Quick Answer: For Lance and Rhonda Landrum, independent adjusting means traveling for assignments, helping people, and building a business together. After a house fire inspired them to become adjusters, they got licensed, gained experience handling claims, and developed industry relationships that helped them find work. Today, they enjoy the independence of working for themselves and the adventures that come with it. Their story offers practical lessons for anyone considering independent adjusting, whether alone or with a spouse.
What Is It Really Like to Start a Career in Independent Adjusting?
What’s it really like to build a career in independent adjusting alongside your spouse? And whether you’re starting together or on your own, how do you find work, build your skills, and create a career you enjoy?
Whether you’re considering a second career, hoping to work alongside your spouse, or simply looking for more independence, Lance and Rhonda Landrum’s story offers a firsthand look at what’s possible.
Since getting licensed, they’ve traveled for a wide range of assignments. They started with inspection-only claims, headed to Houston, Texas, for their first hurricane deployment, and later found themselves inspecting farms in Wisconsin. Along the way, they’ve gained experience, built lasting relationships, and collected plenty of stories to share.
At AdjusterPro, we’re proud to have played a part in Lance and Rhonda’s journey by helping them get licensed. But we’re not sharing their story to sell you on a course or suggest everyone should follow the same path. The career they’ve built is a credit to their own hard work, determination, commitment to excellence, and the guidance of experienced adjusters who helped them along the way.
We asked them to share their experiences, including the lessons they’ve learned, so you can get an honest look at what’s possible as you explore your own adjusting career. By the end, you’ll know how they got started, what helped them succeed, what surprised them, and what they’d recommend to anyone considering a career in independent adjusting.
Table of Contents
- How Did Lance and Rhonda Become Insurance Adjusters?
- What Was Their First Hurricane Deployment Like?
- How Do Adjuster Couples Divide the Work?
- How Did They Financially Prepare for Independent Adjusting?
- What’s RV Life Like for Traveling Insurance Adjusters?
- Why Do They Love Independent Adjusting?
- What Advice Do They Have for New Insurance Adjusters?
How Did Lance and Rhonda Become Insurance Adjusters?
It all started with a lightning strike. Their house caught fire on Super Bowl Sunday, and they were out of their home for a year while it was rebuilt.
Their adjuster left a lasting impression. He helped them find temporary housing just five minutes from home, and when they had questions, “they were answered immediately.” As Lance recalls, the adjuster “removed all the fear and just explained everything.”
That experience inspired them to become adjusters themselves. They wanted to offer other families the same reassurance and support they’d received.
They also had good examples of the profession close to home. Friends from church who worked as adjusters were generous with their time, even inviting Lance and Rhonda to ride along on claims before they were licensed. Those experiences gave them a firsthand look at what a typical day as an adjuster could involve.
Watch an adjuster work in our video: Riding Along for an Insurance Adjuster Claim
Rhonda was also ready for something new. She had worked as a hairdresser for 37 years and was “kind of burned out and ready for a change.” She loved talking with people, a skill that would serve her well in adjusting.
They hadn’t planned on selling their newly rebuilt house, but Lance suggested listing it “at a stupid price that no one would ever pay.” To their surprise, someone bought it just a week later! When they wondered what to do next, their pastor suggested moving into the fifth wheel they already owned. They took his advice, and soon they were living in their RV and taking steps toward a new career together.
As they explored how to get licensed, they were referred to AdjusterPro, where Lance and Rhonda completed the licensing process together.
What Was Lance and Rhonda’s First Hurricane Deployment Like?
Lance and Rhonda’s first hurricane deployment was exciting, challenging, and one of their biggest learning experiences as new adjusters. It taught them how to manage claims from start to finish, ask for help when needed, and put their training into practice.
They’d already gained experience handling inspection-only claims, which taught them how to conduct thorough property inspections. Then came their first major deployment to Houston, Texas, after Hurricane Beryl in 2024.
They were thrilled! They hitched up their fifth wheel, brought the dogs, and headed for Texas. Rhonda was already scheduling inspections from the truck along the way.
