Interviewing an Appraiser Before You Hire

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Selecting an appraiser is a decision most people make only once or twice in a lifetime, which means there is little accumulated instinct to draw on. A short conversation before signing anything can surface most of what matters, and it costs nothing beyond the appraiser’s time and a handful of direct questions.

A reasonable starting point is experience with the specific type of damage involved. An appraiser who has spent years handling wind and hail claims on asphalt shingle roofs across the Upper Midwest brings a different base of knowledge than one whose background is mostly commercial water losses in a warmer climate. Asking how many appraisals of a similar type the person has handled, and whether they have served as party appraiser, umpire, or both, gives a sense of range without requiring the candidate to disclose confidential details of past claims.

It is also worth asking directly about disinterestedness and how the candidate defines it. A competent appraiser should be able to explain, without hesitation, what relationships or financial interests would disqualify them from a given assignment, and should be willing to disclose any prior work for either party in the current claim, including any prior work as an adjuster, contractor, or umpire connected to either side. Vague or evasive answers to a direct question about independence are worth noting.

Process questions round out a useful interview. How does the candidate typically communicate during an active appraisal, how quickly do they generally respond to messages, and how do they document their inspection and their valuation methodology. Some appraisers rely heavily on a specific estimating platform, while others build estimates from direct measurement and material pricing; neither approach is inherently superior, but knowing which one a candidate uses helps set expectations about the kind of documentation that will eventually support an award.

Fee structure deserves its own question, separate from a general conversation about cost. Whether the appraiser charges an hourly rate, a flat fee, or a percentage of the settlement, and how the fee arrangement affects incentives, is something a candidate should be able to explain clearly and in writing before an engagement begins. A percentage-based fee tied to the outcome of the appraisal raises disinterestedness questions of its own, and different states and different appraisal associations have taken different positions on whether and how such arrangements are appropriate. Finally, it is reasonable to ask for references, though many appraisers will point instead to their professional history and any association memberships, since confidentiality obligations often limit what can be shared about specific past clients. A candidate who welcomes scrutiny of their qualifications and independence, rather than treating the questions as an inconvenience, is generally signaling how they will approach the appraisal itself. It is worth asking, too, how a candidate handles a claim involving construction elements outside their primary background, such as a commercial HVAC system on a claim otherwise dominated by roof and siding damage. Every appraiser has areas of deepest strength, and a helpful conversation simply explores where a candidate’s hands on experience is concentrated so the fit matches the property involved.

General education only: the appraisal process described here can vary by state and policy language, and nothing in this article is legal advice.

Russ Lis is a working property insurance appraiser and umpire based in Minnesota, serving clients nationwide. Contact Appraisal Resolution.