17 Years Evaluating Property Losses. One Role in Appraisal.
The appraiser
Nathan serves as the appraiser you select. 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.
Nathan's work begins at the property. He studies the damaged assemblies, the repair path, the records, and the pricing. He does not begin with the insurer's conclusion and work backward.
Credentials
Nathan Sheppard, CPIA, CPAU, OSHA, FL#P193861
- CPIA
- CPAU, Certified Property Appraiser and Umpire (IAUA)
- OSHA safety training
- Florida Public Adjuster License P193861
- 17 years of property claim experience
- Residential, commercial, and large-loss property claims
- Member, FAPIA (Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters)
The public adjuster license is part of Nathan's claims record. It is not an appraisal license. His appraisal work stands on inspection, construction knowledge, estimating, documentation, and the policy's appraisal process.
Why construction knowledge matters in appraisal
Valuation starts with repair methodology. Before you price the work, you have to understand what actually has to be removed, accessed, repaired, replaced, detached, reset, and rebuilt.
Access and demolition
A damaged item may sit behind finishes, inside a wall, above a ceiling, or under a roof assembly. The valuation must account for the access route, demolition, protection, disposal, and restoration of everything disturbed to reach the work.
Repair sequencing
Trades do not work in random order. Structural repair, rough mechanical work, inspections, finishes, fixtures, and final systems have a sequence. A price that ignores the sequence can omit shutdowns, temporary work, repeat visits, and work that must be removed and rebuilt.
Repairability
The first question is not always replacement. It is whether the damaged item or system can be repaired to a sound and functional condition. Where repair cannot restore the system, the record should explain why replacement is required.
Matching and continuity
A repair must work with the material and system around it. Roof planes, flooring runs, cabinets, tile, siding, and finishes raise matching and continuity questions. Those questions also turn on the policy. Check for a matching exclusion or a conditioned matching endorsement before treating matching as settled.
Roof system assemblies
A roof is an assembly, not a surface price. Covering, decking, fastening, flashing, ventilation, edges, penetrations, and drainage work together. TPO, modified bitumen, metal, tile, and shingle systems fail and are repaired by different methods. Wet insulation below a membrane can change the repair even when the surface looks intact.
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing detach and reset
Interior and system repairs often require equipment and fixtures to be detached, protected, stored, reset, and tested. Disconnects, reconnections, permits, inspections, and startup belong in the repair plan when the work requires them.
Building envelope
The envelope keeps water out and conditioned air in. Openings, flashing, joints, membranes, cladding, and transitions have to work as one system. A local patch that leaves a failed transition in place does not restore the envelope.
Commercial roofing
Commercial roofs add large field areas, tapered insulation, drains, parapets, coping, rooftop units, curbs, walk pads, and phased access. A price per square means little until the assembly, wet materials, details, and repair boundaries are known.
Code-triggered work
A repair can trigger related work under the applicable code. The appraisal record should tie code work to the damaged system, the repair being performed, and the policy language. It should not treat every possible upgrade as part of the loss.
Estimating software versus actual construction
Software organizes quantities and prices. It does not inspect the building. It does not decide how a crew reaches the damage, what must be shut down, how long switchgear takes to arrive, or whether a material can still be matched. Those decisions come from the property and the repair method.
Professional standards
Nathan's appraisal work follows a clear standard:
- Competence for the specific loss.
- Current knowledge of appraisal rules and applicable law.
- Honest and fair conduct with every party.
- Open-minded evaluation of the evidence.
- No conflict between public adjuster and appraisal roles on the same claim.
- Due diligence in inspection, research, and documentation.
- Professional integrity when the evidence does not support a position.
These standards reflect the discipline behind his CPAU credential and the way Loss Recovery Experts accepts assignments.
Appraisal experience
Nathan has completed more than 100 appraisals. The work covers homes, commercial buildings, condo associations, hotels, and large losses across Florida.
The firm's recorded dollar cases are published with their figures, including a Hurricane Ian appraisal that settled at more than three times the insurer's initial offer. Past results do not predict another claim.
One role per claim
Nathan never serves as public adjuster and appraiser on the same claim through Loss Recovery Experts. The role is set in writing before work begins.
Put the record to work
Send the policy and the insurer's estimate. Nathan reviews appraisal requests personally. We typically respond by the next business day.