APPRAISAL PROCESS

APPRAISAL IS AN ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION WHICH CAN RESOLVE DISAGREEMENTS WHEN THE INSURANCE CARRIER AND POLICY HOLDER DO NOT AGREE ON THE DAMAGE AND THE VALUE OF THE LOSS.

APPRAISAL IS A POLICY PROVISION FOUND IN HOMEOWNER AND COMMERCIAL INSURANCE POLICIES.

APPRAISAL PANEL PROCESS IS LESS COSTLY AND CAN BE QUICKER AND MORE EXPEDIENT THAN A LAWSUIT.

APPRAISAL LANGUAGE FOUND IN HOMEOWNER POLICIES (HO3) USUALLY ARE WORDED AS FOLLOWS:

If you and we fail to agree on the actual cash value, amount of loss, or cost of repair or replacement, we can either can make a written demand for appraisal, or we will select a competent, independent, appraiser.

When the Appraisal clause/provision is in place, the insured’s appraiser and the insurance carriers will estimate the damage and try to come to an agreement on the amount of loss.

If the appraisers fail to agree, they will submit their differences to the pre-selected umpire. An itemized decision agreed to by two of the three members of the appraisal panel will set the amount of the loss. The award shall be binding. THE UMPIRE WILL RENDER A DECISION AS TO THE VALUE THAT ACCURATLY REPRESENTS THE LOSS.

Each party will pay its own appraiser and bear the other expenses of the appraisal process and umpire equally.

BRIAN SPIEGEL AND DAVID SPIEGEL PROVIDE SERVICES AS APPRAISERS AND UMPIRES
It is important to select a qualified appraiser and umpire.

APPRAISAL PANEL PROPERTY DAMAGE DISPUTES

REPAIR VS. REPLACEMENT DISPUTES
WATER INTRUSIONS & MITIGATION COSTS
FIRE/SMOKE DAMAGES, WILDFIRE CLAIMS
MOLD REMEDIATION, CONTAMINATION ISSUES
REAL ESTATE DISCLOSURE ISSUES
SEWAGE BACKFLOWS, FLOORING EXPERTS, EXPLOSIONS
CONSTRUCTION DAMAGE, CONSTRUCTION DEFECTS
ROOFING DAMAGES
VANDALISM CLAIMS, WINDSTORMS, LIGHTNING, SNOW, ICE
CONTENTS AND FURNISHINGS & HIGH VALUE CONTENTS
ISURANCE ADJUSTER HAS DEEMED THE LOSS TO BE LESS THAN THE DEDUCTIBLE
VEHICLES CRASHING INTO STRUCTURES
STANDARDS OF CARE

BRIAN AND DAVID SPIEGEL ALSO WORK AS CONSULTANTS AND EXPERT WITNESSES IN LAWSUITS, ARBITRATIONS MEDIATIONS AND CLAIMS CONFERENCES.

BRIAN AND DAVID SPIEGEL WORK ON BOTH PLAINTIVE SIDE AND DEFENSE SIDE LEGAL CASES

PROVIDE SERVICES TO SMALL LOSSES TO LARGE LOSSES NATIONALLY