Insurance appraiser services
When you and the insurance company agree the loss is covered but not on what it is worth, an experienced appraiser builds the documented number and gets it into a signed award.
What does an insurance appraiser do?
An insurance appraiser is the person each party selects under the appraisal clause to determine the amount of loss. The appraiser inspects the damage, prices the repairs line by line, separates actual cash value from replacement cost, and negotiates with the other side's appraiser. Items they cannot agree on are presented to the umpire.
What's included
1. Claim and policy review
We read the policy, the appraisal clause, the declarations and endorsements, the carrier's estimate and the claim correspondence, so the appraisal is built on the right valuation basis, limits and deductibles.
2. Inspection and documentation
We inspect the property and document the damage with measurements and photographs, covering roofing, siding, interiors, contents, and the matching and code-upgrade issues that drive many disputes.
3. Line-item estimate
We prepare a detailed Xactimate estimate with pricing for the loss location and date, showing replacement cost value (RCV), depreciation and actual cash value (ACV) separately.
4. Negotiation with the opposing appraiser
We compare estimates item by item and work to agree on as much as possible. Agreed items narrow the dispute and keep the umpire's work, and cost, to a minimum.
5. Umpire submission and award
Remaining differences go to the umpire with clear documentation. Once two of the three sign, we deliver the signed award and explain what it means for payment.
Common disputes we handle
- Hail and wind damage to roofs, siding, gutters and windows
- Water and plumbing losses, including mold remediation scope
- Fire and smoke damage, cleaning versus replacement
- Matching of undamaged materials and line-of-sight issues
- Code upgrades, overhead and profit, and depreciation
- Commercial property, multi-family and large losses
Questions about hiring an appraiser
When should I hire an insurance appraiser?
Consider appraisal once the insurer has made a determination you disagree with on price or scope, you have tried to resolve the difference directly, and the dispute is about how much the covered loss is worth rather than whether it is covered. Check your policy for any deadline to demand appraisal or to file suit.
Can my contractor or public adjuster be my appraiser?
Most policies require each appraiser to be "competent and disinterested" (some say "impartial" or "independent"). Someone with a financial stake in the claim outcome, such as the contractor doing the repairs, may be challenged. An independent appraiser avoids that risk.
What does an insurance appraiser need from me?
The full policy, the claim number, the insurer's estimates and payment letters, any estimates or bids you have, photos and videos of the damage, and the written appraisal demand if one has been sent.
Last updated 2026-11-13.