By SPJ Adjusting Services | Insurance Appraisals
Insurance Appraisal Delays:
Insurance appraisal is supposed to be the tool that resolves disputes, not creates new ones. Yet, from the Panhandle to the Gulf Coast, we repeatedly see Texas policyholders stuck waiting while appraisals drag on for months. Whether it is a roof claim in Lubbock, a hail claim in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, hurricane losses in Corpus Christi, or fire claims in Houston, all suffer the same issue: carrier-side delays that stall the entire recovery process.
At SPJ Adjusting, we see these patterns daily. And we believe it’s time to talk directly about the problem and what Texas policyholders should be demanding from insurance carriers who allow these delays to continue.
Understanding the Appraisal Process in Texas
Appraisal in insurance is designed to settle disputes about the amount of loss. Once invoked:
The policyholder appoints an appraiser.
A paid appraiser by the insurance company
The two appraisers appoint an umpire.
A final decision is obtained when two out of the three agree.
In paper, this sounds simple.
In real actual Texas claims?
Not necessarily.
Where the real delays start.
The biggest slowdown usually comes from one place:
Insurance company selected appraiser.
Across Texas, a plethora of carriers continually send assignments to the same small group of appraisers-apparently, even when those individuals already have an overload. SPJ sees this statewide:
Appraisers in Houston booked out for 6–10 weeks
Central Texas appraisers missing inspection deadlines
Carrier appointed appraisers cannot attend joint inspections
Files sitting for weeks untouched while policyholders wait
This causes a backlog that translates to long waits, and this process affects the policyholder’s attempt to rebuild directly.
Why Delays Harm Texas Policyholders
Some Texas policyholders think “appraisal stops the clock.”
It does not.
Many courts have found an appraisal does not stay policy deadlines or the statute of limitations. This means:
Deadlines for filing suit still run.
Deadlines to replace benefits still run.
Supplemental filing deadlines continue to run.
An Austin policyholder might forfeit a claim of withheld depreciation.
A San Antonio homeowner might have overlooked the filing date.
A businessman in Midland may be short on time in advancing a claim for consequential damage.
A late appraisal can cost real money; sometimes, it is a difference of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
That’s why carriers can’t hide behind the defense of a “busy appraiser.”
By simply naming a person and then walking away, it cannot be expected to undertake the task of fair claim handling.
Do Insurance Companies Have a Duty to Prevent Appraisal Delays in Texas?
In our professional opinion, and in our experience handling claims all over Texas, yes, they absolutely do.
Every insurer doing business in Texas has a duty of good faith and fair dealing.
When an insurance company knowingly uses an appraiser who is:
unavailable,
always late,
overburdened with files, or
non-responsive.
…that is not good faith.
What to Do-The Good-Faith Carrier
An insurer who is liable shall do the following:
Systematically monitor the performance of its appraisers statewide
Carriers must monitor the response time, inspection delays, and file completion rate.
Replace appraisal personnel who continue to be bottlenecks.
Any appraiser who cannot meet reasonable timelines should have another professional appointed by the carrier immediately.
Address patterns of delay directly with the appraiser
Class discussions, accommodations, and written performance expectations are all basic good-faith practices.
Make sure they have enough qualified appraisers on rotation.
Texas is too big and its weather is too impacted to rely on only two or three “preferred” appraisers for a carrier.
If a carrier keeps using an appraiser who holds up the works in claim after claim, that is a carrier decision not an accident. And it ought to be recognized as a potential violation of good-faith responsibilities.
What SPJ Adjusting Recommends All Texas Insurers Do
Texas insurers should consider the following best practices with the aim of preventing delays and protecting their customers:
- Delays Should Be Clearly Communicated
If the carrier’s appraiser is tied up with work, then it is time that the policyholder is informed:
In writing,
immediately,
flesh out with details.
Too often, Texas homeowners call in each week asking why nothing has moved — only to learn the insurer knew all along about the delays. - Automatic Extensions of Impacted Deadlines
When the appraiser of the carrier is the cause of the delay, insurers should automatically extend:
depreciation deadlines
filing deadlines for suits
Proof of Loss Deadlines
loss of use periods
replacement schedules
A policyholder shouldn’t be prejudiced because a carrier’s appraiser wasn’t able to appear. - Compensation for Extra Expenses
Carriers should reimburse the additional reasonable costs delays cause the insured to incur: temporary housing, contractor re-bids, continued business interruption.
This is most true with regard to:
Houston-longer moisture intrusion timelines
West Texas (short construction seasons)
Gulf Coast communities (high demand for contractors post storms) - Automatic Recusal for the Overbooked Appraiser
An appraiser appointed by the carrier who cannot meet the schedule should be removed immediately and replaced with an appraiser who can.
This protects:
the policyholder,
the appraisal process, the carrier’s reputation. value and integrity of the award. - Eliminate “Gamesmanship”
The purposes are one, that is, for delaying responses, withholding updates, and stalling inspections, the aim is to starve the outlay of the deadline.
This constitutes bad faith.
Overview – Texas-Wide Perspective: how these delays are affecting real claims.
Here are common scenarios SPJ Adjusting sees across the state:
Dallas–Fort Worth
Large hailstorms produce thousands of claims. Carrier appraisers get buried and inspections stall for months. Renters’ assistance is often lost by the homeowner while waiting.
Houston & Coastal Texas
Hurricane and windstorm claims require immediate moisture mitigation. While the appraisals drag on, the damage gets worse, and the carriers try to deny the additional deterioration.
Central Texas
Fire and flood claims require timely reconstruction estimates. Delays frequently push policyholders past replacement cost deadlines.
West Texas
Fewer contractors and appraisers in rural areas compound the problem. When carriers assign overloaded personnel, policyholders can wait months for a simple inspection.
Rio Grande Valley
Fast-moving storms cause roof and water losses that require immediate drying. Delays promote mold and lead to “neglect” disputes that never would have arisen with a timely appraisal.
In all of these varied regions, there is one thing that does not change:
While insurers argue their hands are tied, policyholders wait.
SPJ Adjusting’s Perspective: What to Do on the Part of the Insured
If your claim appraisal is delayed in any location in Texas, SPJ suggests that: - Record all correspondence
This means emails, phone logs, text messages- anything. - Put all deadlines in writing
Meet, in particular, the deadline for suitability, depreciation schedules, and proof of loss. - Prejudice to carrier due to delay
This creates a record if it becomes necessary to resort to litigation. - Ask for a new appraiser
You have a right to request this when delays are unreasonable. - Engage professional assistance
SPJ and other public adjusters and appraisal experts have helped provide another avenue for keeping pressure on the process.
Why Work With SPJ Adjusting (Serving All of Texas)
SPJ Adjusting provides:
Insurance Appraisal Services
Texas Umpire Services Public Adjusting Services Roof, hail, hurricane, flood and fire claim guidance Statewide coverage across Texas: all cities, all counties We bring immense experience in navigating appraisal delays and holding insurers accountable.
CALL TO ACTION
Required Section Serving all of the United States with Insurance Appraisal and Umpire Services
Call us today for a FREE consultation: (888) 887 -9213
Book a claims consultation online: Schedule Here
Visit: www.cliams.spjadjusting.com
Email: info@spjadjusting.com
