5 Questions to Ask an Appraisal Expert Before Hiring Them for Your Case
When you’re litigating a property damage claim—especially one tied to a disaster like a hurricane, flood, or fire—your appraisal expert can make or break your case.
Not all estimators are created equal. Some produce generic reports designed for insurance carriers. Others aren’t trained to handle depositions, prepare affidavits, or justify their conclusions under cross-examination.
To make sure you’re hiring an expert who strengthens—not weakens—your position, here are five critical questions to ask before bringing them into your case.
1. “Are Your Estimates Designed for Legal Use, or Insurance Use?”
Many appraisers are trained to write for insurance adjusters, not attorneys. That means their reports may lack the structure, clarity, or documentation required for court filings, expert testimony, or cross-examination.
What to Look For:
Courtroom-ready formatting
Executive summaries for filings
Clear, annotated photo evidence
Causation analysis that supports legal claims
Tip: Ask to review a sample report. Legal-focused reports should read like evidence, not repair quotes.
2. “Have You Testified or Provided Affidavits in Litigation Before?”
Some estimators are uncomfortable—or completely unwilling—to defend their work under oath. That’s a problem if the opposing counsel challenges your evidence or if the case escalates to trial.
What to Look For:
Prior testimony experience
Understanding of Daubert/Frye standards
Willingness to write affidavits or be deposed
Comfort with courtroom procedures
Red Flag: If the expert says, “I just write the report and let the lawyers handle the rest.”
3. “How Quickly Can You Deploy and Deliver a Report After a Disaster?”
Timing is everything in disaster-related litigation. The sooner you document the damage, the stronger your case. Many estimators can’t even get on-site for 7–10 days post-event—and that’s too late in many cases.
What to Look For:
24–48 hour deployment windows
Emergency site visit protocols
Drone or imaging support for inaccessible areas
3–5 day delivery of full report
Bonus: Ask about nighttime or weekend availability. Disasters don’t wait for business hours.
4. “Do You Understand Florida Building Codes and Regional Pricing?”
Florida has unique challenges when it comes to estimating: evolving hurricane codes, coastal construction requirements, and fluctuating labor/material pricing. A national firm without Florida-specific expertise might miscalculate key costs.
What to Look For:
Experience with Florida construction standards
Familiarity with hurricane-resistant structures
Use of Xactimate or regional pricing software
Local case experience
Example: A $75,000 estimate could turn into $150,000 once code upgrades and coastal labor surcharges are accounted for.
5. “Do You Work Exclusively with Law Firms, or Also with Insurers?”
There’s a major difference between a neutral appraiser and one who also works for carriers. Experts who serve both sides may have conflicts—or worse, default to insurance-favorable assumptions that hurt your case.
What to Look For:
Legal-only service focus
Understanding of the litigation process
Communication style geared toward attorneys, not adjusters
Clarity on report ownership and legal privilege
Key Insight: You want an expert who thinks like a litigator, not like a desk adjuster.
Choosing the right appraisal expert isn’t just about credentials—it’s about legal strategy. A strong damage report builds leverage. A weak one creates risk. Don’t settle for generic.
At On Point Estimating & Appraisals, we work exclusively with law firms—never with insurers or individual property owners. Our team is trained in Florida disaster damage, expert witness procedures, and rapid-response estimating. We deliver fast, defensible, courtroom-ready reports—because we know what’s at stake.
Need a trusted appraisal partner for your next case?