Insurance Appraisal Process FAQ

An appraisal umpire decides disputed loss amounts.

How does the property insurance appraisal process work in Texas? What the process is, who pays for it, how long it takes, and what happens when the two appraisers disagree — answered by IAUA CPAU-certified appraiser Marshall Smith. Every question is indexed at the top of the page, so you can pick the question you came for and the rest stay out of your way. When you and your insurance company disagree on the amount of a property loss, the appraisal clause in your policy offers a faster, less expensive path than litigation: typically 90–120 days to resolution against years in court, a typical appraisal cost of $1K–$5K, 20 days for the carrier to appoint its appraiser once the demand is received, and 95% of files settled between the two appraisers without an umpire. Appraisal is the right route where coverage is already accepted and the disagreement is about how much the loss is worth, where you have a contractor's estimate documenting the full scope, and where a binding number in months beats years of litigation. The estimates both appraisers work from are built in one piece of software, and what an Xactimate estimate is and how it is priced explains it in plain terms. It is the wrong route where the carrier disputes coverage rather than the amount, because appraisal decides scope and cost only; where nothing documents the scope yet; where you want an advocate, because by law and ethics your appraiser has to stay impartial; and where you want to keep arguing the number afterwards, because the award is binding on the amount of loss. Then choose the option that best describes your situation — property owner, attorney, contractor or adjuster, or insurance carrier. Appraisal is one of the routes the firm is engaged for; umpire appointments, Xactimate estimating, expert witness testimony and drone documentation are indexed on one page: insurance appraisal services. A short conversation is usually enough to tell whether appraisal is the right route for your claim, and it costs nothing to have. If it is not the right route, we will say so.

What Is an Insurance Appraiser, and What Are the Two Roles?

An insurance appraiser, in property claims, is a qualified independent professional who determines the amount of loss — the scope of damage and what it costs to repair or replace — when a policyholder and carrier disagree on that figure. The role is scoped to property only here; Marshall Services does not handle auto or vehicle claims.

There are two distinct capacities, and they are not interchangeable. As an appointed party appraiser, the firm is named by one side to inspect, document, and advocate for an accurate number — while remaining impartial on the facts, as the appraisal clause and IAUA ethics require. As a neutral umpire, the firm is agreed to by both party appraisers (or appointed by a court) to decide the questions the two appraisers cannot settle between themselves. Marshall Services works independently in both roles across TX, LA, OK, CO, and CA, and the umpire process is explained in more depth in our guide to the insurance umpire process.

One boundary is worth restating plainly, because it is the most common point of confusion: appraisers and umpires decide the amount of loss, never whether a loss is covered. Coverage is a separate determination made under your policy by the carrier and, where the parties disagree, by a court. If your real question is whether something is covered, appraisal is not the tool for that question.

What Documentation Actually Matters — and in What Order

The single most consistent factor in a clean resolution is documentation that ties condition to cause. In practice, that means: dated photographs of the damage from multiple angles; a contractor's or restoration estimate documenting the full scope of repair; the relevant pages of your policy; the carrier's estimate or scope sheet; and any prior inspection reports. Aerial and roof imagery — captured here under FAA Part 107 drone certification — often resolves questions that ground-level photos leave open, particularly on steep or high roofs.

Order matters. Secure the property and prevent further damage first, then document conditions before any repairs begin, then obtain a scope estimate, and only then compare it against the carrier's figure. When those pieces exist before appraisal is invoked, the two appraisers spend their time on the genuine disagreement rather than reconstructing what happened.

What Kinds of Losses Are Argued Here Most Often

In the DFW Metroplex and Fort Worth area, hail is by a wide margin the most frequent driver of amount-of-loss disputes, concentrated in the spring and early-summer storm season when supercells track across North Texas. The recurring disagreement is rarely whether hail struck — it is the extent: how many roof slopes show functional damage versus cosmetic marking, whether soft metals and screens corroborate the strike, and how collateral (gutters, vents, HVAC fins, fencing) factors into scope. Wind and, less often, fire produce their own amount disputes on the same principle.

One anonymized pattern illustrates the point. Across a cluster of North Texas hail files, the disagreements that resolved most cleanly between the two appraisers — without needing an umpire — shared a common feature: detailed, dated photographic evidence paired with an independent scope assessment. Where the documentation established the extent of damage slope by slope, the number followed. Where scope was undocumented at the outset, the process took longer regardless of the underlying facts.

