Insurance Appraiser — Colorado Springs, Colorado
Marshall Services provides insurance appraisal and ADR umpire services in Colorado Springs, Colorado and El Paso County. At the foot of Pikes Peak, the city faces a rare combination of perils: Front Range 'Hail Alley' storms that fracture shingles and dent metal roofing from the Broadmoor to Briargate and Falcon, hurricane-force downslope winds off the mountains, and serious wildfire risk — the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire and 2013 Black Forest Fire were each the most destructive in Colorado history at the time, destroying hundreds of homes. Causes are easily blurred or storm damage characterized as cosmetic, and post-event demand pushes rebuilding costs above carrier estimating averages. Our IAUA CPAU-certified appraiser works only for policyholders, documents hail, wind, and fire losses in full, prices Xactimate estimates to real El Paso County costs, and uses FAA Part 107 drone inspections. The appraisal clause resolves undervalued claims in 90–120 days for $1,000–$5,000. Serving Fountain, Monument, Manitou Springs, Security-Widefield, Falcon, and Black Forest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main property risks in Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs faces damaging Front Range hail, hurricane-force downslope winds off Pikes Peak, heavy snow and ice, and serious wildfire risk — including the 2012 Waldo Canyon and 2013 Black Forest fires. That mix of perils generates frequent, and frequently disputed, property claims across El Paso County.
My Colorado Springs hail claim was called cosmetic — can that be challenged?
Yes. Hail dents to shingles, gutters, and metal roofing are often classified as cosmetic rather than functional damage. We document the functional storm damage with detailed evidence and FAA Part 107 drone imagery, and price repairs to real El Paso County costs so your covered loss is fully valued.
Do you handle wildfire and smoke damage claims near Colorado Springs?
We do. We document the full scope of a fire loss — structural and framing damage, smoke and soot residue, odor penetration, and contents — and build Xactimate estimates for El Paso County rebuilding costs, which rise sharply as demand surges after a wildfire.
Which Pikes Peak region communities do you serve?
We serve all of Colorado Springs and El Paso County, including Fountain, Monument, Manitou Springs, Security-Widefield, Falcon, and Black Forest, handling both residential and commercial property damage claims.
What determines the cost of having an appraiser handle my claim?
Cost depends on the assignment rather than a fixed rate. Each side pays for its own appraiser, and when a neutral umpire is needed the two sides share the umpire's fee. What we quote reflects the property's size and type, the number of structures, how complex the loss is, and travel. A fee is quoted before any work begins.
Does an appraisal award bind both the policyholder and the carrier?
Under a typical appraisal clause, yes. An award signed by any two of the three participants — the two appraisers and the umpire — is binding on the amount of loss. The carrier then applies the policy's deductible and other terms to that amount. Appraisal settles the amount of loss; it does not decide whether the policy covers the damage.
How long does the appraisal process usually take?
It usually runs in weeks to a few months, though timing varies with scheduling and the size and complexity of the loss. Once appraisal is invoked, the carrier names its appraiser, the two appraisers inspect the property and exchange positions, and a neutral umpire is brought in only if they cannot agree. That is generally faster than the years a lawsuit can take.
When is it worth invoking the appraisal clause?
Appraisal is generally worth considering when coverage has been accepted, the remaining dispute is about the amount of loss, the gap is meaningful, and ordinary negotiation has stalled. It does not resolve a denial of coverage, because appraisal determines valuation rather than whether damage is covered. If your policy contains an appraisal clause, that clause governs whether appraisal is available and how it must be invoked.