Guides

Insurance estimate too low? What to do next

Most low estimates are not a single big mistake. They are a dozen small omissions: a missing drip edge, no steep-roof charge, paint for the patch but not the wall, a waste factor that is a few percent short. Each one is a few hundred dollars. Together they are often thousands.

1. Get the full estimate, not the summary

Ask for the complete line-item estimate, the price list it used, and the roof or room measurement report. You are entitled to see how the number was built. If you only got a payment letter, request the estimate in writing.

2. Read it line by line against your house

Go room by room. For each damaged area ask: does the estimate remove the damaged material, replace it, and finish it so it matches? Common gaps:

• Roofs: drip edge, starter strip, hip and ridge cap, ice and water barrier, steep and high-roof charges, enough waste, permit.
• Interiors: texture on new drywall, painting the whole wall or ceiling (not just the patch), insulation above a wet ceiling, baseboards, moving furniture, cleaning.
• Siding: house wrap, trim and corner posts, and whether the new siding will match.
• Big repairs: overhead and profit when a general contractor is needed to coordinate several trades.

3. Get a contractor bid

A detailed written bid from a licensed local contractor is the strongest evidence that the insurer's price or scope is short. Ask for it in line items, not a single number.

4. Ask in writing, item by item

Send the adjuster a short letter listing each missing item, what you are asking for, and why (a building code section, the manufacturer's instructions, or your contractor's bid). Ask them to add it or explain in writing why not. Keep it polite and specific.

5. Track deadlines

Your state sets deadlines for the insurer to acknowledge, decide and pay. Your policy sets deadlines for you: proof of loss, completing repairs to collect held-back depreciation, and filing suit. Put them on a calendar.

6. If you still disagree

Ask for a re-inspection, use your policy's appraisal clause for disputes about the amount, use your state's mediation program if it has one, or file a complaint with your state insurance department. For large or complicated claims, a licensed public adjuster or an attorney may be worth their fee.

[Scan your estimate free](/scan) to see what may be missing in about two minutes.