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Last Post 03/13/2010 9:13 AM by  roofmates
2010 going to be a make or break year for a lot of adjusters
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Bobabooey
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02/18/2010 3:24 PM

    Savings accounts are running dry.  Large winter storms did not produce much work for one reason or another.  A slow spring could mean trouble for a lot of us.  Not really the best time to be hitting the job market either.  Come on large hail storm.  We are counting on you.

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    freebob
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    02/18/2010 4:43 PM
    No kidding, Boba. Things have gotten quite slow for the last half of 09 and now starting 2010. Hail yes, big stuff, soon. I can only hope that they let us IA's have apiece, big one, of it or will they send their staff adjusters in. I've investing 13 years and alot in "state of the art" tools. If the season drops dead I'll be looking to sell my equipment for survival.
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    Ol' Ghost
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    02/18/2010 4:58 PM
    Ahhh, the old adage of feast or famine. I was just let off of standby, myself. Was this big, bad winter storm yet another media event, or have the carriers staffed it themselves, or have the claims yet to be reported?

    Would the other grapes on this grapevine care to offer their assessment?

    Ol' Ghost
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    rhanson.mpi
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    02/18/2010 6:17 PM

    With the amount of snow they had out east I'm sure the local staffers and IA's are keeping busy.  But probably not enough claims to deploy adusters from outside that area.  They'll see a couple of garage roof collapses and some ice dam damage.  Plus some water in the basement type claims, which are usually not covered.  Some good work for the locals to keep busy until the wind/hail storms start blowing.

    Waiting up here in Minnesota for the 2' to 3' of snow on the ground to melt fast and creat some water in the basement claims.

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    brighton
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    02/18/2010 6:25 PM

    Ghost,

    Winter storms are more fickle than a hurricane. Lots of snow normally does not equate to a lot of claims. It has been mentioned before in other posts that if it snows then warms up allowing all the snow to melt, there will not be a large number of claims. Ice daming can be good for a number of claims but you need the freeze, thaw, freeze cycle for that to occur. You may get some trees that snapped that hit the house and the few collapses. Auto is the best bet.

    Another thing is the direct repair programs that carriers have. If an insured calls in a claim, odds are that they are offered the services of one of the carriers contractors thus negating the need for staff or i/a to go out and inspect. You mentioned the carriers handling it themselves. Allstate has gone on a hiring spree for more national cat staff.

    This profession has gotten to the point that if the average appraiser/scoper works two months our of the year I believe that would be amazing. I know that there are those who love to brag that they have been out since 1992 and have not been home since. That is not the norm as we all know. I hear from friends that are still in this business and they say that the daily claims for the last 6 months have decreased and not much of an increase with the weather.

    Who knows, make or break is the word for it. Very similar to what happened after 2006. Got real slow and the only saving grace was 2008.

     

    Rocke Baker
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    tejasjayb
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    02/18/2010 9:22 PM
    Just got back from Oregon and Washington working winter freeze claims..... No shortage of claims for the 7 weeks I was up there...... '10 is off to a great start for us....The bank account is in fine shape in case the spring hail never materializes this year....I worked MI in Janaury last year, KY ice in Feb-Mar. TX hail in April, TX floods in May and KS hail June-Sept, TX floods in Oct & Nov .... Back on standby for a haz-mat situation, but really not looking to go back out anytime soon!
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    Tex Walker
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    02/18/2010 11:20 PM
    Tejasjayb.. I have to agree with you as well !! I'm up to my eyeballs in claims in Northern and Southern California with claims.. 2010 has started off with a bang. Around this time every year for the past you will always hear the doom n gloom about .. we better have a hail storm to pull us through spring.
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    bufordgonzales
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    02/19/2010 11:37 AM
    The Carriers are being run by a bunch of accountant PIN HEADS that have no vision. They save money in the short run by allowing the contractors to write the estimate. The contractor realizes there is no Outside Adjuster to deal with, the prices start to jump, then the Carrier gets wise and brings us back. The problem is, a large number of us have become disillusioned and have moved on to other jobs. One of those jobs is PUBLIC ADJUSTER. (I am trying to decide if I need to jump on that side of the fence before the field gets too crowded.)
    Oh, and the PUBLIC ADJUSTER makes it harder to be an IA Adjuster and once again the costs increase. Our job becomes more difficult and the Carriers try to lower the amount paid to the IA Firms. (Check out the new price schedule for Cats that USAA is willing to pay this year.)

