Contact Us: Email
Ph: 919-669-9111
Fx: 919-573-9595



Subscribe To
Insurance Advice
And Dispute Blog
Join Here

To Hire ICG
Complete This

Appraisal Form



[ Cast A Vote for Useful Information Page ]

Property Damage Claim Adjusters Are Unqualified

Posted by Joe Brennan | Posted in Fire Insurance Claims, Homeowners Insurance, Insurance Advice, Insurance Claims Help, Insurance Dispute | Posted on 05-12-2010

3

property damageProperty damage claims that are a result of fire, windstorm, tornadoes, water, flooding, hurricanes, and even theft are tragic on there own. It’s worse when the insurance company sends an unqualified insurance adjuster to assess your damages.

In many situations the insurance adjuster who inspects a property damage claim is not, nor has ever been, a contractor. For this reason the policyholder is now faced with an insurance company estimate that is missing many property damage repair items, or the item prices are lower than those required to complete the actual repairs.

As a result, the insurance company’s estimate and the contractor’s estimate can be thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars apart. In reality, most insurance adjusters take classes to learn about insurance policies – and classes to lean about building materials… but have never been a roofer, carpenter, painter, or carpet installer. They have very little or absolutely no hands-on experience, no on-the-job experience, or any experience with the materials or procedures for the property damage claim they are estimating.

They lack the hands-on experience and knowledge of a person who has many years experience repairing or replacing such damages. It’s easy to see how disputes can arise from property damage insurance claims.

Property Damage Claim Scenario

Many policyholders run into situations that go something like this. The insurance company sends an adjuster to the property damage location. The adjuster seems to spend very little time inspecting the claim and determines the property damage to be $150,000. However, the policyholder has several bids from different contractors with estimates of repair for $250,000 and higher. Many times it seems the insurance company is trying to repair or clean damaged items and the contractors have provided pricing to replace them. It’s not long before a dispute between the cost of repairs begins and an agreement on the costs of property damage cannot be reached.

Property Damage Appraisal Clause

When such a dispute arises there is a clause in most insurance policies called Appraisal. The insurance appraisal clause is usually a new term to most policyholders. However, more and more policyholders find themselves disagreeing with their insurance company adjuster’s estimate of their property damage claims. Those who do; should educate themselves on the insurance appraisal clause, how to use it, when to use it, and why to use it. For many property damage claims the only available option to resolve a dispute is the clause buried in the “Conditions” or “What to do after a loss,” sections of their policy. It’s called The Appraisal Clause – also know as The Appraisal Provision.

Property Damage Appraisal By The Insurance Carrier

In most cases the insurance company invokes the insurance appraisal clause more often than policyholders do. Only because they have a better understanding of the terms and conditions of their property damage  policies. If your insurance company has invoked appraisal on your claim, or if they advised you that if you disagree you can invoke or demand an appraisal, you’re in the right place. Even if you’re just searching for information on what your options are if you disagree with them – you’re still in the right place. It may seem like a fancy clause that would take a law degree to understand. The simplest way to understand it is that it’s the insurance industries version of an arbitration. However, a property damage appraisal is not actually an arbitration, it’s just similar to one.

For a complete outline of the Insurance Appraisal Process and how to dispute a property damage insurance claims, visit here.

[ Cast A Vote for Useful Information Page ]

(C) Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE as part of our FREE Insurance Advice and Insurance Claim Consulting Services.

Insurance Claims Group, Inc.
Joe Brennan
Ph: 919-669-9111
Fx: 919-573-9595
info@insuranceclaimsgroup.com

Insurance Claim Help and questions about Independent Appraiser Services is available by visiting Insurance Claims Group | Insurance Appraisal Services | Insurance Appraisal Process | Insurance Appraisal Umpire | Fire Insurance Claims

Insurance Advice for Fire Flood & Tornado

Posted by Joe Brennan | Posted in Fire Insurance Claims, Homeowners Insurance, Independent Appraiser, Insurance Advice, Insurance Claims Help, Insurance Dispute | Posted on 04-27-2010

0

Simple insurance advice after a fire, flood or tornado is critical to obtaining a fair settlement.

