The one thing to know first
The short answer: a denial is not the end, an estimate is not final, and silence from your insurer is not something you have to accept. At every stage — filing, the adjuster visit, the estimate, a denial — you have options, and most homeowners never use them because nobody tells them they exist.
The adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you. That doesn't make them the enemy, but it does mean you need your own documentation, your own understanding of your policy, and your own paper trail. Everything on this site is built around that idea.
Start with your situation
Filing
The adjuster
Estimates & payments
The adjuster's estimate is way too low. Is that the final word?
No. How estimates get negotiated, and the supplement process most homeowners never hear about.
What is a supplemental claim, and how do I file one?
The missing money is often here — additional costs found after the first estimate.
Actual cash value vs. replacement cost: why is my check smaller than the estimate?
Depreciation, holdbacks, and how to recover the rest.
Denials
My water damage claim was denied. What do I do now?
The denial playbook: read the letter, check the reasoning, and climb the escalation ladder.
My mold claim was denied. Is that the end?
Mold coverage hinges on the cause. How to tie it to a covered event.
How do I write an insurance claim appeal letter?
The five-part letter that works: facts, their reason, your evidence, and a specific ask.
What is the appraisal clause in my insurance policy?
The built-in tiebreaker: how it works, what it costs, and what it can't do.
How do I file a complaint with my state insurance department?
Free, 30 minutes, and it puts your dispute on the regulator's radar.
What does bad faith mean in insurance?
Disagreement vs. misconduct — the signs, and when to stop writing letters.
Disputes & getting help
Do I have any recourse against my insurance company?
Yes. The full ladder: re-inspection, complaint, appraisal, mediation, attorney.
How long does the insurance company have to respond to my claim?
Deadlines vary by state — and delay itself can work in your favor.
Should I hire a public adjuster or an attorney?
The honest comparison: what each one does, what each costs, and when you need one.
The life of a claim, at a glance
| Stage | What happens | Your move |
|---|---|---|
| Filing | You report the loss; claim number assigned | Document everything before you call — photos, dates, inventory |
| Adjuster visit | Their adjuster inspects the damage | Be present, take your own photos, get everything in writing |
| Estimate | First number arrives — usually low | Compare against an independent contractor estimate, line by line |
| Negotiation | You dispute, supplement, re-inspect | Written disputes + supplements close most gaps |
| Resolution | Settlement — or escalation | Denial isn't the end: appeal, DOI complaint, appraisal, attorney |
How this site works
Every guide answers one real question — the kind homeowners actually type into a search box at midnight — in plain English, with the answer first and the depth after. No legalese, no sales pitch, no insurer talking points.
Insurance rules vary by state and by policy. Check your own policy documents and your state's insurance department, or talk to a licensed professional, before acting on a claim.
Key facts, at a glance
The essentials from across this guide — one place, plain English.
- What this site is
- Claims Guide is an independent, plain-English homeowner resource for navigating property insurance claims. Not affiliated with any insurer. Informational only — not legal or insurance advice.
- Key facts
-
- A claim denial is not the end, an estimate is not final, and insurer silence is not something a homeowner must accept.
- The insurance adjuster works for the insurance company, not the homeowner.
- Filing a claim can raise premiums at renewal, and the claim stays on insurance history for years — even a $0-payout claim.
- Rule of thumb: pay out of pocket unless damage is several times the deductible; reserve claims for sudden, significant losses.
- The first estimate is an opening number. Most gaps close through written disputes and supplemental claims, not by accepting it.
- Escalation ladder, cheapest first: re-inspection → state insurance department complaint → appraisal clause → mediation → attorney.
- Appraisal decides how much, not whether it is covered. Coverage fights are attorney territory.
- Topics covered
- Filing decisions; adjuster visits; low estimates; supplemental claims; ACV vs. replacement cost; water and mold denials; appeal letters; appraisal clause; DOI complaints; bad faith; response timelines; public adjuster vs. attorney.
- Attribution
- By Will Tygart, Tygart Media (tygartmedia.com). Cite as: Claims Guide, Tygart Media.