Underpaid repair scope
The carrier agrees there is covered damage, but the repair scope is too thin to complete the work properly.
When Appraisal Fits
Appraisal is usually the right lane when the real dispute is over value.
If the insurance company has already adjusted the claim and the real fight is about amount of loss, repair scope, or pricing, appraisal may be the right next move. If the problem is denial, coverage, or a broader claim mess, it may not be.
Strong appraisal signals
- The carrier already inspected and issued a number
- Coverage is acknowledged in full or in part
- The gap is really about scope, pricing, or valuation
- The policyholder needs a stronger amount-of-loss fight
Simple decision test
Ask one question first:
Is the real fight about what the loss is worth? If yes, appraisal is often the right lane. If the real fight is whether the loss is covered at all, whether the carrier acted in bad faith, or whether the claim still needs full development, another route is usually stronger first.
What Charter Appraisal is built for
Policyholder-side amount-of-loss disputes.
Charter Appraisal is built for situations where the insured needs someone on their side inside the appraisal process—reviewing the numbers, challenging missing scope, supporting pricing, and pushing back when the carrier’s valuation comes in too low.
Common situations where appraisal fits
These are the kinds of disputes that often belong in appraisal
Missing line items or undervalued repairs
The estimate leaves out code items, interior finishes, overhead, or major repair components that materially affect the total loss.
Commercial or multifamily valuation gap
The claim is moving, but the numbers are still far apart and the insured needs a more disciplined amount-of-loss process.
Often a strong appraisal fit
- The dispute is over amount of loss
- Scope of repair is disputed
- Pricing is disputed
- The carrier acknowledged at least part of the claim
- The policyholder needs a stronger valuation fight
May need another route first
- Full coverage denial
- Pure legal or policy-interpretation dispute
- Serious causation fight that changes whether appraisal applies
- A claim that still needs broader development and representation
Homeowner examples
Roof, storm, fire, water, and interior-loss claims where the carrier has paid something, but the estimate still looks materially incomplete or too low.
Commercial examples
Retail, office, mixed-use, multifamily, or larger building losses where scope, pricing, and total repair value remain sharply disputed.
Need to know whether your claim is really in the appraisal lane?
Send what the carrier allowed, what you believe is still missing, and where the dispute stands now. We will review whether this is a true amount-of-loss fight.