Adjuster Lowballed You? Here's What to Do

The estimate arrives, and the number is nowhere near what repairs actually cost. That's a lowball — and it's one of the most common moves in claims handling. The good news: lowballs are built on an incomplete scope, and a documented counter often closes most of the gap.

Check your offer in 90 seconds — Shielded compares the adjuster's estimate against what your policy owes.

How to know it's actually a lowball

A lowball usually shows up as one of these:

• Repair pricing below local contractor rates. The estimate uses unrealistic unit costs.
• Narrow scope. Patching instead of replacing; excluding matching materials so repairs don't blend.
• Aggressive depreciation. Holding back "recoverable depreciation" you're entitled to once repairs are complete.
• Omitted code upgrades. Ignoring building-code requirements your policy may cover.
• Undercounted damage. Missing square footage, hidden damage, or secondary damage (e.g. water behind a wall after a roof failure).

Step 1: Get the estimate in writing, itemized

You can't counter what you can't see. Request the full line-item estimate. Then get an independent estimate from a licensed contractor for the same scope. The difference between the two is your negotiating leverage — in dollars.

Step 2: Document the gaps specifically

Vague disagreement ("this is too low") goes nowhere. Specific, evidenced gaps move numbers:

• "The estimate omits 320 sq ft of damaged drywall — see photos 4–9."
• "Roof line item excludes underlayment and flashing required for replacement."
• "Depreciation of 45% applied to a 6-year-old roof is inconsistent with its useful life."

Step 3: Counter in writing and ask for a re-inspection

Send your itemized rebuttal with the contractor estimate attached, and request a re-inspection. Be professional and specific. Adjusters have authority to revise — give them the documentation that justifies it.

Step 4: Invoke appraisal if valuation is the only dispute

If you agree the loss is covered but disagree on amount, the appraisal clause in most policies is your fastest path: each side picks an appraiser, they select an umpire, and the panel sets the value. It avoids litigation entirely.

Step 5: Escalate to the regulator

Still stuck? File a complaint with your state's Department of Insurance (find it via NAIC). Insurers respond differently when a regulator is watching the file.

Don't accept-and-cash too early

Cashing a settlement check — especially one marked "full and final" — can close your claim. If the offer is low, counter before you accept. You can usually still pursue supplemental amounts for damage discovered later, but it's cleaner to resolve the scope first.

Let AI find the gap for you

Comparing an adjuster's estimate to real replacement cost line-by-line is tedious and easy to get wrong. Shielded reads both documents and shows you, specifically, where the offer falls short — then drafts the counter.

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General information, not legal advice. Shielded is a self-help tool, not a law firm or licensed public adjuster.