In their excitement, they got a little ahead of themselves. They completed 10 to 15 inspections before writing a single estimate. Soon, the third-party administrator (TPA) managing their assignments was calling to ask for their estimates.
A third-party administrator (TPA) is a company hired to manage claims on behalf of an insurance company. TPAs work with independent adjusters by assigning claims, tracking deadlines, and reviewing submitted reports and estimates.
Fortunately, they had friends in the industry. One fellow adjuster, who was also working in Houston, offered to help. He spent two or three days with them in a Starbucks, walking them through estimates.
Lance and Rhonda had completed their licensing and additional training, but they were discovering just how much there was to learn on the job. Estimating software (like Xactimate), general loss reports (GLRs), and even token-based report templates were new challenges.
At one point, Rhonda remembers wondering, “What have we done?”
But they persevered, kept learning, asked questions, and put in the work. By the time they headed home, they’d completed their assignments, submitted their files, and maintained a good relationship with the TPA.
“We were so proud of ourselves that we got through it,” Lance recalls.
Their biggest lesson? “Nothing is like the rubber meeting the road.” Training gives you a foundation, but experience helps bring everything together.
If you’re preparing for your first deployment, their story offers a few practical reminders: learn your estimating and reporting tools (like Xactimate), keep your paperwork moving alongside your inspections, and build relationships with experienced adjusters who can offer guidance when you need it.
Want to build your Xactimate skills before your first assignment? Explore AdjusterPro’s Tactical Xactimate Training for hands-on practice writing estimates with guidance from an experienced, certified trainer.
How Do Adjuster Couples Split the Work on a Claim?
Lance and Rhonda are both licensed adjusters who handle their own claims during busy hurricane deployments and divide responsibilities on daily claims when work slows down. They’ve found a system that plays to each person’s strengths.
During Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, they were “running in two different directions,” each handling their own claims. They still helped each other when needed.
Today, when Lance receives a daily claim, they’ve developed a routine that looks like this:
| Task | Who handles it |
| Set up the file, contact the insured, and schedule the inspection | Rhonda |
| Inspect the property | Lance |
| Complete the photo report and general loss report (GLR) | Rhonda |
| Write the estimate | Lance |
| Manage billing and banking | Rhonda |
“Where each of us may be weak, the other one is stronger,” Rhonda explains. “We kind of gravitated to where our strong points are.”
The result? They say they usually submit their completed files the same day, rather than taking the two or three days they might have available.
For couples considering adjusting together, their experience offers a useful lesson: you don’t have to split every task equally to work well as a team. Identify your individual strengths, divide responsibilities accordingly, and be willing to adapt when the workload changes.
How Did Lance and Rhonda Prepare Financially to Start Adjusting?
Lance and Rhonda used money from selling their house to give themselves a financial cushion as they started their independent adjusting careers. Since they lived in their fifth wheel and traveled for assignments, those savings helped them cover living expenses, deployment costs, and the time it took to get established.
Their timing also brought opportunities. In 2024, Hurricanes Helene and Milton brought a surge of assignments. “We had more work than we could handle,” they recall.
When hurricane assignments slowed down, the relationships they’d built and the professional reputation they’d earned became especially valuable. They continued handling daily claims for an insurance company and a couple of TPAs.
“If not for them, we would be doing a side hustle right now,” they explain.
Lance and Rhonda emphasize the importance of doing good work, treating people well, and maintaining professional relationships. As Lance advises, “Don’t ever burn a bridge in this business. It’s a very small world.”
For new adjusters, their experience offers two important lessons: prepare financially for your own circumstances and build relationships that can lead to different types of work.
You don’t need to sell your house or travel in an RV to become an independent adjuster. Some adjusters drive to deployments and arrange temporary lodging. Whatever your approach, understand your expenses, plan for time between assignments, and look for opportunities beyond hurricane deployments, including daily claims and inspection-only work.
Finding assignments isn’t always easy, even for experienced adjusters. Strong relationships and a good reputation won’t guarantee work, but they can help you stay connected to opportunities as they arise.
Want a closer look at the financial side of adjusting? Read “Becoming an Insurance Adjuster on a Budget: Startup Costs Explained”
What Is Life on the Road Like for Adjusters Who Live in an RV?
