Insurance Appraiser — Denver, Colorado
Marshall Services provides insurance appraisal and ADR umpire services in Denver, Colorado and Denver County. The Front Range corridor from Denver through Boulder and Colorado Springs endures more damaging hail than anywhere else in the country — the May 8, 2017 storm remains the costliest hailstorm in Colorado history at roughly $2.3 billion in insured losses in a single afternoon. Season after season, hail fractures shingles and dents gutters and metal roofing from Aurora and Lakewood to Arvada and Centennial, while downslope Chinook winds gust to hurricane force and heavy snow and ice stress roofs. After major storms, roofer and material demand pushes prices above the national averages in carrier estimating software. Our IAUA CPAU-certified appraiser works only for policyholders, challenges cosmetic-damage denials, prices Xactimate estimates to real Denver-area costs, and uses FAA Part 107 drone inspections. The appraisal clause resolves undervalued claims in 90–120 days for $1,000–$5,000. Serving Aurora, Lakewood, Arvada, Westminster, Centennial, and Thornton.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Denver get so many damaging hailstorms?
Denver sits in 'Hail Alley,' the Front Range corridor that endures more damaging hail than anywhere in the U.S. The May 2017 Denver storm was the costliest in Colorado history at about $2.3 billion in insured losses. That frequency means Denver homeowners file roof claims often, and carriers frequently undervalue them.
My Denver roof 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 Denver-area costs so your covered loss is fully valued.
How does the appraisal clause help Denver homeowners?
When you and your insurer disagree on the amount of a covered loss, the appraisal clause lets either party demand an independent, binding valuation. In Denver that typically resolves an undervalued claim in 90-120 days for $1,000-$5,000, far faster and cheaper than litigation.
Which Front Range communities do you serve?
We serve all of Denver and Denver County, including Aurora, Lakewood, Arvada, Westminster, Centennial, and Thornton across the Front Range, 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.