Even adjust during hail－ajmshea的部落格

Do Contractors Make Good Adjusters$%: In my opinion, contractors make great adjusters.

Why$%:

Adjusters that come from the contracting industry have some distinct advantages over adjusters coming in from other fields.

A little example

#1 They are already familiar with construction and the materials used, and the terms or descriptive phrases.

#2 They already know what IS damage and what IS NOT damage, and the operations involved to repair or replace damaged items.

#3 They're used to the physical labor, and are familiar with ladders and ladder safety involving roofs.

Most recent examples:

#4 They are already familiar with necessary tools.

#5 They have the home town advantage...a job that you can fall back on when not working as an adjuster. (I know many adjusters that are roofers, and they adjust during major hurricanes and tornados and work as roofers during hail season...although some will even adjust during hail season.)

Of course, for contractors transitioning into adjusting, there will be a learning curve in the beginning. But if you can get your mind set to the change, you can be very successful making the transition. Some of the important differences that must be taken into account are:

Learn that an insurance estimate and a contractor's estimate are very different in appearance. We're not talking money here; we're talking appearance or form. Most contractors will write an estimate that is either lump sum or it will have operations only briefly broken down. For example a roofer's estimate might say R/R 20 yr 3 tab comp shingle 30 sqs, X amount of dollars, price includes all fees and debris haul off. Everything included in the replacement of that roof is reflected in the lump sum price (all material, labor, O/P, taxes etc).

Although this works for the roofer, this type of estimate will not work for the insurance carrier. What they will want in their estimate is more of a broken down estimate that distinctly shows and details the tear off (labor operation only) and then the replacement of the SAME type of roof (no upgrades). The replacement will include materials, and labor to install.

Some carriers will ask for it to be broken down even further in regards to materials for a true component estimate (example: shingles, felt, valley metal, drip edge, pipe flashings, ridge and hip shingles...ALL separate line items). The material tax will be added on the end of the estimate, which will give the end price.

The dress code will be considerably different. Most insurance carriers will frown on blue jeans and tennis shoes. You will have to get used to a docker type dress pant and if tennis shoes are worn, they have to be black or a dark color. Company shirts and caps will be required (no fishing/hunting caps allowed).

Organization will be different - you will be calling insured, setting appts for your inspections, inspecting the loss and writing the estimate for the settlement with very little lag time.

This one is the big one...POLICY. Is this damage covered$%: Is the damage the result of the storm event$%: One of the hardest things for a contractor to do is to stop and put that into perspective. I know because I was the same. I came out of the contracting industry and when someone called for an estimate to repair or replace something, all I saw is the damage and what it would take to fix it. In the insurance world though, you can't do that.

The roof might be old and tired and really needs to be replaced, but if it's not damaged by the event you cannot replace it. Same goes for maintenance issues. (If the soffit and fascia are rotted, or the windows all leak because they haven't been caulked since the house was built, or all of the roof boots are cracked and worn, allowing water to run into the interior, etc...there is NO COVERAGE. The Policy is NOT a maintenance policy. It is for coverages that are sudden and accidental, and the result of specific perils that are spelled out in the policy.