The appraisal process is part of the standard residential insurance policy. Its purpose is to help resolve potential conflict between the insured and the insurer in the event that the insured does not feel that the insurer has properly indemnified them for their loss on a filed claim. The insured can invoke the appraisal clause in their policy in lieu of hiring a lawyer to litigate their grievance. The appraisal process is designed to resolve differences without litigation. The typical appraisal states: If you and we fail to agree on the amount of loss, each party will choose a competent appraiser within 20 days after receiving a written request from the other. The two appraisers will choose an umpire. If they cannot agree on an umpire within 15 days, you or we may request that the choice be made by a judge of a court of record in the state where is “residence premises” is located. The appraisers will separately set the amount of loss. If the two appraisers written reports are in agreement, the amount agreed upon will be the amount of the loss. If they fail to agree, they will submit their differences to the umpire. A decision agreed to by two of the three on the panel will set the amount of loss. Both the Carrier and the Insured will: • pay its own Appraiser • bear the other expenses of the appraisal • pay the cost of the umpire equally if the Umpire is invoked