How to read the result
- Enter both totals at replacement cost, before depreciation and deductible, so you compare like with like.
- Slide the landing point. Try 30%, 50% and 75%. A dispute that only works at 90% is fragile.
- Add the fees you’ve actually been quoted. Flat and percentage arrangements behave very differently as the award grows.
- Check the break-even line. It shows the share of the gap the panel must award before you come out ahead.
Why a break-even point matters
Appraisal costs money on both sides. If the break-even landing point is 20% of the gap, even a modest award helps you. If it’s 70%, you need a well-documented claim and a realistic expectation that most of your line items will survive review. That one figure often settles whether to invoke appraisal or ask for a documented supplement first.
What this tool leaves out
It doesn’t model deductibles, depreciation timing, policy limits or sub-limits. Those change what you’re paid, not the size of the dispute. For payment timing, use the two-check payout calculator; for storm deductibles, the hail deductible dollar converter.
All default figures are illustrative.
Questions about this tool
Is the projected award a prediction?
No. It’s a what-if scenario based on the landing point you choose. Real awards depend on documentation, the panel and your policy language.
Who pays the umpire?
Most appraisal clauses split the umpire’s fee evenly between you and the insurer, and each side pays its own appraiser. Check your policy’s wording.