Insurance Claim Appraisal

Disputes Happen. Options Exist. We Can Help.

If, after a covered claim loss, a dispute arises between an insurance company and a property owner over the scope of damages and the accurate cost of repair, other than costly litigation or arbitration, appraisal is the best suited and least costly option for resolution.

The first step, at no cost, is to contact Apex Claim Service to review the facts of your dispute.

Experience Matters. Communication Matters. People Matter.

ABOUT US

With a combined eight and a half decades of residential and commercial insurance claim and structure restoration experience, Apex Claim Appraisal’s founders – Dan Lewis, Steve Dodson, and Kevin Wood – made commitment, honesty, knowledge, respect, and accountability the company’s core values. We bring those values and experience to every insurance claim dispute we work to resolve.

Initial Strategy

No two disputes are the same. So, before you hire Apex, our team gathers facts to fully understand the dispute. Then, during a no-cost, pre-contract consultation, we inform you about possible outcomes, help you decide if proceeding is in your best interest, and work with you to strategize the appraisal. From initial contact through to process completion, we will remain responsive and transparent because our only interest is what is best for you.

Transparent Pricing

Don’t be surprised by an unanticipated bill. Apex proudly provides transparent pricing. Based on our vast experience, we present a guaranteed price during the initial strategy session that will not change if our costs exceed the agreed price. Upfront pricing provides the comfort you need during a financially difficult time.

Success

At Apex Claim Appraisal, we define success as dispute resolution that releases the necessary funds to repair property to pre-loss condition within the terms of the insurance policy. Our many successes prove that we are the right fit for our customers.

Communication

By choosing Apex, you hire a team of representatives who will not abandon you during the process. We will do what so many companies today refuse to do – communicate. From Day 1, we designate a specific team member as your point of contact - a human with whom you can inquire about the dispute’s progress in the manner and frequency of your choice.

Speed

Resolving disputes is a lengthy process involving many people, companies, paperwork, and multiple, complicated steps. So, though we can never promise how long it will take to resolve a dispute, Apex does promise that our investment in technology allows us to move your dispute efficiently and accurately through the process maze.

OUR SERVICES

Claim Field Appraisal

Claim Desk Appraisal

Umpire

TESTIMONIALS

Shaine Mier

Owner, Veterans Choice Contracting

Blue Grass, Iowa

It is with great pleasure that I recommend Apex Claims Appraisal. As the owner of Veterans Choice Contracting, I have had the privilege of working with Apex Claim Appraisal on numerous occasions, particularly when my customers need to navigate the often-complex insurance appraisal process for roofing and siding claims.

Murena Iniguez

Homeowner

Davenport, Iowa

My recent experience with Apex Claim Appraisal showed their commitment to me as a policy holder, during the appraisal process. I was consistently updated by Apex. During our discussions it was clear they are a professional and honest company.

OUR LEADERS

The Mission We Pursue

Our mission is to empower our clients by diligently representing their interests during the appraisal process. Through resolute negotiation and expert guidance, we strive to secure optimal outcomes, providing clarity, confidence, and peace of mind amidst challenging circumstances.

Steve Dodson

Kevin Wood

Dan Lewis

Our Service Territory

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Steve Dodson

Steve Dodson

Steve Dodson, co-founder of My Claim Appraisal and graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has over 27 years’ experience in the insurance industry. During that time Steve served in multiple roles including Claims Associate and Claims Manager for such companies as Empire Fire & Marine Insurance, General Casualty Insurance, Allied Insurance, Nationwide Insurance, and Stillwater Insurance. Steve is also an Entrepreneur and currently owns and operates Flatrock Adjusting & Consulting, Inc. in Phoenix, AZ.

Steve holds a Level 2 Xactimate Certification and is well versed in the Xactimate software. He earned his Associate In Claims (AIC) designation in 2007 and is an Associate Member of the Insurance Appraisal and Umpire Association Inc (IAUA). Steve is currently licensed in Arizona, Texas, and Florida as an Independent Claim Adjuster.

