Three Factors That Actually Drive Faster Claim Resolution

After analyzing our last 15,000 closed restoration claims, the data points to a clear playbook for contractors who want to get paid faster and at a higher percentage.

5 minute read • OCS Claims Intelligence

At One Claim Solution, every claim we work tells a story. Multiply that by tens of thousands of files, and patterns start to emerge. We recently dug into recent closed-claim data to answer a deceptively simple question: what actually predicts a claim that closes quickly and pays out at the highest percentage of the invoiced amount? The answer comes down to three factors. None of them are surprising on their own. Together, they form a playbook.

1. Claim type has the strongest relationship with speed and collection rate

Specialty claim types consistently outperform general water mitigation. Claims for Testing, Mold, Storage, Pack Out, Reset, and Additional Living Expenses (ALE) collect between 85% and 96% of invoiced amounts and often close in 30 to 50 days. Water Mitigation, the most common claim type in our portfolio, collects closer to 74% and takes longer to settle.

Why? Specialty work tends to be tightly scoped, well documented, and harder for carriers to dispute line by line. The lesson for contractors: when you handle a job that includes these specialty components, invoice them as distinct claims rather than burying them inside a larger mitigation file.

2. Smaller invoices clear the system dramatically faster

Claims under $5,000 collect 85% on average and close in a 41-day median. Once invoices cross the $15,000 mark, collection drops into the low 70s and the timeline more than doubles. Above $100,000, the median climbs past 120 days.

The under-$5K band collects 10 to 14 percentage points more than larger invoices, and closes two to three times faster.

This does not mean contractors should cap their invoices. It means that when a project legitimately splits into smaller billable phases, doing so accelerates cash flow and protects the collection rate.

3. The carrier on the other side matters more than most contractors realize

We avoid playing favorites publicly, but the data is unambiguous: carriers fall into roughly three tiers based on how they handle restoration invoices.

Faster resolution carriers (about a quarter of major carriers) consistently settles in under 40 days at collection rates above 78%. These are typically larger national property and casualty carriers and a handful of newer digital-first insurers.

Standard resolution carriers (the broad middle) pays well, around 73 to 78%, but takes 50 to 70 days to get there. This is where the majority of restoration volume sits.

High friction carriers includes specialty, surplus, and a few legacy regional carriers that average under 70% collection and routinely push past 90 days.

Contractors cannot pick their customers’ insurance companies. But knowing which tier a claim falls into lets you set realistic expectations, prioritize follow-up, and engage advocacy support earlier when the claim warrants it.

The bottom line: contractors who document specialty work clearly, invoice in well-scoped phases, and adjust follow-up strategy by carrier behavior collect more, faster. Our advocates apply this playbook every day on behalf of the restoration companies we serve. If you want to see how your portfolio stacks up against these benchmarks, we can show you.