Missouri Insurance Appraisal Questions, Answered

It’s a process written into most property policies for resolving disagreements over the amount of a covered loss. Each side names an appraiser, the appraisers choose an umpire, and a written award signed by any two of the three sets the amount.

No. A public adjuster is licensed to represent a policyholder in handling the whole claim, while an appraiser serves within the appraisal process to help determine the amount of loss. We are appraisers, not public adjusters or attorneys.

Generally no. Appraisal sets the dollar amount of the loss, while coverage questions are left to the insurer and, if disputed, the courts. Your policy wording and Missouri law control where that line falls.

It depends on the policy. Some clauses let either party demand appraisal, while others require both sides to agree. If an insurer refuses a demand under a clause that reads as mandatory, a Missouri attorney can explain your options.

Most clauses say an award signed by two of the three panel members is binding on the amount of loss. Awards can sometimes be challenged in court on narrow grounds, which is a question for an attorney.

Most policies say each side pays its own appraiser and the two sides split the umpire’s fee and other appraisal expenses equally. Wording varies, so check your policy.

Common arrangements include hourly rates and flat fees, and some appraisers charge a percentage of the award. Some policies and courts view contingency fees as a concern for impartiality, so ask about fees up front and compare them with your policy’s requirements.

A straightforward roof claim can wrap up in a few weeks, while a large or complicated loss can take several months. After a major hail or tornado event, busy schedules can slow inspections and umpire selection.

Some policies set one and some don’t, but never assume time is unlimited. Policies also commonly include a suit limitation clause that appraisal may not pause, so track every date and talk with an attorney if one is close.

Sometimes not. If the difference between estimates is only a little more than the expected fees, a reinspection request or direct negotiation may make more sense.

The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) licenses insurers and adjusters, handles consumer complaints and enforces the state’s insurance laws, including its rules on unfair claims practices.

You can file a consumer complaint with the DCI, which typically contacts the insurer and asks for a response. A complaint doesn’t decide your claim, but it creates an official record and can prompt a closer look.

It refers to Missouri statutes, including RSMo 375.296 and 375.420, that may allow added penalties and attorney fees when an insurer refuses to pay a claim without reasonable cause. Whether they apply to a situation is a legal question for a Missouri attorney.

No. Missouri has no coastal wind pool. The Missouri FAIR Plan, formally the Missouri Property Insurance Placement Facility, offers basic property coverage to owners who can’t get it in the standard market.

Standard homeowners policies typically exclude flood and surface water. Flood coverage usually requires a separate flood insurance policy, which is worth considering near the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and in other low-lying areas.

Hail can fall in nearly any month, but the most active stretch generally runs from spring into early summer. Damage often isn’t noticed until a later inspection or leak, so check your policy’s reporting requirements.

It’s a deductible figured as a percentage of your dwelling limit rather than a flat dollar amount. On an illustrative $300,000 dwelling limit, a 2% deductible would be $6,000.

Most homeowners policies cover windstorm generally, so tornado and straight-line wind damage are usually handled the same way. Disputes tend to center on scope, matching and cost rather than the kind of wind.

Many policies exclude earth movement, which can include sinkholes, though some provide limited collapse or sinkhole coverage or offer an endorsement. Appraisal can only value damage the insurer has accepted as covered.

Usually, yes. Standard homeowners policies typically exclude earthquake, and coverage is commonly added by endorsement, which many owners consider given the New Madrid seismic zone in southeast Missouri.

Weight of ice and falling trees are commonly covered causes of loss, though details vary by policy. Ice dams that push water under shingles can raise separate questions about how the policy treats water damage.

Many policies say payment is due within a set number of days after an award or agreement. Check the loss payment condition in your policy and follow up in writing if payment is late.

Most policies include a mortgagee clause that protects the lender’s interest in the property. Larger checks may go into a lender-controlled account and be released as repairs progress.

Under many replacement cost policies, the insurer pays actual cash value first and releases the withheld depreciation after repairs are complete. Send final invoices and photos within the time your policy allows.

Some policies reserve the insurer’s right to deny coverage even after appraisal. If that happens, the issue is coverage rather than amount, and a Missouri attorney is the right person to ask.

Hidden damage found during repairs may be handled as a supplement or a separate claim, depending on the policy and what the award covered. Report it promptly and photograph it before it’s covered up.