by Russ Lis | Mar 18, 2026 | Choosing and Working with an Appraiser
Choosing the right appraiser is one of the most important decisions in the appraisal process, since this person will represent your side’s independent evaluation of the disputed loss. A few core factors are worth weighing carefully before making a...
by Russ Lis | Mar 16, 2026 | The Umpire Role
If your claim reaches the point where an umpire becomes actively involved, being prepared can help the process move efficiently and give the umpire a clear picture of the disputed issues. A little preparation ahead of time can make a real difference. Make sure...
by Russ Lis | Mar 15, 2026 | The Umpire Role
Appraisal clauses and the umpire’s role within them have a long history in property insurance, and courts in many states have weighed in over the years on how this process should generally be treated. A common theme across many court decisions is that...
by Russ Lis | Mar 13, 2026 | The Umpire Role
The terms appraiser and umpire both come up constantly in discussions of the property insurance appraisal process, and it is common for people new to the process to wonder exactly how the two roles differ. An appraiser is typically selected by one side, either...
by Russ Lis | Mar 11, 2026 | The Umpire Role
Because an appraisal award is generally treated as binding once reached, people sometimes ask whether there is any way to challenge an umpire’s decision if one side is unhappy with the outcome. The honest answer is that the grounds for challenging an award are...
by Russ Lis | Mar 9, 2026 | The Umpire Role
When two appraisers in a property insurance dispute cannot agree on the value of a loss, the umpire’s role becomes central to reaching a final resolution. Understanding generally how an umpire approaches that decision can be helpful for anyone going through the...
by Russ Lis | Mar 8, 2026 | The Umpire Role
Most of the time, two appraisers are able to agree on a neutral umpire without much difficulty. But when they cannot, the appraisal process does not simply stall out. Most policies include a specific fallback procedure for exactly this situation. The most common...
by Russ Lis | Mar 5, 2026 | The Umpire Role
The value of the appraisal process depends heavily on the umpire actually being neutral, not just described that way on paper. Several practical safeguards, built into typical policy language and standard practice, help maintain that impartiality. The competent...
by Russ Lis | Mar 4, 2026 | The Umpire Role
Because the umpire can play a deciding role when two appraisers disagree, the qualities that make someone well suited for the role matter a great deal to both sides in a dispute. While there is no single official checklist, several qualities tend to come up...
by Russ Lis | Mar 2, 2026 | The Umpire Role
When two appraisers in a property insurance dispute cannot agree, or in some cases before they even begin their work, many policies call for a neutral third party called an umpire to be brought into the process. Understanding how that selection typically happens can...
by Russ Lis | Feb 28, 2026 | Appraisal Clause Basics
Being organized before appraisal begins can help the process move more smoothly and give your appraiser what they need to do thorough, accurate work. While the exact requirements can vary by claim, there are some categories of documentation that commonly come into...
by Russ Lis | Feb 26, 2026 | Appraisal Clause Basics
Cost is often one of the first questions people have when they are deciding whether to invoke appraisal. While exact figures vary widely depending on the appraiser, the complexity of the claim, and the region, understanding the general categories of cost can help with...
by Russ Lis | Feb 24, 2026 | Appraisal Clause Basics
One of the most common practical questions about appraisal is simply how long it takes from start to finish. There is no single universal answer, because timelines depend on the complexity of the loss, the availability of the appraisers and umpire, and the specific...
by Russ Lis | Feb 23, 2026 | Appraisal Clause Basics
A common question people ask before starting the appraisal process is whether the outcome will actually be enforceable, or whether either side can simply walk away from a result they do not like. Understanding how binding an appraisal award typically is can help set...
by Russ Lis | Feb 21, 2026 | Appraisal Clause Basics
Once an appraisal award is reached, agreed to by any two of the three participants in the process, many people wonder what actually happens next. While the specifics can vary by policy and by state, there are some general patterns worth understanding. The...
by Russ Lis | Feb 19, 2026 | Appraisal Clause Basics
One of the more common questions about the appraisal process is who actually has the right to start it. The answer depends on the specific policy, but in many property insurance policies, either the policyholder or the insurance company can invoke appraisal when they...
by Russ Lis | Feb 17, 2026 | Appraisal Clause Basics
The appraisal clause is usually just one paragraph tucked into the conditions section of a property insurance policy, but it can meaningfully affect how a disputed claim gets resolved. Knowing what to look for in that language can help a policyholder understand their...
by Russ Lis | Feb 16, 2026 | Appraisal Clause Basics
Many property insurance policies include an appraisal clause, a built in process for resolving a disagreement over the dollar value of a covered loss without going to court. If you have never been through it before, knowing the general steps can make the process feel...
by Russ Lis | Feb 14, 2026 | Appraisal Clause Basics
When a property insurance claim moves forward, most of the process happens directly between the policyholder and the insurance company. An estimate is submitted, the claim is reviewed, and in many cases both sides reach agreement on the amount of the loss without any...
by Russ Lis | Feb 11, 2026 | Appraisal Clause Basics
Most property insurance policies, whether for a home, a commercial building, or a business, include a provision called the appraisal clause. This clause offers a specific process for resolving one particular type of disagreement: how much a covered loss is actually...