    OH Well!!!!!
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    Ray Hall
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    02/19/2010 1:54 PM

    Don,t fret the line to work USAA losses on cat. goes all the way around the USAA complex and stops at I-10, and if they (standers) don,t go home at night the fee bills will drop again.

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    jlouden
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    02/19/2010 3:14 PM

    No buford, you're wrong.  It's not accounting pin heads, its empowered desk adjusters.  The contractors go out, supply photos, write up an estimate then send it to the desk guy.  If your desk guy knows constrution and how to use estimating software, why in the hell does he need to drop money on an IA?

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    Ray Hall
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    02/19/2010 5:28 PM

    Thats the game plan save as much cost on adjusting expense as possible any way you can.Adjusting expense is not allowed in the loss column for rate increases, losses are. claim cost is a  direct bottom line cost of business.  Salary, office and perks is the only thing the industry has any control over.I  think a few very large auto carriers have a lawfirm that is a direct offshoot. This is probably why many carriers are are staffing up. as they will save money on outside vendors cost, quality control is not the main driving factor, again a guess.

    Photo,s with a throw away camera, digital email and 2 bids will resolve most water claims in a dwelling with the homemaker and never get Mr. involved when they are sent to the national claims adjuster at the end of any computer desk  any place in the world .Regular claims account  are 50% clear water claims. The water suckers seem to have this well in hand. The also do temp board up, Smoke, Fire, Packout contents clean etc.

    What the industry really needs is "clerk of the works" to keep an eye on the free help...... But that is a non recoverable cost and thats what the staff  QC person does.

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    Olegred
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    02/19/2010 6:40 PM
    strongest survive... I suggest, you guys get a job at Mcds.... It'll pull you thru the rest of your life... or ask Ghost how to get unemployment checks... :)
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    Ray Hall
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    02/19/2010 7:03 PM

    olegred you may learn the higher you climb the pole, the more AH you show, and the fall is more brutaln but keep hitting clean up in the minors and the majors may give you a try out.

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    bufordgonzales
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    02/19/2010 11:50 PM
    Jlouden, would that be the Safeco Desk adjuster that insists that there is no waste on Drywall, or the USAA desk adjuster that thinks Chicken Coops are covered. Only 10% of the Desk adjusters have been out in the field now a days and half of those are inside because they couldn't cut it in the field as far as I can tell.
    I expect to hear a very loud popping sound soon when you get around to seeking fresh air.
    Think about it!!!! It will take you some time and a few of your buddies explaining it, but it will come to you!!!!
    Ray, the quality of the adjusters in that line will decrease as the fee drops. You've seen the Independent Adjusters that will write a ceiling shadow up as a water damaged room and gut it, I know you have. Olegred is probably one of them.
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    Bobabooey
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    02/20/2010 9:25 AM
    Olegred sounds like a 24 year old kid who thinks he is a good adjuster. Ask him to work a complicated commercial theft claim and he would piss his pants. He knows how to draw circles on a roof with chalk and can work one computer program.
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    Olegred
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    02/20/2010 7:33 PM
    I, probably, would.... but then , who didn't?
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    dryeager213@yahoo.com
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    02/21/2010 10:59 AM

    Every year is a make it or break it year for most. The cream rises to the top. Most adjusters ruin their health, marriage, and bank account within three years. Stick around, know policy, and write good estimates, work will be there. 

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    Ray Hall
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    02/21/2010 11:42 AM

    Amen brother a perfect message for this cat. adjuster church and very timely.

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    Olegred
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    02/22/2010 2:02 AM
    Amen, i agree 100%
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    Olegred
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    02/22/2010 2:02 AM
    Amen, i agree 100%
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