corner who is an expert in interpreting correctly the insurance policy document.

Currently, Property Assess deals with all types of property claims, and the company has represented policyholders nationwide, including a number of large losses in the Dublin area. The number of testimonials on its website (www. propassess. com) confirms the degree of expertise and professionalism that Property Assess can provide to both commercial and private policyholders. FitzGerald says that a large percentage of the work carried out by Property Assess comes on foot of recommendations from insurance brokers who realise that their clients are best represented by someone who can match the expertise and resources available to insurance companies. Property Assess is registered to undertake insurance mediation work by the Financial Regulator.