A preparation guide from American Financial Claims. Updated September 20, 2026. This guide organizes information; it does not determine coverage or replace advice for your specific claim.
01. Make sure the documents describe the same work
Check the property, loss and estimate dates first. Then confirm which rooms or building areas each estimate includes. A proposal for a single room cannot be compared directly with a whole-property estimate. Highlight scope boundaries before discussing pricing.
02. Match locations and quantities
Work through the estimates one room or area at a time. Look at the stated measurements and units. Note differences in square footage, length or item counts, and record the measurement or photograph that may help explain them. Do not assume the larger number is automatically correct.
03. Read the operation, not only the material
Look at what each line says will happen. Removal, preparation, replacement and finishing are different operations. Record questions about steps that appear in one document but not the other. Ask the contractor to explain the work sequence in plain language when necessary.
04. Separate repair totals from payment
Keep the carrier payment explanation next to the estimate. The repair estimate and the payment may differ because of adjustments shown in the claim documents. Write down each adjustment you do not understand and request an explanation. A simple difference between totals is not a determination of what is owed.
05. Create a focused difference list
Use three columns: disputed item, the difference and supporting record. Keep questions specific, such as which room was measured or why a repair operation is absent. Bring this list, both complete estimates and the supporting photos to a professional review.
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