Getting the depreciation check released.
Why that second check sits with the insurance company. And what moves it.
1. Two payments, not one
Most policies pay in two parts. First they pay ACV. That is the job's value, minus wear and age. Later, once the work is done, they can pay the rest. That second part is the depreciation check.
2. What gets you the second check
The work has to be done. Proof has to reach the carrier. Usually that means a completion certificate and the final invoice. Until that lands with the right adjuster, the check does not move.
3. The deadline lives in the policy
Some policies set a window to claim it. That window is not the same on every policy. Check the policy. Do not guess. A job that sits too long can lose that money for good.
4. The deductible comes first
In Texas, the homeowner pays the deductible. A contractor cannot waive it. Cannot rebate it. On insurance jobs over $1,000, the contract must say so in writing. Carriers can ask for proof it was paid before they send the last check.
5. What gets a stuck check moving
- The completion certificate, sent to the right adjuster.
- Proof the deductible was paid, if asked.
- A follow-up call, then another, until someone answers.
Most shops never send that third step. The file sits until someone chases it.
General information, not legal advice. We send paperwork and ask for status. We never negotiate scope, price or coverage with a carrier. We are not a public adjuster. Source: Texas Department of Insurance.