Insurance Appraisal Process Explained

Insurance appraisal is a structured process used to resolve the disputed value of an insured loss.

Both the insured and insurance company appoint an independent appraiser. The two appraisers then appoint a neutral umpire. Usually an informal meeting is held at the loss site, allowing the parties to present their case to the panel members. The two appraisers first try to work collaboratively to reach an agreed-upon value. If they are unable to reach a consensus, the neutral umpire assists to make the final decision.

There are some time-frame constraints, and not all insurance policies allow policyholders to invoke appraisal for all losses. We can review your policy and let you know if you even have the ability.

I frequently serve as an appraiser and have served as an umpire in a number of cases.