Why a review comes first
Insurance estimates are long, coded documents. Most carriers in Kentucky use Xactimate or similar software, and the resulting estimate can run dozens of pages of abbreviations, unit prices and quantities. Many homeowners and business owners can tell the total feels low but can’t point to why. An estimate review answers that question before you spend money on appraisal.
What we look at, line by line
- Scope: are all damaged areas, rooms and building components included?
- Quantities: do the measurements match the property, including waste factors?
- Line items: are the right items selected, or have cheaper substitutes been used?
- Pricing: does the price list match your area and the time of repair?
- Labor minimums and trades: are trade minimums, setup and cleanup included?
- Overhead and profit: is it warranted when multiple trades are involved?
- Depreciation: is it applied reasonably, and to the right items?
- Code items: are required upgrades identified, and does the policy cover them?
We also compare the estimate against the property itself, not just against software defaults. An estimate can be internally consistent and still miss a whole room, a detached garage or the back slope of a roof. Where we can, we pair the document review with photos you provide or a site visit, so the findings reflect what is really there rather than what was written down during a busy inspection.
What you get back
You receive a written summary that lists the missing or underpriced items, explains each one in plain language and estimates the size of the gap. Where it helps, we include photos or measurements that support the difference. You can use the review to request a reinspection or submit a supplement to your adjuster, which resolves many disputes without formal appraisal.
Deciding what comes next
After the review, the options are usually clear:
- Close the gap with a supplement if the missed items are straightforward and the adjuster is responsive.
- Invoke appraisal if the gap is significant and the insurer won’t move. We can then serve as your appraiser, and the review becomes the foundation of our estimate. See our appraisal clause representation page.
- Accept the estimate if the review shows it is reasonable. We’ll tell you when that is the honest answer.
- Talk to a Kentucky attorney if the review exposes a coverage or claim-handling issue rather than an amount dispute.
A review is usually faster and less expensive than a full appraisal, and it is useful at almost any stage of a claim: right after the first estimate arrives, after a supplement is denied, or before you respond to an insurer’s appraisal demand.
Who uses estimate reviews
Reviews suit homeowners who want an independent opinion before escalating, commercial owners checking a large carrier estimate, and anyone who has received a revised estimate and wants to know what changed. Pair the review with our claim timeline builder to keep track of dates and deadlines in your policy. Terms you see in the estimate are explained in our appraisal terms glossary.
Questions about insurance estimate review
Is an estimate review the same as an appraisal?
No. A review is an independent check of the carrier’s estimate. Appraisal is the formal policy process that sets a binding amount of loss once invoked.
Can I use your review to negotiate with my adjuster?
Yes. Many owners submit the findings as a supplement or reinspection request, which can resolve the dispute without appraisal.
What if the review shows the estimate is fair?
Then we’ll tell you. That answer can save you the cost and time of an appraisal that wouldn’t change much.