For Attorneys and Public Adjusters
An appraiser for the valuation record
Loss Recovery Experts accepts appraisal assignments from attorneys and public adjusters when a covered property loss needs an independent amount-of-loss determination under the policy's appraisal provision.
The referral adds an appraiser to the file. It does not transfer the client relationship, the legal work, or the public adjusting work to this firm.
The one-role rule
Nathan Sheppard does not serve as public adjuster and appraiser on the same claim. If Nathan is already involved in a public adjusting role, Loss Recovery Experts will not take the appraisal role on that file.
The role is confirmed during the conflict and assignment review. It is then stated in writing before appraisal work begins.
Assignments the firm can review
- Residential property valuation disputes.
- Commercial and multi-building losses.
- Condo association and apartment property losses.
- Hotel, retail, warehouse, industrial, and storage properties.
- Hurricane and other catastrophe losses.
- Large losses with multiple systems and expert disciplines.
- Business interruption and other time-element valuations tied to a property loss.
- Files where appraisal has been demanded and an appraiser must be named.
- Files where an existing appraisal has stalled and the policy permits a path forward.
Acceptance depends on the policy, the conflict check, the current posture, and whether the dispute belongs in appraisal.
Estimate review before acceptance
Before accepting an assignment, Loss Recovery Experts reviews the policy, appraisal provision, insurer estimate, prior estimates, expert reports, payment correspondence, photographs, and current status of the dispute.
We want to understand the dispute before we agree to sit on the panel.
That review identifies the disputed scope, valuation assumptions, missing records, expert needs, and any pure coverage or procedural issue that sits outside the panel's authority.
Panel participation
When engaged, Nathan serves as the appraiser selected for the assignment. His job is to approach the loss with an open mind, independently evaluate the amount of loss, and support the valuation with evidence, construction knowledge, documentation, and professional judgment.
The firm can:
- Inspect the property with the other appraiser and relevant experts.
- Build an independent estimate from the physical record.
- Compare competing estimates item by item.
- Coordinate specialist input where the valuation requires it.
- Work through agreed and disputed items.
- Present the remaining differences if the panel reaches an impasse.
- Maintain the appraisal record through the written award.
Commercial capability
Commercial referrals benefit from the same construction discipline used on direct engagements. The record can address roof assemblies, wet insulation, building envelope, tenant improvements, electrical distribution, switchgear lead times, life safety systems, equipment, code-triggered work, and phased restoration.
Income records can be coordinated with the physical timeline. That includes rent rolls for apartments, booking pace for hotels, lease records for retail properties, and financial records for business interruption.
Documentation standard
A referral file should arrive organized, but it does not need to be perfect. The initial package should include the policy, appraisal clause, current and prior estimates, payment correspondence, expert reports, photographs, and a short status note.
During the assignment, Loss Recovery Experts maintains inspection notes, photographs, measurements, marked plans, estimate versions, expert material, and panel correspondence in the appraisal record.
A cleaner record before counsel
A documented claim package built before counsel becomes involved can reduce duplicated work later. Organized policy records, estimates, photographs, expert material, and a defined valuation can lower the time counsel and later experts need to reconstruct the file, and that can affect later professional and expert costs. It does not set or predict what an attorney charges. Pre-suit work and litigation are often handled under separate engagement terms, so counsel should explain the economics for the specific matter.
Referral boundaries
- The referrer keeps the client relationship.
- Loss Recovery Experts handles only the appraisal assignment defined in writing.
- The firm does not convert the referral into a public adjusting engagement.
- Communications follow the protocol agreed for the file.
- The referrer remains responsible for legal advice or public adjusting services within the referrer's own role.
- Loss Recovery Experts does not provide legal advice.
- New matters from the client outside the appraisal assignment are referred back or addressed only after written direction and a separate conflict review.
Start with a conflict and posture check
Send the policy, the appraisal provision, the current estimate, and a short note on who demanded appraisal and what deadlines apply. Do not send privileged material unless the referring attorney directs it.
We typically respond by the next business day.
nathan@lossrecoveryexperts.com