You filed your Hurricane Helene claim. The adjuster came out, walked around for 20 minutes, and sent you an estimate. Then you got a contractor quote — and the numbers are nowhere near each other. The adjuster says $12,000. The contractor says $47,000.
This is one of the most common situations SC homeowners face after a major storm, and it can feel like a dead end. It isn't. You have real options to challenge a lowball estimate, and exercising those options — especially with legal support — frequently results in a much better outcome.
Most insurer-deployed adjusters use estimating software — most commonly Xactimate — that generates repair costs based on regional averages. After a catastrophic storm like Helene, local labor shortages and supply chain pressure drive actual costs well above those averages. The software doesn't update in real time, and adjusters using it produce estimates that are systematically low for post-storm conditions.
After a major event, adjusters handle dozens of claims simultaneously. Inspections that should take two to three hours are done in twenty minutes. Attics go uninspected. Crawl spaces are skipped. Interior damage from moisture intrusion is overlooked. Damage that isn't visible from the ground — roof damage, soffit damage, underlying structural issues — simply doesn't make it into the estimate.
This is important to understand: the adjuster your insurance company sends to your property works for your insurance company. Their job is to assess the loss accurately, but they are also operating within a system that has financial incentives to keep claim payments low. That doesn't mean they're dishonest — but it does mean their estimate deserves independent scrutiny.
The most important thing you can do is get your own estimates from licensed local contractors. Get at least two or three estimates from contractors who know local labor rates and building code requirements. These become the foundation of any dispute.
You have the right to request that your insurer conduct a second inspection, particularly if the first inspection was rushed or incomplete. When requesting a re-inspection, document specifically what was missed — and if possible, have your own contractor present during the re-inspection to point out damage the adjuster overlooked.
If you have independent estimates or documentation of damage that wasn't included in the original estimate, you can submit a supplemental claim — essentially a formal request that the insurer revise its estimate upward based on new information. Supporting the supplement with contractor estimates, photos, and any expert reports strengthens your position.
If your policy contains an appraisal clause and the dispute is over the value of a covered loss, you can invoke appraisal. Each party selects an independent appraiser; if they can't agree, a neutral umpire decides. This process is faster than litigation and frequently results in significantly higher settlements. See our separate guide to the appraisal process for more detail.
An attorney can review your policy, evaluate the adjuster's estimate against your documentation, and advise on whether to negotiate, invoke appraisal, or file suit. Most property damage attorneys — including Property People Law — work on contingency, so there's no upfront cost.
• Don't accept and deposit a payment check without reading it carefully — some checks are issued with "full and final settlement" language that may limit your ability to seek more.
• Don't make permanent repairs before the insurer has had a reasonable opportunity to inspect — you may inadvertently destroy evidence of the damage.
• Don't wait too long — South Carolina has a three-year statute of limitations for insurance claims, and policy provisions may impose shorter deadlines for invoking appraisal or filing suit.
Property People Law represents South Carolina policyholders on a contingency basis — no fee unless we recover money for you. If your insurer has lowballed, denied, or dragged out your Hurricane Helene claim, contact us today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Call (844) 776-7364 or visit propertypeoplelaw.com.