Where homeowner claims fall short
Most underpaid residential claims aren’t denials. The carrier accepts the loss, sends an adjuster, and issues an estimate that is simply too thin. In North Carolina we see the same patterns over and over:
- Roofs scoped as spot repairs when the shingle is discontinued or brittle.
- Interior water damage priced room by room without the adjoining areas that must be finished to match.
- Older homes priced as if they were built last year: plaster walls estimated as drywall, site-finished hardwood as laminate, original trim as stock profiles.
- Crawlspace homes, common across the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, with vapor barrier, insulation and subfloor damage left out entirely.
- Code items, permit costs and general contractor overhead and profit omitted on jobs that clearly need a GC.
What homeowner insurance appraisal looks like with us
We begin with a free review of your declarations page, the carrier’s estimate and your photos. If the gap looks worth pursuing, we inspect the home, measure it, and write an independent estimate. Sometimes that estimate becomes a supplement request and the carrier adjusts. When it doesn’t, the same work becomes the foundation of a formal appraisal, with us serving as your appointed appraiser.
Condos and townhomes
Owners of condos and many townhomes deal with two policies: the association’s master policy and their own HO-6. Before anyone can value a loss, it has to be clear which policy covers which components. We read the declarations and bylaws language with you, then value the portion your policy actually owes.
Rental and second homes
Landlord (DP-3) and seasonal-home policies often carry different loss settlement terms, vacancy conditions and deductibles. We price those claims against the policy you actually have, not a generic homeowner form.
What you’ll need
Your full policy with endorsements, every estimate and letter from the carrier, photos from before and after the loss, and any contractor bids. Our preparedness checkup walks through the list.
Questions about residential claim disputes
Does homeowner insurance appraisal work for a partial denial?
It can work for the accepted part of the claim. If the carrier accepted the roof but denied the interior, appraisal can value the roof dispute, but the interior denial is a coverage question that may need an attorney.
Do you work on mobile and manufactured homes?
Yes. Manufactured homes have their own construction methods and pricing, and we estimate them accordingly.
My mortgage company is on the check. Does that change anything?
It affects how the money is released, not how the loss is valued. Lenders commonly hold funds and release them in draws as repairs progress.