Kevin Wood

Kevin Wood

Kevin Wood, co-founder of My Claim Appraisal, graduate of Texas Tech University, and owner of KW Assessment Services, is a licensed Public Adjuster in Texas, Oklahoma, and Florida. With 24+ years’ experience in insurance and general contracting restoration, Kevin progressed from Claims Adjuster to Large Loss Adjuster to Field Re-inspector/Trainer to Claim Manager, and, finally to Commercial Claim Manager while working for State Farm, Nationwide, and Travelers Insurance companies.

Kevin left the insurance industry to become co-owner of Pro-Craft General Contractors, a company specializing in insurance claim-related reconstruction. After he successfully implemented a company-wide cultural and organizational overhaul, Pro-Craft tripled its revenue in three years and launched a sister company, Pro-Craft Restoration, which specializes in fire/water mitigation and climate-controlled warehouse storage.

Kevin maintains the All-Lines Adjuster license he earned in 1998, a Public Adjuster license warded in 2020 , and is a Certified Property Loss Appraisal (CPLA) through the Property Loss Appraisal Network (PLAN). He also completed sections 33, 34, and 36 of the Associate in Claims (AIC) designation, sections 1 and 3 of the Chartered Public Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation, and the IICR Water Mitigation Certification.

Actively involved in dispute resolution and known as a fair arbitrator, Kevin serves as an appraiser for consumers and insurance carriers and as an umpire for residential and commercial disputes.

Dan Lewis

Dan Lewis

Dan Lewis, co-founder of My Claim Appraisal, has over 34 years’ experience in the insurance and restoration industries. After graduating from the University of Iowa, Dan started his professional career in 1990 with American Family Insurance as a Multi-Line Claim Adjuster. In 2003, he went to work with Alternative Service Concepts, a third-party administrator that managed excess insurance claim exposures for self-insured corporations and the government sector. His success in the areas of property, liability, and workers compensation led the Nationwide Insurance Company to recruit Dan. In 2004, he became part of Nationwide’s regional property leadership team. While at Nationwide, Dan held numerous leadership roles including Multi-state Field Claim Manager, Regional Catastrophe Claim Manager and Regional Preferred Contractor Manager.

In 2018, he left the insurance carrier side of the industry to learn other industries that contribute to the property insurance claim process by becoming National Director of Restoration Services for Prism Specialties and later, National Director of Care and Development at GC3 Construction, a company owned by GuideOne Insurance.

In addition to co-founding My Claim Appraisal, Dan founded Hawkeye Consulting and Claim Services, a service provider to the insurance and restoration industries and co-founded Insurance Contractors Educational Systems.

Currently, Dan primarily focuses on litigation and alternative dispute resolution involving property and commercial claims. To remain unbiased and understand both sides of a claim dispute, Dan continues to work with insurance carriers and consumers. As a well-respected, expert witness who has been deposed over five hundred times, he is qualified to testify on properly scoping and estimating damages involving residential and commercial properties. Dan also acts as an appraiser and umpire for consumers and insurance carriers during dispute resolution.

Building on knowledge gained through daily, real-life experience, Dan also holds Level 2 certification with the Xactimate estimating program, is an All-Lines Independent Adjuster licensed in Florida, and a HAAG Certified Inspector. He is also a member of the Windstorm Insurance Network (WIND), the Insurance Appraisal and Umpire Association, and the Property Loss Appraisal Network (P.L.A.N.)

Our Vision

To elevate the landscape of insurance claim resolution, ensuring that every client receives fair treatment, transparent evaluation, and prompt resolution.

Core Values

Honesty: We believe in always telling the truth and being straightforward in everything we do. This helps us build trust with our clients and partners because they know they can rely on us to be honest and open.

Accountability: We hold ourselves accountable for our actions and choices. When we make a commitment, we ensure it’s honored. This guarantees that we meet our clients’ needs and follow through on our promises.

Commitment: We stay fully dedicated to our clients and their needs. We work hard to make sure they are taken care of and that their rights are protected. Our commitment means we go above and beyond to get the best results for them.

