Since you have most likely reached the Appraisal process because you have not been able to convince your insurance company of the validity of what you have submitted in Proof of your Loss, you now need to be especially careful in selecting an Appraiser who can best represent you and your claim convincingly and expertly.
So, what does that mean?
- Above all, of you need someone who is an expert in insurance.At first, this may seem a little obvious, but the truth is many policyholders make the mistake of trying to get their building or roofing contractors or other non-insurance professionals to serve as their Appraiser at this point. These people usually know their industry inside and out, and are quite qualified as experts at what they do. But that is only one piece of the Appraisal puzzle.Appraisal also requires a great deal of in-depth experience in and knowledge of the intricate workings of the insurance industry – including such barely visible subtleties as corporate pressure on claims representatives, the specific track records of particular carriers with regard to your sort of property claim, and the intricacies of such policy concepts as depreciation, replacements costs, and actual cash values – to name but a few.
- Secondly, you need someone who is an expert in preparing and interpreting various insurance documents, most notably with regard to building estimates – including not only structural damage and the building process but also regional adjustments in materials costs and building codes. You also need someone who can analyze and assess contents damage – both in person and from contents inventories – as well as business interruption, loss of rents, additional living expenses, and much more.
- More importantly, you need someone who not only understands all of these aspects of your claim – both the concrete and the intangible – but who is also a skilled communicator who can convey all of this information cogently and assertively yet respectfully enough to be listened to. Otherwise, your claim may remain at an impasse.
- And finally, you need someone who has been in the business long enough to have amassed an army of reliable experts who can assist in the appraisal process, including architects, engineers, cleaning and restoration specialists, and highly skilled electrical, plumbing, and heating/air-conditioning professionals.
Wes Baldwin, at the helm of the highly respected Baldwin Company for nearly 40 years, is able to provide you with all of this and more.