Large scale weather events, such as hurricanes, hail storms, or widespread wind damage, often lead to a noticeable increase in appraisal requests in the affected areas, and understanding why can provide useful context.
Major storms typically generate a large volume of claims within a short period of time, which can put pressure on the claims handling process and sometimes lead to more disagreements over the scope and cost of repairs.
Widespread damage can also make it more difficult to secure contractors and materials quickly, which can affect estimates and sometimes contribute to disagreements about reasonable repair costs and timelines.
Because many claims from the same event often involve similar types of damage, such as roof damage from hail or wind, patterns in disagreement can emerge across multiple claims following the same storm.
This increase in demand can also affect the availability of qualified appraisers and umpires in a heavily impacted region, making experience with high volume, post storm appraisal work a valuable asset during these periods.
This article is general education about how the appraisal process commonly works. It is not legal advice, and specific procedures can vary by state and policy. If you have questions about your own claim, review your policy language and talk with your insurance company, agent, or an attorney familiar with your state’s laws.
Russ Lis is a working property insurance appraiser and umpire based in Minnesota, serving clients nationwide. Have a question about your own claim? Contact Appraisal Resolution.