Appraisal Umpire Services
The neutral the panel can agree on.
When party-appointed appraisers reach an impasse, the umpire is the difference between resolution and stalemate. StrongRock Solutions accepts umpire appointments by agreement of the appraisers or by court designation, bringing estimating depth and strict impartiality to the panel.
Strict Neutrality
An umpire serves the process, not a party. We disclose prior relationships and potential conflicts in writing before accepting appointment, and both appraisers' positions get the same scrutiny, line by line.
Evidence Over Argument
Competing estimates are reconciled against inspection findings, measurement data, code requirements, and current market pricing. The louder argument does not move the number. The better-documented one does.
Transparent Reasoning
Where the panel issues an award, the basis for every material figure is traceable to the record. Both parties should be able to see exactly why the number is the number. That transparency is also what keeps awards from being challenged.
Procedural Efficiency
Written scheduling, defined submission requirements, prompt site inspection, and a decision without months of drift. Appraisal exists to end disputes quickly, and the umpire sets that tempo.
Engagement
How umpire appointments work
- 01
Both appraisers, or the court, propose the umpire. We provide a CV, written fee schedule, and conflict disclosure for review before appointment.
- 02
Submission requirements and inspection logistics are set in writing, so both sides know the schedule and exactly what record the decision will rest on.
- 03
Disputed line items are evaluated against inspection evidence, documentation, code requirements, and current pricing data, item by item.
- 04
The award issues promptly once any two panel members agree, concluding the amount-of-loss dispute under the policy.
Umpire Questions
Frequently asked questions
+ What does an appraisal umpire do?
When the two party-appointed appraisers cannot agree on the amount of loss, the umpire resolves their differences. The umpire reviews both positions, typically inspects the property, and decides the disputed items. Agreement by the umpire and either appraiser, or by both appraisers, produces the binding award.
+ How is an umpire selected?
The two appraisers normally agree on the umpire. If they cannot, most policies allow either party to ask a court to designate one. We provide a CV, fee schedule, and conflict disclosure for review before appointment, and we accept both agreed and court-appointed designations.
+ What makes a qualified umpire?
Competence in the subject matter and genuine impartiality. For property losses that means real estimating ability, construction knowledge, familiarity with the appraisal process, and no financial stake in the outcome. An umpire who cannot independently evaluate a roofing scope or a drying invoice is just splitting the difference, and that serves neither party.
+ What does umpire service cost?
The umpire's fee is typically shared equally by the parties. We quote a written fee schedule, hourly or flat depending on the file, before appointment, with no contingency of any kind.
Proposing an umpire?
Request our umpire CV, disclosures, and fee schedule for panel review.
Request Umpire Materials