Question 1

What does a supplement actually change on a job?

Accepted Answer

A well-cited supplement recovers legitimate line items the carrier estimate missed: code-required upgrades, manufacturer spec gaps, and scope the adjuster didn't measure. Every added line is anchored to an IICRC clause, code section, or manufacturer spec the carrier can't dismiss without a written rebuttal. You keep the production work — we own the documentation load.

Question 2

Do you replace our relationship with the carrier?

Accepted Answer

No. GDB works in the background on your behalf — the contractor of record stays on the job, carrier correspondence comes to you, and we don't insert ourselves into your pricing or trade decisions. You (or your public adjuster) decide what to submit, when, and how. We hand you the package — you keep the relationship.

Question 3

Why does GDB's IICRC and Xactimate credentialing matter to me?

Accepted Answer

Because the carrier's adjuster carries those same credentials, and a supplement that doesn't speak back at that level gets denied. IICRC triple master + Xactimate Level 3 means the rebuttal language, code citations, and moisture-map evidence we write meet the adjuster at parity — which is what actually moves disputes, not just adding more line items.

Question 4

Engaging GDB doesn't step on my role as the PA, does it?

Accepted Answer

No. Engagement is structured so the public adjuster remains the policyholder-facing lead. GDB delivers the technical deliverables — scope, estimate, supplement package, rebuttal language — and you keep the claim strategy, the homeowner communication, and the carrier negotiation. Think of us as an extension of your estimating bench, not a competing channel.

Question 5

How fast can a supplement package turn around on an active claim?

Accepted Answer

A typical Scope Review lands in 3–5 business days, a Full Estimate & Supplement in 7–10 business days once the photo set or site visit is complete, and Ongoing Rebuttal Support items turn inside 2 business days from the dispute notice. Turnaround is sized at intake so the claim clock drives the queue, not the other way around.

Question 6

Can you support appraisal or litigation-stage claims?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Expert Consultation engagement is built for appraisal umpire support, deposition preparation, UM/UIM testimony, and bad-faith case narratives — credentialed third-party reports keyed to IICRC S500/S520, the governing IRC/IBC edition, and manufacturer specs. We work as a technical witness for the policyholder side, never for the carrier.

Question 7

Who pays for GDB's work — me or the carrier?

Accepted Answer

You pay GDB directly. Our fees are not part of the insurance settlement and the carrier does not reimburse them — engagement is per-claim flat fee or a monthly retainer, billed at the start of the work. The upside: a credible supplement usually increases the claim payout well beyond the fee, so the net to the homeowner is positive on most claims we take.

Question 8

Does GDB speak to the carrier on my behalf?

Accepted Answer

Not directly. We prepare the documentation — written gap analyses, supplement packages, rebuttal narratives — that you or your public adjuster submit to the carrier. We don't insert ourselves between you and the adjuster, and we don't negotiate your settlement. The work product is yours to send when you're ready.

Question 9

What's your service area?

Accepted Answer

GDB is a Minneapolis–St. Paul independent consultancy, and the bulk of our work is in the Twin Cities metro — on-site visits are scheduled inside that geography. Remote engagements on out-of-area losses (photo-driven scope and supplement work) are reviewed case by case once the photo set is complete.

Question 10

What engagement tiers are available, and which one fits me?

Accepted Answer

Three tiers: Scope Review ($450–$750) when you have a draft and want a credentialed gap analysis; Full Estimate & Supplement ($1,800–$4,250) when you need a complete Xactimate build-out and a submission-ready package; Ongoing Rebuttal Support ($950/month) for an active claim in recurring dispute. The 15-minute intake picks the right tier before any dollar figure is committed.

Question 11

After I start an intake, how long until work actually begins?

Accepted Answer

Intake is reviewed the same business day it arrives. You get a scoped response — confirming tier, fee, and timeline — within one business day. Work starts once you approve the scope; deliverable turnaround then runs on the engagement schedule (typically 3–10 business days, depending on tier and photo availability).

Answers to the top questions contractors, public adjusters, and homeowners ask before engaging.

For Contractors

For Public Adjusters

For Homeowners

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