by Russ Lis | Aug 10, 2026 | Myths, Glossary, and General Education
The overall value of the appraisal process depends heavily on fairness and transparency at every step, from selecting appraisers to reaching a final award, and understanding what supports this kind of process can benefit everyone involved. Selecting genuinely...
by Russ Lis | Aug 8, 2026 | Myths, Glossary, and General Education
Appraisal is generally just one potential phase within the broader life of a property insurance claim, and understanding where it typically fits into the overall timeline can help set realistic expectations. Most claims begin with reporting the loss, followed by...
by Russ Lis | Aug 6, 2026 | Myths, Glossary, and General Education
Because appraisal clauses generally give both the policyholder and the insurer the right to invoke the process, occasionally one side may be reluctant to participate once the other side has made a demand. Understanding what typically happens in this situation can be...
by Russ Lis | Aug 5, 2026 | Myths, Glossary, and General Education
Not every property insurance disagreement is a good fit for the appraisal process, and understanding a few general signs can help you think through whether appraisal might be appropriate for your specific situation. Appraisal is generally designed for disputes...
by Russ Lis | Aug 3, 2026 | Myths, Glossary, and General Education
Property insurance appraisal involves both general principles that apply broadly and specific rules that vary by state, and appraisers who have worked claims across multiple states often bring a useful, broader perspective to a local claim. Exposure to a range of...
by Russ Lis | Aug 1, 2026 | Myths, Glossary, and General Education
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...
by Russ Lis | Jul 31, 2026 | Myths, Glossary, and General Education
The basic concept of appraisal, resolving disputes over the dollar amount of a covered loss using two appraisers and a neutral umpire, is common across the country, but the specific rules and procedures involved are not identical from state to state. Some states...
by Russ Lis | Jul 28, 2026 | Myths, Glossary, and General Education
Some policyholders wonder whether invoking the appraisal clause implies a lack of trust in their insurance company, or whether it might negatively affect their relationship with their insurer going forward. This is a reasonable concern, but it is worth understanding...
by Russ Lis | Jul 27, 2026 | Myths, Glossary, and General Education
The appraisal process comes with its own specific vocabulary, and having a general understanding of common terms can make the process much easier to follow. Here is a short glossary of terms that come up often. Appraisal clause: the provision within a property...
by Russ Lis | Jul 25, 2026 | Documentation, Evidence, and Estimating
Even experienced, well qualified appraisers can reach different figures when evaluating the same loss, and understanding some of the common sources of these disagreements can provide helpful context for anyone going through the appraisal process. Scope of work is...
