Ask for a line-by-line comparison that separates price differences from missing work or different quantities. Support local repair costs with detailed bids and evidence of the work needed, then request review rather than relying only on competing totals.
Have an estimate, denial or repair bill you want reviewed? Contact GB Claims at 845-456-6699.
Totals argue; lines negotiate
“The insurer says 40, my contractor says 60” goes nowhere by itself. What moves the number is a line-by-line comparison. Often the gap is not really labor rates: it is missing tasks, different quantities, or different materials assumed on each side. Price the same work before arguing about the rate.
Where labor rate differences come from
Insurers typically price estimates with software that uses regional rate surveys. Contractors price from their actual crews, schedules and subcontractor bids. In busy local markets, real rates run above database rates. Neither number is automatically right; the question is what the work actually costs where you live.
What supports your side
- A detailed, itemized bid from the contractor who will do the work, not a one-line total.
- More than one local bid when the gap is large.
- Documentation of anything unusual: access problems, code requirements, matching materials, occupied-home constraints.
FAQ
Are estimating-software prices final?
No. They are the insurer’s starting point. Documented local costs can and do change them, especially with itemized bids from real contractors.
Should I get another detailed bid?
If the gap is significant, yes. Two or three itemized local bids make the market rate hard to argue with. Make sure each bid prices the same scope.
Next step
Send us both estimates. We will build the line-by-line comparison and tell you where the real differences are. 845-456-6699.
Have an estimate, denial or repair bill you want reviewed? Contact GB Claims at 845-456-6699 or Claims@GBclaims.com. We’re open 24 hours Sunday through Friday and closed Saturday.
GB Claims LLC is a licensed public adjuster serving New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
Sources
- Connecticut Insurance Department: homeowner disputing an insurer damage estimate
- Texas Department of Insurance: what to do if insurance is not paying enough (general guidance)
This page is general educational information, not legal advice or a determination of coverage under your policy. Your policy and state rules control.
Reviewed by the GB Claims claims team, licensed public adjusters in NY, NJ, PA, CT. Last reviewed: October 8, 2026.