Licensed Ohio Public Adjuster #1367111
Call (419) 504-1601Appraisal & Umpire Services
Insurance appraisal can help when the insurance company accepts coverage, but the value of the covered damage is still disputed.
This page is about property insurance appraisal on Ohio homeowners and commercial property claims—not auto total-loss appraisal or vehicle valuation shops.
Keathley Claims Consultants provides Ohio property insurance appraisal and umpire-related services. Under the appraisal clause, appraisers are expected to be competent and unbiased (often called impartial or disinterested in policy language)—not advocates for either side. We accept appraisal assignments for policyholders and carriers when the file, policy, and parties fit. We are not attorneys, not a law firm, and do not give legal advice. Public adjusting—representing the policyholder on a claim—is a separate engagement from serving as an appraiser.
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Ohio Public Adjuster License #1367111 | Based in Wellington, Ohio | Serving Northern Ohio and statewide Ohio | Call (419) 504-1601
Answer in plain English
Insurance appraisal on an Ohio property policy is a contractual process used when the insurer and policyholder disagree about the amount of loss, usually after coverage for the loss is accepted. Each side names an appraiser; if they cannot agree, an umpire helps decide the amount. Appraisers are expected to be unbiased—to value the loss fairly under the policy, not to “win” for whoever named them. Appraisal generally does not decide pure coverage denials, exclusions, or bad-faith legal claims. Before invoking appraisal, review the policy’s appraisal clause and build a clear amount-of-loss file. Keathley Claims Consultants provides Ohio appraisal and umpire-related services and can serve as an appraiser for either the policyholder or the carrier when appropriate. We are not attorneys and do not give legal advice.
Amount of Loss
Most property insurance policies contain an appraisal provision. When invoked correctly, each side selects an appraiser. The two appraisers review the damage, estimates, documentation, and disputed items. If the appraisers cannot agree, an umpire may be selected to help resolve the disagreement.
In plain English: appraisal is about getting the number resolved when claim value is disputed—after coverage for the loss is generally accepted—not about arguing whether the policy covers the loss at all.
Again for clarity: if you are searching for car or auto total-loss appraisal, this is a different process. We help with Ohio property insurance appraisal and related umpire work.
When Appraisal May Make Sense
Appraisal may be worth discussing when the insurer has accepted coverage, but the amount offered does not match the documented damage, repair scope, pricing, or replacement needs. If a contractor estimate and the carrier number stay far apart, start by reviewing whether you are in an underpaid claim situation.
Ohio roofing and restoration contractors can also review how KCC works with contractor partners on disputed claims.
The carrier estimate is too low to complete the repairs.
The insurer and contractor disagree on the scope of damage.
Roof, siding, fire, smoke, water, or interior damage is priced too low.
The claim is stuck after repeated estimate revisions.
Covered damage is accepted, but the value of the loss remains disputed.
Both sides need a structured process to resolve the amount of loss.
When Appraisal Is The Wrong Tool
Appraisal generally does not decide whether the policy covers the loss in the first place. If the carrier denied the claim for coverage reasons, start with denied claim help rather than forcing appraisal as a shortcut.
Those belong with an attorney. Keathley Claims Consultants is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
If the file still needs inspection, documentation, and negotiation, a public adjusting path often comes first.
Public adjuster vs appraisal · Ohio public adjuster overview
Appraisal usually does not decide:
If legal issues are involved, speak with an attorney. We can help organize and present the damage valuation side of the dispute. KCC is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
Appraiser, Umpire, And The Award
Under most appraisal clauses, each party names an appraiser who is expected to be competent and unbiased—not a hired advocate. The job is a fair amount-of-loss valuation based on the damage, scope, and pricing evidence, not a result for whoever called first.
KCC accepts appraisal appointments for:
Same standards either way: inspect, document, and value the loss impartially.
KCC Appraisal Roles
An appraisal award is serious. The final award can become binding as to the amount of loss, depending on the policy language and applicable circumstances. Inspect and document thoroughly before an award is entered. For questions about binding finality after recent Ohio case discussion in the news, speak with counsel—KCC does not give legal advice.
KCC accepts policyholder-named appraisal appointments when the dispute is about the value of covered property damage. The job is a fair amount-of-loss valuation—not advocacy for the policyholder.
KCC accepts carrier-named appraisal appointments when an independent valuation review is appropriate. Same standards either way: inspect, document, and value the loss impartially.
When two appraisers cannot agree, an umpire may help resolve the remaining valuation dispute. Umpire work is expected to be independent—not a second advocate for either side.
Prepare For Appraisal
A stronger appraisal position starts by confirming an amount-of-covered-loss dispute, organizing the file, and separating coverage questions from valuation.
Before any demand: read the clause, separate coverage from amount, build the file, and choose roles carefully. The primary next step is insurance appraisal clause review—not a separate invoke page.
1
Review whether the insurance company has accepted coverage and whether the remaining disagreement is valuation, repair scope, pricing, matching, repairability, contents, mitigation, or rebuild cost.
2
Collect the policy, declarations page, carrier estimate, contractor estimate, photos, videos, reports, invoices, and written communications that support the amount of loss.
3
List the valuation items that appear underpaid or missing, and flag any exclusions, causation questions, policy interpretation issues, or legal questions that appraisal may not decide.
4
Use photos, estimates, reports, quantities, pricing, material information, code items, matching issues, and repairability facts to explain the value of the covered damage.
5
Discuss whether the claim needs public adjusting (a separate engagement), an unbiased policyholder-named or carrier-named appraiser, an umpire, or attorney review, depending on the policy language and the nature of the dispute.
Related Appraisal Guides
Before You Invoke
Read the clause, separate coverage from amount of loss, and choose roles carefully before a demand is made.
Review The ClauseOhio Appraisal Guide
A practical guide to when insurance appraisal may fit an underpaid Ohio property claim and what to organize first.
Read The GuideAppraisal vs Public Adjuster
Public adjusting and insurance appraisal are different tools. Compare claim advocacy with an unbiased amount-of-loss appraisal appointment.
Compare The RolesAmount of Loss
When coverage is accepted but the number is still wrong, review how amount-of-loss appraisal is used on Ohio property claims.
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The more organized the claim file is, the better the appraisal process can be. KCC can review what you have and identify what may still be missing.
Insurance policy and declarations page
Carrier estimate
Contractor estimate
Photos and videos of damage
Engineer reports, ITEL reports, lab reports, or inspection reports
Mitigation invoices
Repair invoices
Contents inventory
What Keathley Claims Does
We inspect and document the valuation dispute, organize the amount-of-loss file, and serve as an unbiased appraiser (policyholder- or carrier-named) or umpire when the file, policy, and parties fit.
This is not legal advice. We are not a contractor. We do not take appraisal assignments outside Ohio. Public adjusting—representing the policyholder on a claim—is a separate engagement.
License #1367111 · 155 N Main Street, Wellington, OH 44090 · Request Consultation · (419) 504-1601 · Contact · About
Local Appraisal Help
Appraisal support for disputed covered damage values in Northern Ohio.
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Call (419) 504-1601 or request a consultation.
Keathley Claims Consultants | 155 N Main Street, Wellington, OH 44090 | Ohio Public Adjuster License #1367111
Ohio property appraisal only on this page. Not attorneys, not legal advice, not a law firm, and not a contractor. In appraisal assignments we serve as unbiased appraisers (policyholder- or carrier-named) or as umpire when appropriate. Public adjusting—representing the policyholder on a claim—is a separate service.