How to Choose a Qualified Property Appraiser or Umpire

Look for demonstrated property-appraisal credentials — Marshall Smith holds the IAUA Certified Professional Appraiser (CPAU) designation — genuine independence, and familiarity with the estimating platform carriers use, which is usually Xactimate (see what a Xactimate estimate is). Ask whether the appraiser has served as both party appraiser and umpire, since that dual experience sharpens judgment on what a neutral will and won't credit.

If you are weighing appraisal against other paths, the distinction between an appraiser, a public adjuster, and a company adjuster is covered in public adjuster vs. appraiser, and the trade-offs against a lawsuit in appraisal vs. litigation. A short call — 972-322-0752 — is usually enough to tell whether appraisal fits your situation, and if it does not, we will tell you that.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the insurance appraisal process?

Appraisal is a fair, binding way to resolve disagreements with your insurance company about how much your covered loss is worth (not whether the damage is covered). It's built into most Texas homeowners policies as an alternative to lawsuits.

Each side picks an independent appraiser to review the damage and agree on a fair amount. If they can't agree (which happens only about 5% of the time), a neutral umpire helps decide.

Who pays for what?

• You pay for your appraiser (that's us). • Your insurance company pays for theirs. • If an umpire is needed, the cost is split 50/50 between you and the insurance company.

No attorney fees are required — appraisal is designed to be simpler and less expensive than going to court.

How long does the whole process take?

Typically 90–120 days from start to finish, but it can vary based on schedules, complexity, and how quickly everyone responds. Our goal is always to keep things moving efficiently with our proprietary technology.

How do I start the process?

Sign the sample demand letter we provide, attach your contractor's estimate, and send it to your insurance company (via certified mail or email — keep proof). This officially invokes appraisal.

By Texas rules, they usually have 20 days to name their appraiser after receiving it.

What happens after I send the demand letter?

1. The insurance company should confirm they received it. 2. They appoint their appraiser (within ~20 days in most policies). 3. Forward their response (confirmation, appraiser name/contact, or any document) to us right away. 4. Once both appraisers are appointed, we inspect the damage and work toward an agreement.

What is my only real responsibility after sending the demand?

If the insurance company doesn't name their appraiser by the 20-day mark (or whatever your policy states), you need to follow up with them directly by phone or email.

Due to impartiality rules, we can't do this for you, and your contractor can't either. This is usually the only action required from you.

Can the appraisal decide if my damage is covered?

No — appraisal is only for the amount of loss (scope and cost) when coverage is already accepted. It doesn't resolve coverage disputes (e.g., "Is this excluded?").

If there's a coverage issue, talk to your agent or an attorney.

Will I get more money than the insurance company's offer?

No outcome is guaranteed, but appraisal often helps because it bases the decision on facts, evidence, and fair market value — not just the insurance company's internal guidelines.

Many clients see fairer results this way.

What if the appraisers can't agree?

We select a neutral umpire together (costs split 50/50). The umpire reviews the evidence and helps decide on a fair amount.

Again, this is rare — only about 5% of cases need one.

Are appraisers impartial?

Yes — by law and ethics, appraisers (including us) must be independent and impartial. We advocate for a fair valuation of your loss based on evidence, but we don't act as your contractor, adjuster, lawyer, or advocate in a biased way.

What if I have questions during the process?

Just reach out anytime — email us at Info@marshallservicesusa.com, call 972-322-0752, or message us. We're here to explain things clearly and keep you updated every step of the way.

What Is an Insurance Appraiser, and What Are the Two Roles?

An insurance appraiser, in property claims, is a qualified independent professional who determines the amount of loss — the scope of damage and what it costs to repair or replace — when a policyholder and carrier disagree on that figure. The role is scoped to property only here; Marshall Services does not handle auto or vehicle claims. There are two distinct capacities, and they are not interchangeable. As an appointed party appraiser , the firm is named by one side to inspect, document, and advocate for an accurate number — while remaining impartial on the facts, as the appraisal clause and IAUA ethics require. As a neutral umpire , the firm is agreed to by both party appraisers (or appointed by a court) to decide the questions the two appraisers cannot settle between themselves. Marshall Services works independently in both roles across TX, LA, OK, CO, and CA, and the umpire process is explained in more depth in our guide to the insurance umpire process . One boundary is worth restating plainly, because it is the most common point of confusion: appraisers and umpires decide the amount of loss, never whether a loss is covered. Coverage is a separate determination made under your policy by the carrier and, where the parties disagree, by a court. If your real question is whether something is covered, appraisal is not the tool for that question.