How to use the checkup
Answer each of the ten questions yes or no. The meter fills as you go, and every “no” adds a specific item to your to-do list. You can change answers at any time and the score updates instantly. When you are done, work through the list from the top, since it is ordered by how much each item matters.
What the questions cover
The questions follow the things appraisers, umpires and insurers look for first:
- Whether the insurer has accepted that a covered loss happened, so the dispute is about price rather than coverage.
- Whether you have the full policy, including declarations and endorsements, and have read the appraisal clause.
- Whether you have the carrier’s estimate and a competing line-item estimate.
- Whether the damage is documented with dated photos and video.
- Whether mitigation and temporary repair receipts are organized.
- Whether you know your key policy windows, such as proof of loss and the replacement cost deadline.
- Whether the gap between the estimates is large enough to justify appraisal costs.
The math in plain words
Each question carries a weight. Questions that can stop appraisal from working at all, such as an open coverage denial or the lack of any competing estimate, weigh more than housekeeping items. Your score is the sum of the weights for your “yes” answers, shown as a percentage of the total possible.
What the result does and doesn’t mean
A high score means your file has the basic pieces in place. It does not mean appraisal will produce a particular award, and a low score does not mean your claim is weak. It usually just means documents are missing or a question needs answering first. If the checkup flags a coverage question, appraisal may be the wrong tool and a Kentucky attorney is the better first step.
Kentucky context
Many Kentucky claims stall not because the damage is unclear but because the file is scattered: an estimate here, photos on three phones, the policy still in the agent’s office. Getting organized before you demand appraisal saves time once the 20-day window to name an appraiser starts running on many policies. Our guide to the Kentucky appraisal process walks through what happens after the demand, and you can contact us if you want a second opinion on your file.
Questions about the appraisal readiness checkup
What score means I am ready for appraisal?
There is no magic number. A high score means the core pieces are in place; any heavily weighted “no,” such as an unresolved coverage denial, is worth fixing or getting advice on before you demand.
Why does a coverage question lower my score so much?
Appraisal sets the amount of a covered loss. If coverage itself is disputed, appraisal may not resolve the real problem, so that question carries extra weight.
Are my answers saved?
No. The checkup runs entirely in your browser and your answers are not stored or sent anywhere.