Reading the result
The estimator answers one question: after paying your appraiser and half an umpire, how much more might you end up with? The net return per $1 of fees line is the quickest gut check. Below about 2-to-1, the dispute is thin; above 4-to-1, appraisal usually deserves a serious conversation.
Test a range, not a single outcome
Awards rarely land on either side’s opening figure. Run the slider at 30%, 55% and 80%. If your plan only works at the top of the range, the file probably needs better documentation first. If it still works near the bottom, the numbers are on your side.
Comparing fee arrangements
- Flat fee: predictable; best on mid-sized, clearly scoped residential claims.
- Percentage of the increase: aligns incentives but costs more on large wins. Oklahoma practice varies, so read any agreement carefully.
- Hourly: common on commercial and complex losses where time is hard to predict.
What it leaves out
Deductibles, depreciation timing and policy limits change what you’re paid, not the size of the dispute. For those, use the RCV/ACV holdback calculator and the percentage deductible calculator.
Questions about this tool
Is the projected award a prediction?
No. It’s a planning scenario based on numbers you enter. Real awards depend on documentation, the panel and your policy.
Who pays the umpire?
Most appraisal clauses split the umpire’s fee equally between you and the carrier, with each side paying its own appraiser. Check your policy’s wording.
Are the default figures real claims?
No. The starting numbers are illustrative only, so the tool shows a working example when it loads.