What is the insurance appraisal process in Michigan?

Insurance appraisal is a process built into your property insurance policy that allows either side to demand an independent valuation of the loss when you and your insurer disagree on the amount. Each side selects an appraiser and those appraisers agree on a neutral umpire. A decision from any two of the three is binding. Jason J. Liss at Liss + Earls has compelled appraisal and recovered millions for Michigan policyholders.

Can my insurance company refuse to participate in appraisal?

Insurers frequently try to refuse appraisal by claiming the dispute is a coverage question rather than a scope-of-loss dispute. In many cases this argument fails. If your insurer has made any payment on your claim, or acknowledged that your type of loss is covered while disputing specific items, you may have the right to compel appraisal. Call Jason J. Liss at (248) 553-2000 to find out.

My insurer's estimate is much lower than my contractor's. What can I do?

A significant gap between your insurer's estimate and a contractor's bid is one of the most common reasons to demand appraisal. It often means items were left out of the insurer's scope or that overhead, profit, or other legitimate costs were excluded. Liss + Earls represents policyholders in exactly these disputes — call (248) 553-2000.

I'm a public adjuster. Can Liss + Earls help me get appraisal compelled on a client's claim?

Yes. Jason J. Liss works directly with public adjusters across Michigan and on select high-value cases nationwide. If your client's insurer is refusing appraisal or disputing your scope, call Jason directly at (248) 553-2000. Liss + Earls handles these cases on contingency — no upfront cost to you or your client.

What does it cost to hire Liss + Earls for an appraisal dispute?

Liss + Earls handles property insurance disputes on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover for you. There are no upfront costs and no hourly billing. Call (248) 553-2000 for a free consultation.

Your Insurance Company Disputes the Damage. You Have the Right to Fight Back. Learn about the appraisal process.

When your insurer pays less than your loss is worth—or refuses to cover certain items—you don’t have to accept it. Michigan property insurance policies include a process called appraisal that forces an independent valuation of your loss. We have used this process to recover millions of dollars for policyholders whose insurers refused to pay fairly.

What Is the Insurance Appraisal Process?

Appraisal is a faster, lower-cost alternative to a full lawsuit. Each side selects their own independent appraiser. Those two appraisers agree on a neutral umpire. A decision from any two of the three is binding on both you and your insurer.
The problem is that insurance companies routinely refuse to participate — claiming the dispute doesn’t qualify. In many cases, they’re wrong. We know when appraisal can be compelled, and we know how to force it.

When Does Appraisal Apply to Your Claim? Body

If your insurer has paid part of your claim but is disputing additional damage — you likely have the right to demand appraisal. The same is true if your insurer’s estimate of the repair or replacement cost is far below what contractors are actually quoting you.
Insurance companies often try to label these disagreements as “coverage questions” to avoid the process. We know the difference, and courts have repeatedly sided with policyholders on this issue.

Common situations we see:

Your insurer’s estimate is thousands less than your contractor’s
Specific rooms, items, or structures were left off the insurer’s scope
Your insurer paid some damage but says other damage isn’t covered
Your business interruption losses were underpaid or excluded
Your ACV payment doesn’t come close to covering actual repairs

Is Your Insurer Calculating Your Payment Correctly?

Even when the coverage itself isn’t in dispute, insurance companies frequently underpay by shortchanging the math. Two of the most common ways this happens:

Overhead and Profit

When a general contractor is needed to coordinate your repairs — which is most of the time on significant losses — their overhead and profit is a real, legitimate cost. Many insurers strip it out of their estimates. If your insurer’s payment excluded overhead and profit, your claim may have been underpaid.

Labor Depreciation

Some insurers depreciate the labor portion of your repair estimate — reducing your actual cash value payment based on the age of your home or building. In Michigan, this is often impermissible. If your payment was reduced this way, you may be owed more.

Selected Results in Appraisal and Scope Disputes

Some of our extraordinary results are in appraisal and scope disputes.

$8.6 Million—Apartment complex. The insurer denied coverage entirely. We overturned the denial and compelled appraisal. Michigan Lawyers Weekly Top Settlement, 2023.
$8.5 Million—Automotive supplier. The insurer refused an appraisal on a business interruption claim. We forced the process and recovered full value including penalty interest.
$7 Million—Apartment building. The insurer offered $2.8M. We recovered $7M including $356,000 in penalty interest.
$5.1 Million—Luxury residential property. The insurer raised multiple exclusions. All defeated. Full scope of loss recovered.
$4.3 Million—Commercial property. The insurer denied the claim. We reversed it and recovered the full amount, including business interruption losses.
$3.77 Million—Commercial structure. The insurer disputed the scope. We compelled appraisal and recovered 12% penalty interest on top.

For Public Adjusters

If you’re working a claim where the insurer is refusing appraisal, disputing your scope, or lowballing your client — we can step in. We work closely with public adjusters across Michigan and on select high-value cases nationwide. We handle the legal fight while you focus on what you do best.

We handle these cases on contingency — no upfront cost to you or your client.

No Fee Unless We Recover

We handle property insurance disputes on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we win. There is no financial risk in calling us to find out whether we can help.

Don't Accept a Low Settlement — Call Us First

Your Insurer May be Wrong. Find Out What You’re Actually Owed. Get a Second Opinion on Your Claim. Public Adjusters – Have a Stuck Claim? Let Us Help Maximize Your Client’s Recovery. Homeowners, Businesses, and commercial properties in Michigan, Ohio, and select large-value cases nationwide.