Questions & answers · Home insurance
A storm damaged my roof and ceiling, and my homeowners insurance paid much less than my contractor's estimate. How do I get a fair amount?
Home insurancePaid too littleChecked Nov 6, 2026
From K.Actuary, founded by Sangmin Kwon, ASA · sources checked 2026-11-06 · Source: Texas Department of Insurance · Home insurance guide · Filing a claim View original ↗
In short
- Tell your insurer in writing why the amount is too low.
- You can ask for appraisal or get help from your state office.
- Keep your bids, photos, and bills.
What this means
The Texas Department of Insurance says the insurance company bases its payment on the adjuster's estimate [1]. If you disagree with the estimate or the amount offered, tell the company why [2]. Talking with the company or the adjuster may fix it. Send your contractor's bid and photos with your letter.
If that does not work, you have other options. Appraisal is for disputes about the amount of your claim [3]. You pay for your own appraiser and half of the umpire's costs. You can also hire a public adjuster, who works for you and not the insurance company [4]. You can also complain to the state insurance department. In Texas the complaint must be in writing [5].
Be careful with one point. A state office may not make a company pay if the company did not break the law [6]. Check how your policy pays. Actual cash value coverage pays replacement cost minus depreciation [7]. Rules differ by state, and these sources come from Texas.
Your next step
Write to your insurer and say why the amount is too low. Attach your contractor's bid, photos, and the adjuster's estimate. Ask in the same letter how it figured the amount. The sources give no deadline; check your policy and claim letter.
Check it yourself
Open your policy and read the loss settlement and appraisal sections. Read your claim letter for how the amount was figured. These sources come from Texas; your state may have other rules and deadlines. We did not read your policy text — "Don't know yet".
Where this comes from (7)
[1] Texas Department of Insurance · Home insurance guide · Filing a claim · checked 2026-11-06
The insurance company will base its payment on the adjuster's estimate.
[2] Texas Department of Insurance · Home insurance guide · Resolving problems · checked 2026-11-06
If you disagree with the adjuster's estimate or the amount the company is offering to pay you, tell the insurance company why.
[3] Texas Department of Insurance · Home insurance guide · Resolving problems, appraisal · checked 2026-11-06
The appraisal process is for disputes about the amount of your claim.
[4] Texas Department of Insurance · Home insurance guide · Help negotiating a claim · checked 2026-11-06
Public adjusters work for you, not the insurance company.
[5] Texas Department of Insurance · Home insurance guide · Resolving problems, complaint · checked 2026-11-06
Complain to us. Your complaint must be in writing.
[6] Texas Department of Insurance · Get help with an auto, home, life/annuity, or other insurance complaint · Step 2: File a complaint with us · checked 2026-11-06
We can't force a company to pay a claim if the company didn't violate the law.
[7] Texas Department of Insurance · Home insurance guide · Replacement cost vs. actual cash value coverage · checked 2026-11-06
Actual cash value coverage pays replacement cost minus depreciation.
How we found this
We matched your question to 7 official sources, quoted the exact lines, and re-checked each quote against its source on 2026-11-06.
What we don’t know yet
Your own plan or notice may say something different. If your letter cites another rule, send it and we will look again.
Every answer is checked against the official rule it quotes.
Information only — not legal advice. Your plan, insurer or agency decides.
This answer quotes the official sources listed above, with the date we checked them. Your own policy, notice and state rules control. We are not your lawyer or your insurer. We don’t file, argue or negotiate claims for you — you send any letter or form yourself.
Related answers
- My insurer will only replace the damaged part of my siding, so it won't match. Do they have to replace all of it?
- Can I use a public adjuster to reopen an underpaid homeowners claim, and how much do they charge?
- In Texas, my insurer depreciated my roof on a hail claim. Do they have to pay the depreciation?
- Why did the insurer hold back part of my home repair money, and why is the check made out to my mortgage company?
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