Unexpected events really do occur, in spite of our natural tendency to anticipate or prevent them. Dealing with damages caused by fire, water or tornadoes is one of those unpredictable incidents that no one wishes to endure. Due to their unforeseen nature, such events are the most alarming and destructive, both from a financial point of view and from a generally human one. Flooding, due to astronomically influenced phenomena such as high tides and heavy rainfall, while fire damage mainly occurs in deadly combinations of grease, open burner fire, water and electricity that causes heat combustion. In most cases, these incidents can be accidental, or involuntary, even premeditated. Tornadoes are more unpredictable. No matter what form or fashion, these events can be catastrophic. Read the rest of this entry »

[ Cast A Vote for Useful Information Page ]

(C) Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE as part of our FREE Insurance Advice and Insurance Claim Consulting Services.

Insurance Claims Group, Inc.
Joe Brennan
Ph: 919-669-9111
Fx: 919-573-9595
info@insuranceclaimsgroup.com

Insurance Claim Help and questions about Independent Appraiser Services is available by visiting Insurance Claims Group | Insurance Appraisal Services | Insurance Appraisal Process | Insurance Appraisal Umpire | Fire Insurance Claims

Appraisal Umpires Should Be COMPETENT & IMPARTIAL

Posted by Joe Brennan | Posted in Appraisal Umpire, Independent Appraiser | Posted on 03-21-2010

0

In the event that a policyholder or the insurance company invoke appraisal via the insurance appraisal clause, the two appraisers must choose an umpire.  Most policies require that the two independent appraisers must attempt to select and agree upon the Insurance Appraisal Umpire within 15-days of the two appraisers being named.  The chosen appraisal umpire must be an impartial, unbiased, and disinterested party in the outcome of the appraisal award. Read the rest of this entry »

[ Cast A Vote for Useful Information Page ]

(C) Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE as part of our FREE Insurance Advice and Insurance Claim Consulting Services.

Insurance Claims Group, Inc.
Joe Brennan
Ph: 919-669-9111
Fx: 919-573-9595
info@insuranceclaimsgroup.com

Insurance Claim Help and questions about Independent Appraiser Services is available by visiting Insurance Claims Group | Insurance Appraisal Services | Insurance Appraisal Process | Insurance Appraisal Umpire | Fire Insurance Claims

How Insurance Appraisal Clause Works

Posted by Joe Brennan | Posted in Appraisal Umpire, Fire Insurance Claims, Homeowners Insurance, Independent Appraiser, Insurance Claims Help, Insurance Dispute | Posted on 03-16-2010

1

In the event of an insurance claims dispute, the Insurance Appraisal Clause within an insurance policy allows the two parties to settle the dispute using independent appraisers. The policyholder contracts an insurance appraiser, who is independent, to assess the value to the damages to their property. The insurance company hires a separate appraiser as well. The two appraisers together will select an appraisal umpire. The umpire is sort of like an arbitrator or judge. If the two appraisers cannot agree on a certain damages, the umpire makes a verdict. As long as one of the appraisers agrees with the umpire, that disagreement is settled. The umpire may agree with one independent appraiser about one point and agree with the other appraiser on another point. Eventually all points and disagreements are settled. Read the rest of this entry »

[ Cast A Vote for Useful Information Page ]

(C) Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE as part of our FREE Insurance Advice and Insurance Claim Consulting Services.

Insurance Claims Group, Inc.
Joe Brennan
Ph: 919-669-9111
Fx: 919-573-9595
info@insuranceclaimsgroup.com

Insurance Claim Help and questions about Independent Appraiser Services is available by visiting Insurance Claims Group | Insurance Appraisal Services | Insurance Appraisal Process | Insurance Appraisal Umpire | Fire Insurance Claims