An insurance appraiser is either an employee of an insurance company or a freelancer. The appraiser’s job is to ensure that an insurance policyholder receives fair compensation in the event of an accident, theft, or other type of loss. The value of the insured item, the amount of damage to the item, or both are determined the insurance appraiser. An appraiser must have a thorough understanding of the item being appraised as well as the cost of repair or replacement.
The property insurance industry is built on the idea of safeguarding valuable possessions. Customers purchase insurance policies for a variety of items, including automobiles, homes, valuable collectibles, and personal belongings. They pay a monthly or yearly premium to the insurance company to keep the policy active; the premium is determined the item’s value. If the item is damaged or destroyed, the policyholder files a damage report with the insurance company, known as a claim. When the company determines that the claim is valid, it reimburses the policyholder for the cost of repairing or replacing the item.
An insurance adjuster is the person who evaluates the claim. The adjuster is in charge of all aspects of the claim, including filing all necessary paperwork and ensuring that the claim is in compliance with all applicable laws and company policies. Any specialized knowledge that may be required is delegated to experts the adjuster. The insurance appraiser is one of these experts. The appraiser is aware of, or can quickly determine, the insured item’s value and repair cost.
In the early days of the industry, insurance fraud was a major issue. Claimants and repair workers would frequently overestimate repair costs and pocket the difference. As an expert in his field, the insurance appraiser solves this problem. Take, for example, an appraiser who specializes in auto repair. This appraiser can tell if a body shop’s damage and repair estimates on a vehicle are correct. Houses, electronics, collectibles, and other specialized property will be appraised other appraisers.
The appraiser is an insurance company employee who will work to protect the company if necessary. A claimant may disagree with the appraiser’s decision in some cases. In these cases, the claimant may seek the services of a third-party insurance appraiser. This individual is not affiliated with the insurer and can provide an unbiased second opinion on the claim. This can save the claimant and the insurer time and money avoiding a protracted and costly legal battle.