How to use the appraisal payoff estimator
- Enter both totals at replacement cost. Use the RCV line on the carrier’s estimate and the matching total on yours.
- Test several outcomes. Slide to 30%, 50% and 80% rather than trusting a single answer.
- Add the fees you would actually pay. Flat or percentage, plus your half of the umpire if one is needed.
- Read the break-even point. It tells you how much of the gap a panel would need to award before appraisal pays for itself.
Reading the break-even point
If the break-even point is 15%, even a modest award leaves you ahead. If it is 85%, the case only works if almost everything goes your way, which rarely happens. A low break-even point and a well-documented estimate are the two signs that appraisal is worth a conversation.
What this estimator leaves out
It does not handle depreciation timing, policy limits or deductibles. Those change what you are paid, not the size of the dispute. For payment timing, use the depreciation recovery calculator.
Example figures are illustrative only and are not results from any real claim.
Questions about this tool
Is the projected award a prediction?
No. It is a planning scenario. Real awards depend on documentation, the panel and the policy.
What does an umpire usually charge?
It varies with the size and complexity of the claim. Ask the appraisers for a quote once an umpire is proposed.
Why use replacement cost instead of actual cash value?
Appraisal awards usually state both. Comparing at RCV keeps both estimates on the same basis.