For Lance and Rhonda, life on the road means taking their home with them to assignments, exploring new places, and sometimes tackling claims they never expected. They’ve lived full-time in a fifth wheel since selling their house, and they’ve even upgraded their RV along the way.
Their dogs, Nala and Peanut, travel with them, too!
If you travel with pets, Lance and Rhonda offer an important tip: use an RV temperature monitor that can alert you if the inside gets too hot while you’re away. During one deployment, their campground lost power while they were out in the field but didn’t notify them, putting their dogs dangerously at risk. Thankfully, both Nala and Peanut are well and thriving today. After this scary day, Lance and Rhonda bought an RV thermostat that sends them a text if the temperature rises above a set level.
The road also brings unexpected opportunities. During a Wisconsin hail deployment in 2026, Lance and Rhonda learned on the drive there that many of their assignments involved farms. They’d never inspected a farm before. “But we went for it,” Lance recalls.
They learned how the policies they were working with distinguished between functional and cosmetic hail damage. Soon, they were inspecting barns, machine sheds, and grain silos, including one claim with about six buildings.
“I never dreamed I would write an estimate for a cap on a grain silo,” Lance says.
Before long, word spread through the small farming community. “We got a name for ourselves in Wisconsin,” Lance jokes.
And one of their most memorable encounters wasn’t with a policyholder at all. A cow named Mankato took a liking to Lance and followed him around the farm. Mankato was so lovable, Lance brought Rhonda back to meet her!
Interested in expanding your skills into agricultural claims? Explore AdjusterPro’s Agricultural Claims Courses to learn about farm and ranch policies, grain storage claims, livestock valuation, and other agricultural specialties.
Why Do Lance and Rhonda Love Adjusting?
Lance and Rhonda love adjusting because they get to help people through difficult situations while enjoying the freedom of working for themselves.
Before becoming an adjuster, Rhonda assumed an adjuster’s job was “to say no, no coverage, denied.” But after experiencing a house fire herself, she understands how overwhelming a claim can feel. Who do I call? What do I do? What are my options?
“You can almost see an insured breathe a sigh of relief when they figure out that we’re a friend, not a foe,” Rhonda says. “We’re not there to say no. We’re there to be helpful as much as possible.”
The independence matters, too. “We love being in charge of our schedule,” they explain. “If we want to take a week off and go somewhere, we can.”
That freedom doesn’t necessarily mean less work. “We work harder now than we ever did,” they admit. But “if you can hang in there … it is worth it.”
For Lance and Rhonda, the chance to help others and build a career on their own terms makes the hard work worthwhile.
What Advice Do Lance and Rhonda Offer For New Insurance Adjusters?
Lance and Rhonda’s biggest advice for new adjusters is to prepare financially, actively look for work, build strong relationships, and keep learning. Their experience taught them that getting licensed is only the beginning of a career.
Here are the lessons they’d share with someone starting out:
- Make finding work part of your job. “People aren’t going to actively seek you out,” Lance says. They stay in close contact with about 30 industry connections and regularly send updates to another 100 or so.
- Don’t burn bridges. “Don’t ever burn a bridge in this business. It’s a very small world.” Their relationships with managers have even led to new opportunities when those managers changed companies.
- Keep learning through experience. Training gave them a foundation, but their first deployment taught them how much they still had to learn. As Lance puts it, “Just get out there and get started. Get in it, and you’ll learn as you go.”
Lance and Rhonda don’t pretend that independent adjusting is easy or that finding assignments is guaranteed. They’ve experienced busy hurricane seasons, quieter periods, and plenty of unexpected challenges.
And they’ve also built a career they love.
At AdjusterPro, we’re proud to have helped Lance and Rhonda get licensed. The career they’ve built since then is their own accomplishment, and we hope their story has helped you better understand what the journey could look like for you.
Interested in exploring your own path into adjusting? Start with our free Insurance Adjuster Career Path Builder to explore your options and identify your next steps.
You can also learn more about the pros and cons of independent adjusting or explore your licensing options when you’re ready.
