Is appraisal the right step?
Appraisal resolves disagreements about the damage and its cost. Here is how to tell if that is what you have.
In Colorado the appraisal clause applies when the two sides disagree about the damage itself: what caused it, how much of it there is, and what it costs to repair. It does not apply to questions of policy interpretation, such as whether an exclusion applies or whether the claim was reported in time. The checklist below sorts most situations, and we are glad to look at yours.
Appraisal generally applies
- The carrier approved a roof repair and the inspection supports replacement.
- The carrier called the damage wear and tear or not storm related, and the inspection shows otherwise. In Colorado the appraisal panel may decide what caused the damage.
- The carrier's estimate leaves out items the repair cannot be done without, such as underlayment, flashing, ventilation, code-required items or detaching and resetting equipment.
- Material or labor pricing in the carrier's estimate does not reflect current local costs.
- The carrier paid part of the claim and declined a documented supplement.
- Additional damage was found during repairs and the carrier will not add it.
Appraisal generally does not apply yet
- The denial rests on policy wording: an exclusion, late notice, or a dispute about what the policy owes rather than what the damage is.
- The carrier says the loss was reported late or is excluded by the policy.
- The difference between the estimates is small relative to the cost of the process.
- You are looking for someone to negotiate the claim on your behalf. That is a public adjuster, not an appraiser.
If your situation is in the second column, we will say so and point you toward the right kind of help.
To find out
Send us the two estimates
Email the carrier's estimate and the contractor's estimate, along with the city where the property is located, to Appraisals@HeidmannAndAssociates.com. If you have the policy declarations page and any denial or payment letters, include those as well. We will reply within one business day with whether appraisal fits and what the next step would be.
What happens next
We review the estimates
Usually the same day. You hear back by email or phone within one business day.
You get a clear answer
Appraisal fits, and here is what to send next. Or it does not fit yet, and here is why and who to talk to. Sometimes there is a condition, such as getting coverage confirmed in writing first.
You decide
Nothing is engaged until you have reviewed and accepted a written engagement letter.