The Appraisal Provision

If you are having a dispute with your insurance company over the price of the claim (the total amount of loss), you may be best suited to invoke/demand appraisal instead of hiring a public adjuster. 

This will usually yield good results if you can find an experienced appraiser in your area. If you have chosen a contractor who does a lot of insurance work, chances are good that they have appraisers that they work with. If not, we can help you with that. Here is the wording on most appraisal provisions:

If you (insured) and we (insurer) fail to agree on

the amount of loss (total loss or loss in value), either one can demand

the loss to be set by appraisal. Either side shall make a written demand

for appraisal, each side shall select a competent, independent

appraiser. The appraisers shall then set the amount of loss. If the two

appraisers fail to agree within a reasonable time, they shall submit their

differences to the umpire. Written agreement by any two is binding. The

cost of hiring the umpire shall be divided equally between the insurer

and the insured.

Appraisal is great because you bring in independent, unbiased 3rd parties. The appraisers pick a neutral umpire in case they have any differences to resolve. The 3 make up the appraisal panel. If any 2 out of the 3 on the panel agree to the price they sign the award and it is legal, binding, and final. That amount becomes the new amount of the claim. The carrier pays their appraiser, you pay yours, and the costs of the umpire (should you need them) is split 50/50 between both parties. This is a fair and inexpensive way to settle your claim. As a public adjuster, we do many appraisals every year. Chances are, your contractor may know us, or at least know of us.