Insurance appraisal representation means you hire an independent appraiser to sit on the panel that sets the dollar value of a covered loss. In Massachusetts that panel traces back to the standard fire policy in M.G.L. c. 175, § 99, which describes a procedure commonly called “reference.” Most homeowner and commercial forms written here call the same idea “appraisal.” Either way, the goal is a number both sides are bound by, reached without a lawsuit.
Where the process starts
Appraisal usually begins with a written demand from you or from the insurer after a genuine disagreement on price or scope. Your policy wording controls the details, so we read it first. Some forms give each side a set number of days to name an appraiser; others are vague. Check your policy, and if a deadline or a denial is involved, consult a Massachusetts attorney.
Who can serve
Policies typically call for a “competent and disinterested” or “independent” appraiser. That generally rules out your contractor or anyone paid a share of the award. We work on a disclosed fee basis so independence questions do not cloud the result.
What representation looks like day to day
- Policy and file review. Declarations, endorsements, the adjuster’s estimate, photos and correspondence.
- Our own inspection. We measure and document the property rather than marking up the carrier’s numbers.
- A line-item estimate priced for your part of the state. Labor in Back Bay and labor in Pittsfield are not the same.
- Working sessions with the other appraiser to settle what can be settled and isolate what cannot.
- Umpire submission on the remaining items, if needed, with measurements and pricing support.
- Award review so replacement cost, actual cash value and any recoverable holdback are stated clearly.
Is your dispute a good fit?
Appraisal tends to help when the insurer agrees something happened and the fight is over how much: square footage of a roof, whether a hardwood floor can be patched, what plaster repair costs in a Somerville triple-decker. It helps less when the insurer says the damage is wear and tear or excluded entirely. Before you invoke anything, the appraisal award gap estimator gives a rough sense of whether the difference justifies the cost of a panel.
Costs, briefly
Each side usually pays its own appraiser and splits the umpire’s fee, but your policy may say otherwise. We explain our fee in writing before you sign anything. For an illustrative example only: a dispute where the carrier offered $18,000 and your contractor priced $41,000 has a large enough gap that appraisal may be worth considering; a $2,000 gap usually is not.
Learn the steps before you commit
Our appraisal roadmap walks through each stage, and the guide to the Massachusetts reference and appraisal clause explains the background in plain language. If you still have questions, call us and we will tell you honestly whether we think appraisal fits.
Common questions
Is appraisal the same as hiring a public adjuster?
No. A public adjuster presents and negotiates your claim with the insurer. An appraiser serves on the panel that sets the amount of loss once appraisal or reference has been invoked. We are not public adjusters or lawyers.
Can I invoke appraisal myself?
Usually either party can make a written demand if the policy has an appraisal or reference provision and you disagree on the amount. Read your policy’s wording, and talk to a Massachusetts attorney if you are unsure.
Is the award binding?
Policies commonly say an award agreed to in writing by two of the three panel members sets the amount of loss. Coverage questions and other legal issues can remain open after the award.