Knowledge: We are always learning and staying up to date with the latest information in our industry. This helps us give our clients the best advice and solutions because we know what we’re talking about.

Respect: We treat everyone with kindness and consideration. We value each person’s feelings and opinions, and we make sure to listen to them. Respecting others is important to us, and it’s how we create a positive and inclusive environment for everyone.
An Appraisal occurs when a customer executes the right to dispute the damages the insurance company estimated for their loss. If you wrote a fair estimate and the insurance company’s estimate excludes a lot of damages, your customer may want to invoke Appraisal to help resolve the differences.
The customer does so by sending a written demand for Appraisal to their insurance company that includes a copy of the estimate of damage you wrote for them.
  1. There are many different scenarios that might induce a customer to pursue appraisal. Here are just a few:
  2. The insurance company provided an estimate that you are having to supplement with multiple line items that they missed or that the carrier won’t consider.
  3. The insurance company’s estimate did not include Overhead & Profit or Base Service Charges and there are multiple trades involved that the carrier won’t consider for supplemental inclusion.
  4. In a completed repair, job items were missed by the insurance adjuster, the customer may still be able to invoke appraisal.
  5. The insurance company used their own pricing to estimate the damage. For example, in a situation in which the insurance company used a one-line item, unit price for roofing and didn’t break it out, the customer may consider invoking Appraisal.
There are many more scenarios that may apply. It is in your customer’s best interest to have us review their circumstances.
The cost depends on the individual circumstances of your customer’s claim, but generally ranges from $1000 – $2000. Don’t let this cost impact your customer’s interest in exploring Appraisal. We are transparent about our fees. We also provide you and your customer with a free professional opinion on the potential Appraisal outcome and if the Appraisal is economically feasible to pursue.
Contact us for a free initial evaluation of your customer’s dispute with their insurance company. After reviewing the information, we will provide our honest opinion whether an Appraisal is in your customer’s best interest. If the customer proceeds with the Appraisal, we will guide you and your customer through the entire process, keeping you fully informed at every step.

We have included a informational brochure , Insurance Claim Appraisal, that goes into much more detail about the appraisal process. Feel free to print the pdf. version and give it your customer.

Let us help your customer receive a fair settlement for their damages!

Customers
Frequently Asked Questions

Your insurance policy includes an Appraisal Section which states that if you believe that the settlement/estimate your insurance company provided was unfair and you and the company are unable to resolve those differences, you have the right to dispute their estimate/costs through a process called Appraisal.
You and your contractor should first attempt to resolve the differences with your carrier directly. If you reach an impasse, then invoking Appraisal is your right per the insurance contract.
You invoke your right by sending a demand for Appraisal in writing to your insurance company that includes a description of each item disputed item of damaged property. Don’t worry about writing that letter, we will provide you with one.
A copy of the estimate of damages you received from your contractor will do.
Absolutely not! Appraisal is one of the rights you have within the contract you signed with your insurance company. It is there to help settle disputes of damages and cost without incurring litigation, and your insurance company would rather work to resolve the dispute rather than litigate it.
This depends on the individual circumstances of your claim, but generally the costs range from $1000 – $2000. Don’t let this cost impact your interest in exploring Appraisal. We are transparent about our fees, will provide you a free professional opinion about the Appraisal potential outcome, and help you determine if pursuing it is economically feasible.
Contact us for your free initial evaluation. After reviewing, we will deliver our professional, experienced, and unbiased opinion. If you decide invoking an Appraisal is in your best interest, we will carefully guide you through every step of the process.

We have included a informational brochure , Insurance Claim Appraisal, that goes into much more detail about the appraisal process. Feel free to print the pdf. version and contact us with any questions.

You’ve been paying premium for years and are owed a fair settlement. Let us help you get that fair settlement!

We understand this may be a difficult decision for you and we want to make sure you have all the needed information to feel confident in whatever decision you make. If you need additional information, or have questions that might help with your decision, please contact us and we will gladly provide you the additional information you might need.
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