How to read the results
- Amount in dispute is your estimate minus the insurer’s, both at replacement cost.
- Projected award assumes the panel lands at the percentage you choose within that gap.
- Net increase subtracts your appraiser’s fee and, if checked, half the umpire’s fee.
- Break-even landing point is the percentage at which your costs equal your gain. Below it, appraisal costs more than it recovers.
Why we show three landing points
Panels rarely award either side’s exact number. Documented items tend to survive and padded ones tend not to. If your result only works at 80% or more, the case depends on near-total success. If it still works at 30%, it’s more robust. The three-scenario table makes that visible at a glance.
What it doesn’t include
Deductibles, depreciation timing and policy limits affect what you’re paid, not the size of the dispute. For holdback math, use the RCV vs. ACV holdback calculator. All figures are illustrative.
Questions about the claim gap estimator
Is the projected award a prediction?
No. It’s a planning scenario based on the percentage you choose. Real awards depend on evidence, the panel and the policy.
How are appraiser fees usually structured?
Arrangements vary: flat fees, hourly billing and percentage fees all exist. Get any fee in writing before work starts, and check whether percentage fees are allowed on your type of claim.