Services
Appraisal & Umpire Services
We serve in two roles only: the appraiser a policyholder appoints under the appraisal clause, and the neutral umpire both appraisers select. Pick the loss type below.
Homeowners Claim Appraisal
Your appointed appraiser on a disputed homeowners, condo or renters claim anywhere in Texas.
Learn more →Commercial Claim Appraisal
Appraisal for retail, office, industrial, multifamily and church property losses.
Learn more →Hail & Roof Appraisal
Repair vs. replace, matching, decking and code items: the most common Texas appraisal dispute.
Learn more →Hurricane & Wind Appraisal
Wind-driven rain, roof and envelope damage, contents and ALE after a named storm.
Learn more →Water Damage Appraisal
Slab leaks, supply-line failures, freeze events and the scope fights that follow.
Learn more →Fire & Smoke Appraisal
Structure, cleaning and deodorizing, contents inventories and ALE after a fire.
Learn more →Umpire Services
A neutral, qualified umpire available for joint selection by both appraisers.
Learn more →What we do not do
Appraisal has limits. We respect them.
Appraisal decides the amount of loss. It does not decide whether a loss is covered, and it does not award penalties or attorney fees. If your carrier has denied coverage, or the dispute is about delay or conduct rather than dollars, we will say so and point you to the right resource rather than take an engagement that cannot help you.
We also do not serve as appraiser on any claim where Rise Public Adjusting acted as public adjuster. Independence is not a marketing line; it is the qualification.
Not sure which applies?
Send the carrier's estimate and letters. We will reply within one business day with a plain answer: appraisal, public adjuster, attorney, or wait.
Request a Free ReviewFAQ
Common questions about appraisal
What is an insurance appraiser for policyholders?
An appraiser is the person you appoint under your policy's appraisal clause to determine the amount of your loss when you and the insurance company disagree on it. The carrier appoints its own appraiser, and the two appraisers (with an umpire if they cannot agree) issue a binding award. Appraisers must be competent, independent and disinterested in the outcome; they are not advocates in the way a lawyer or public adjuster is.
How is an appraiser different from a public adjuster?
A public adjuster represents you in presenting and negotiating the claim and is typically paid a percentage of the settlement. An appraiser is appointed only after a dispute over the amount of loss, participates in a formal process that ends in a binding award, and must be disinterested in the outcome, which is why we charge a flat or hourly fee and never a percentage of the award.
Does appraisal decide whether my claim is covered?
No. Appraisal is limited to the amount of loss. If the carrier has denied your claim on coverage grounds, appraisal is generally not the right tool. If the carrier accepted the loss but underpaid it, appraisal is designed for exactly that dispute.
Is the appraisal award binding?
Yes, as to the amount of loss. An award signed by both appraisers, or by one appraiser and the umpire, binds both you and the carrier. Under the 2027 Texas rules it can be set aside only if it was made without authority, not in substantial compliance with the appraisal clause, or affected by fraud, accident or material mistake.
How much does an appraiser cost?
Each party pays its own appraiser, and the umpire's fee is usually split equally. We quote a flat or hourly fee in writing before you appoint us, based on the size and type of the loss. We do not charge a percentage of the award, because an appraiser with a stake in the outcome is not disinterested.
How long does appraisal take in Texas?
Many appraisals conclude within one to three months. For residential policies issued or renewed on or after March 1, 2027, Texas rules require each side to name an appraiser within 20 days of the demand, the appraisers to attempt agreement within 120 days, and any umpire award to issue within 240 days.