Insurance Appraisal Services for Disputed Property Claims
When a property insurance dispute centers on the amount of the covered loss rather than whether coverage exists, insurance claim appraisal is one of the most effective and most underused resolution tools available to policyholders. We provide independent insurance appraisal services in Pennsylvania and nationwide, bringing construction expertise and professional credentials to one of the most technically demanding roles in the claims process.
What Is Insurance Appraisal?
Most property insurance policies contain an appraisal clause, a contractual provision that defines a process for resolving disputes over the “amount of loss” of a covered claim. The appraisal provision allows either party to invoke this formal process for resolving disagreements over the value of a covered loss.
Appraisal is not litigation. It is not a court proceeding. It is best understood as a contractual dispute resolution mechanism: each side selects an independent appraiser, those two appraisers work toward an agreed amount, and if no agreement is reached, they jointly select a neutral umpire, and a decision reached by any two of those three is final and binding on the insurer and the insured. The process is defined entirely by your policy’s appraisal provision.
Appraisal vs. Public Adjusting: What's the Difference?
These two roles overlap in timeline but serve distinct functions.
A public adjuster represents the policyholder throughout the entire claims process, from initial filing through negotiation and settlement. The scope is broad.
An insurance appraiser engages at a specific point: when coverage has been accepted but the dollar value of the loss is in dispute. The appraiser’s role is technical and defined. Evaluate the accurate amount of loss, support that number with evidence, and advocate for it through the formal appraisal process.
A claim that has already been adjusted by the insurance company and is now in a dispute over the value and/or amount of the damages may be a claim that is ripe for appraisal rather than public adjuster engagement. RJ D’Angelo can provide both services, but not on the same claim.
Most appraisal provisions, though not all, require the appraisers to be “independent” and “disinterested,” so the same person cannot serve as both public adjuster and appraiser in most circumstances.
When Insurance Appraisal Makes Sense
Appraisal is typically appropriate when:
- Coverage has been accepted, but the carrier’s valuation significantly underestimates the actual amount of the loss.
- Direct negotiations between the policyholder and the insurance company have stalled.
- Either party has invoked the appraisal clause in the policy.
- The policyholder has received an initial offer and needs a formal dispute mechanism rather than informal negotiation.
Qualifications That Matter in an Appraiser
Serving as an insurance appraiser does not require a public adjuster license, but it requires technical expertise that most people cannot provide. RJ D’Angelo holds CPPA, SPPA, and AIC professional designations, processes 800 to 1,000 property claims annually, and brings 20 years of construction industry experience to every appraisal engagement.
Understanding how buildings are built, what damage looks like at a material and structural level, and what repair and replacement genuinely costs in the current market is not a credential earned in a classroom. It is built over two decades of applied work, and it is what produces defensible, well-supported appraisal determinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I invoke the appraisal clause after my claim has been partially paid?
In most cases, yes, as long as the dispute is about the amount of the loss and not about whether coverage exists at all. The specific language in your policy governs exactly when and how appraisal can be invoked. We review that language with you as part of the initial consultation.
Do I need a public adjuster license to act as an appraiser?
No. Serving as an insurance appraiser is a distinct role that does not require a public adjuster license. However, the technical expertise required to be an effective appraiser, including construction knowledge, claims experience, and familiarity with valuation methodology, is significant.
What is the difference between appraisal and litigation?
Appraisal is a contractual process defined by your insurance policy. It is faster, less expensive, and less adversarial than litigation. The result of a completed appraisal process is typically binding on both parties. Appraisal was designed to serve as a low-cost alternative to a lawsuit.
How are appraisers paid?
The insured policyholder pays their appraiser, the insurance company pays their appraiser, and the umpire’s fee and other appraisal costs are split 50/50 between the insurer and the insured. Appraisers, unlike public adjusters, usually cannot be paid a contingent fee of the claim proceeds because most policies require the appraisers to be “impartial” and/or “disinterested” in the outcome of the claim. The point of appraisal is to get the claim in the hands of an unbiased panel of experts. We typically charge a flat fee for appraisals, billed hourly for time and travel, and that amount is determined on a claim-by-claim basis. Contact us for a free quote.
Every inquiry receives a direct response. Initial claim consultations are always free and carry no obligation to proceed. All information shared is treated with complete confidentiality.
Not sure if you need a public adjuster? Reach out anyway. We will give you an honest answer.
- (717) 894-4944
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5 Ivy Circle,
Hanover, PA 17331 - Monday–Friday, 7 AM–5 PM
High volume, personal attention. Every claim is managed with the same standard of thoroughness.
We recover tens of millions of dollars in claims every year for policyholders across Pennsylvania and beyond.
PA, MD, NJ, VA, NC, GA, and TX. We handle claims remotely across all seven.
Contingency-based representation. Our interests are perfectly aligned with yours.