Quick Start: Umpire
What to do when you are selected as umpire on an appraisal, from selection through signing the panel declaration.
You'll learn
- What the umpire path looks like end to end
- How to read an umpire brief when you receive one
- How umpire inspections get scheduled
- What to do when you reach an award and need to sign the panel declaration
You were selected as umpire on an appraisal because two appraisers disagree on the loss amount. Your job is to break the tie. Many umpires are also working appraisers, so you may already have an AwardLettr account. If not, the parts of this flow that touch you do not require one.
The umpire path, end to end
Selection
You receive an email inviting you to serve as umpire on a specific file.
Brief review
One or both appraisers send you an umpire brief summarizing the dispute.
Schedule inspection
You schedule your own inspection of the property, with both appraisers present.
Reach award
You sign with one of the appraisers to form a binding two-of-three award.
Sign panel declaration
All three panel members sign the panel declaration in parallel.
When you receive the umpire selection
You will get an email from one of the appraisers naming you as the proposed umpire. If the other side accepts, you are confirmed. From that point you should expect one or both appraisers to send you their position.
Reading the umpire brief
An umpire brief is a structured one-sided summary of the case, sent to you by one appraiser to get you oriented quickly. It typically covers loss facts, scope disputes, pricing disputes, and that appraiser's requested award. You will often receive two briefs, one from each side. Read both before you form an opinion.
The brief is not the case
Scheduling the umpire inspection
As umpire you typically pick a date that works for both appraisers and the insured. Coordinate by email or phone. AwardLettr does not require you to use the platform for this step, but if you do have an AwardLettr account you can use your own availability zones to propose times.
Signing the panel declaration
Once the panel has reached an award, the originating appraiser sends the panel declaration through SignWell to all three signers at once. You sign in parallel with the other two, not in any required order. After all three sign, every signer receives a copy of the executed document by email and the originating workspace stores it in the file.
No software install required
Common pitfalls
- •Mistaking the umpire brief for a binding document. It is a one-sided summary from one appraiser, intended to orient you.
- •Waiting on the panel declaration. All three signers sign in parallel, not sequentially, so do not delay because you think someone else has to go first.
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