The adjuster's estimate is half your contractor's quote. Now what?

It happens constantly: your contractor quotes $18,000 for the roof, and the insurance adjuster's estimate comes back at $9,000. That gap is not the final word - it is the opening position of a negotiation that has a standard process. (This guide is general information, not legal or insurance advice; policies and state rules vary, so confirm your options against your own policy.)

Why the numbers are so far apart

• Different scope, not just different prices. The adjuster may have missed damaged vents, flashing, gutters, or a second layer of shingles that changes tear-off cost.
• Code upgrades. Current building code may require drip edge, ice-and-water shield or decking work the old roof didn't have. Many policies cover code-required upgrades, but they often have to be requested specifically.
• Overhead and profit. When multiple trades are involved, general-contractor overhead and profit (often called "O&P") is a standard line item that initial estimates sometimes leave out.
• Matching. If your shingle or siding line is discontinued, a patch repair may be impossible to match - some policies owe for a consistent appearance, and state rules on matching vary.

The steps, in order

1. Get both estimates in writing and compare line by line. Ask your contractor to go through the adjuster's scope and mark every missing or underpriced line. Most storm-restoration contractors do this for free - it is a normal part of their job.

2. Let your contractor file a supplement. A supplement is the contractor's documented request for the missing items, with photos and measurements. Supplements are routine - insurers expect them, and many legitimate claims involve one or more rounds. This alone closes most gaps.

3. Ask for a re-inspection with your contractor present. Adjusters work fast and miss things. A joint walk of the roof where your contractor points at each missed item resolves more than any phone argument.

4. Use your policy's appraisal clause if talks stall. Most homeowner policies include an appraisal process: each side hires an appraiser, and a neutral umpire breaks disagreements on the amount of damage. Check your policy - it spells out how to invoke it.

5. Consider a licensed public adjuster for big or stuck claims. Public adjusters work for you, not the insurer, and are licensed by your state. They typically charge a percentage of the settlement - get the fee and contract terms in writing first, and check their license with your state department of insurance.

6. Your state department of insurance is a free escalation path. Every state has one, and consumer complaints get insurer attention. The NAIC's consumer site (content.naic.org/consumer.htm) links to every state regulator and explains the complaint process.

What not to do

• Don't sign over your claim or its payments to a contractor (an "assignment of benefits") just to make the gap go away - you give up control of your own claim.
• Don't cash the insurer's first check and assume it closes the claim - in most cases you can still supplement, but read anything that comes with the check before depositing it.
• Don't let anyone start full replacement work before the scope is agreed; it complicates everything.

While the numbers get sorted, keep the claim file moving: our documentation checklist covers the photos and records that make supplements go faster.