Insurance Appraiser — New Orleans, Louisiana
Marshall Services provides insurance appraisal and ADR umpire services in New Orleans, Louisiana and Orleans Parish. Few American cities know catastrophic property loss like New Orleans, where hurricanes off the Gulf combine wind-driven rain with flooding in a city that sits largely at or below sea level. From the shotgun homes of the Bywater and Marigny to the raised houses of Gentilly and New Orleans East, the decisive claim dispute is almost always whether damage came from wind and wind-driven rain (a homeowners matter) or from surge and rising water (a flood matter). Our IAUA CPAU-certified appraiser works only for policyholders, isolates covered wind damage with defensible documentation, prices Xactimate estimates to greater New Orleans construction costs, and uses FAA Part 107 drone inspections on multi-story and hard-to-access roofs. The appraisal clause resolves undervalued claims in 90–120 days for $1,000–$5,000, far less than years of Louisiana litigation. Serving Metairie, Kenner, Chalmette, Gretna, Marrero, and Slidell.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you separate hurricane wind damage from flood damage in New Orleans?
Most New Orleans homes carry a windstorm/homeowners policy plus separate NFIP flood coverage, and the two are handled by different adjusters with different rules. We document the cause and location of each type of damage — roof, window, and wind-driven rain losses versus surge and rising water — so your covered wind damage is fully paid and you are not caught between your homeowners and flood carriers.
Do you appraise historic and raised homes in New Orleans?
Yes. We appraise everything from shotgun and center-hall homes in the Bywater, Marigny, and Uptown to raised and elevated structures in Gentilly and New Orleans East. Our Xactimate estimates reflect the specialized materials and labor these properties require, and our FAA Part 107 drone inspections safely document steep and multi-story roofs.
What if my New Orleans hurricane claim was undervalued or delayed?
Louisiana law allows either party to invoke the appraisal clause when you and your insurer disagree on the amount of a covered loss. Invoking appraisal typically resolves an undervalued New Orleans claim in 90-120 days for $1,000-$5,000, far faster and cheaper than litigation. We work only for policyholders throughout Orleans Parish.
Which New Orleans area communities do you serve?
We serve all of New Orleans and Orleans Parish, including Metairie, Kenner, Chalmette, Gretna, Marrero, Harvey, and Slidell across the greater metro area, 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.