Appraiser Services

When appraisal is invoked, each side appoints its own appraiser. That appraiser is not a mouthpiece — the standard is competent and disinterested — but the two roles of the job are real: value the loss accurately, and make the valuation stick in front of the opposing appraiser and, if needed, the umpire.

What I do as your appraiser

• Inspect the loss and build the valuation myself — I'm a certified Xactimate estimator, and I've valued everything from single-trade disputes to seven-figure structure, contents, additional living expense, and business income losses.
• Exchange positions with the opposing appraiser and negotiate line by line. Most appraisals resolve between the two appraisers without ever needing the umpire to decide.
• Participate in umpire selection — knowing who the credible umpires are, and which names to accept or resist, is a real part of the job.
• Present the position at panel meetings and appraisal hearings, and see the award through to a form both sides can sign.

Who appoints me

I accept appointment by either party — policyholders, and insurers who want an appraiser with policyholder-side credibility. I've served as a party-appointed appraiser in dozens of appraisals, on panels opposite State Farm, Farmers, AAA, Liberty Mutual, Safeco, Travelers, USAA, Nationwide, Allstate, and others — and I've handled many more claims that went through appraisal while I represented a party rather than serving on the panel.

What appraisal can and can't decide

The panel decides the amount of loss — not coverage, not policy interpretation. If your dispute is about whether the claim is covered at all, appraisal is the wrong tool and I'll tell you so at the first call. For how the process runs start to finish, see The Appraisal Process.