Insurance Appraiser — Norman, Oklahoma
Marshall Services provides insurance appraisal and ADR umpire services in Norman, Oklahoma and Cleveland County. Norman sits in the heart of Tornado Alley at the southern edge of the OKC metro and is home to the National Weather Center and the NWS Storm Prediction Center — the nation's severe-weather forecasting hub — yet the city is struck by hail and tornadoes nearly every spring, including the EF2 tornado that hit on February 26, 2023. Storms fracture shingles, dent gutters and metal flashing, and crack siding across Cleveland County, while the neighborhoods around the University of Oklahoma carry aging housing stock and one of the state's largest student rental markets, where fresh hail damage is sometimes mistaken for old wear. Our IAUA CPAU-certified appraiser works only for policyholders, documents the full scope of a loss, prices Xactimate estimates to real Norman-area costs, and uses FAA Part 107 drone inspections. The appraisal clause resolves undervalued losses in 90–120 days for $1,000–$5,000. Serving Moore, Noble, Lexington, Newcastle, and Goldsby.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Norman really get hit by tornadoes even with the Storm Prediction Center there?
Yes. Norman sits in the heart of Tornado Alley, and being home to the NWS Storm Prediction Center offers no protection — an EF2 tornado struck the city on February 26, 2023, and spring supercells drop damaging hail across Cleveland County nearly every year. That frequency means Norman homeowners see storm damage often, and carriers frequently undervalue it.
Do you handle hail damage on older homes and rentals near the OU campus?
We do. The neighborhoods around the University of Oklahoma have aging roofs and gutters, and fresh hail damage is sometimes mistaken for old wear and tear. We document genuine storm damage — even across multiple rental roofs — and price repairs to real Norman and Cleveland County costs.
How does the appraisal clause help Norman 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 Norman that typically resolves an undervalued loss in 90-120 days for $1,000-$5,000, far faster and cheaper than litigation.
Which Cleveland County communities do you serve?
We serve all of Norman and Cleveland County, including Moore, Noble, Lexington, Newcastle, and Goldsby, handling both residential and commercial property damage with FAA Part 107 drone inspections.
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.