Clients often ask me what evidence they need for appraisal. (For those new to this subject and want an overview of appraisal click here) When I answer the question of what evidence is needed, I think of three categories: proving the loss event actually happened, the scope of the damage, and the cost of repair.
My categories apply to any insured loss, be it fire, wind, hail or water. For this example, let’s use a hail claim. The first category is to prove that the loss event occurred. Some insurance companies will maintain there was no hailstorm that if the property, or it was a hail event from long ago and thus not covered. I think weather records are important, and I often use by the records straight from NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA is the official government record of weather events, and includes the size of reported hail, wind speed, etc. Contractors and public adjusters in this arena often use weather apps that show the same information in a more user-friendly format. Those records can work very well too, assuming they are based on reliable data and not a scan of unreliable information on the internet.
Never forget the power of eyewitness accounts. People that saw the storm can speak to whether it happened. Property owners themselves, including neighbors, can appear at appraisal and attest to the storm. To me, the best evidence is from iPhone or ring doorbells: a video of the storm hitting is gold – assuming the hail stones in the video are an inch wide.
The second category is the scope of loss. Photographs are useful to show the scope of damage, but in the end, a good, licensed contractor or public adjuster should be relied on to describe the extent of repair. The extent repair is found under siding, a shingle, etc. House wrap must be replaced behind a wall and ice and water shield must be replaced under shingles. Most property owners are not well-versed in construction methods to understand the insurer scope of repair. That is why experts in the field provide critical evidence.
My final category is met by contractors and public adjusters with a deep knowledge of local pricing. The insurance industry uses software to calculate the market value of items to be repaired. Property owners should have that same tool. Most contractors and public adjusters have access to the software and can use it to discuss the pricing adjusted by the insurer. It is important to note that while software is good at reflecting market prices it is never foolproof. The price of material in a large region may be one thing, but the price of material close to a large hailstorm may be higher. Local contractors that know local pricing can identify when the software is wrong and make the needed argument.
Should you have any questions about what materials you need for appraisal do not hesitate to contact me.