A sudden water loss
A pipe burst inside the ceiling of a residential unit. Water spread through the ceiling cavity into the living space, affecting multiple building components and requiring both emergency mitigation and a full rebuild of the damaged areas. The mitigation contractor was paid $16,000 for emergency services.
The estimate gap
After inspecting the property we prepared a detailed rebuild estimate of $104,723.78. The carrier's first payment was $57,223.67, leaving a large gap between the documented damage and what was paid.
The "unbiased" comparison bid
To support its number, the carrier hired a vendor to produce a comparison estimate, presented as an independent evaluation.
Reviewing the file, we found that the third-party company coordinating the vendor had removed necessary repair line items before the estimate was finalized. Those items were clearly supported by the damage documentation, and removing them made the job look much smaller than it was.
Challenging the findings
We disputed the altered estimate directly with the desk adjuster. After continued discussion and documentation of the missing items, the carrier agreed to bring in a second vendor. That estimate came in very close to ours, and the carrier issued a supplemental payment of $41,282.70.
The outcome
The carrier's rebuild payments reached 94% of our documented rebuild estimate of $104,723.78.
| Initial rebuild payment | $57,223.67 |
| Rebuild supplement | $41,282.70 |
| Total rebuild paid | $98,506.37 |
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