Well guys and gals, I don't know if you have heard. The nationwide flood contract was acquired by NFS and Nationwide is expecting all flood claims to be written in Xactimate 25. I took on some and I can say is; I once had hair and I guess this will save me on haircuts. I have been certified to write with it, but as most of the adjusters raised on Simsol, I did the best to avoid the program. It takes 3 times as long to write a file. This may change as I get use to working the program. I still think I can safely say it is a time hog.

JR, I can say I was just like you, except I was an Integraphyle. I wanted to train on Xm8 because of all the companies saying they required it. After taking 3 classes I felt like a total idiot. Of course I could go and take the Advanced classes but I decided I would wait till I had the chance to practice with it a little. At a cert class put on by Renfro, the trainer put on an unscheduled impromtu class. I learned more from him in 30 minutes than all the classes I took put together. My point is, the program is not the problem, Its the available training. I now use Xm8 and can do a claim with photos sketch and narrative in 15-20 minutes. Of course the more complicated claims may take longer, buts I'm comperable to what I could do with Integra. I suggest getting the training DVD, or finding someone who is proficient with the shortcuts. 

I still feel sort of stupid periodically, But not a total idiot anymore.

JWG

First I would like to thank Gary for his comments and guidance. John, I feel Simsol borders on genius and I appreciate the way the program works and performs for me.

Trust me on this one, Jim. Simsol is much easier to use than either Xactimate or IntegraClaim, and the final product meets or exceeds that of Xactimate. I am proficient at all three, so I know whereof I speak. Xactimate is a time hog even when you know the shortcuts. Among the principal differences, generally speaking, is that Xactimate sketch and other Xactimate features often try to tell you what to do. In order to make it do what you need it to do, you have to figure out how to overide the defaults. Simsol does what you want it to do. For an experienced adjuster, this is a major bonus. I have been a Simsol cheerleader and will continue to be one.

As many know, I have recently taken a staff position as property claims analyst with a carrier. We have no outside property adjusters, so we exclusively use independents for field work. Among my responsibilities is to set the standards for my company's assignments to independent adjusters. Those standards will not include dictating which estimating program an IA must use. Those who we hire can use Xactimate, Integraclaim, Simsol, or Powerclaim. We do, however, demand that they both know what they are doing and do it with all diligence.  We are more interested in the quality of the adjuster's knowledge and experience than their data inputting skill with a particular program. When I review a file I can tell whether something does not belong in an estimate (or whether something is missing) without having the estimating system place a little asterix after any item changed from the database. This ability came with a lot of years of training and actual work in the field. I don't believe an estimating program can compensate for that training and experience.

In other words, in the hopes of hanging out some sort of slim hope, not all of us have yet drunk the Kool Aid.

I wonder how long it will be before some smart attorney figures out that having an insurance related company (ISO) with a virtual monopoly on the services they provide in control of an contractor's estimating software company (Xactware) with a virtual monopoly can be construed as an attempt at price fixing by the insurance industry. Whether the charge is true or not, the potential fallout to those insurance carriers who are demanding that Xactimate must be used to determine pricing on insurance claims could cost billions. I wonder if those costs have been figured in to the bean counters' calculations (He asked rhetorically)?

This thread is the first I have heard that NFS won the NFIP contract. There is so much I could say to that, but won't. Think I'll go buy myself a black suit, though, so I can properly mourn.

Please let me clairy; I was saying that NFS (which is a servicing company) won the bid to handle Nationwide Flood Claims. This happens every year, a Carrier will go with the lowest bid to service their Flood claims nationwide.

Well you all thought I would have an opine on NFS and xactimate. NFS first, well we all know the federal govt is in charge of all flood policys and what would expect. I resisted xactimate all my career. I never worked for a vendor that required it as the ONLY program. In 2006  my commitment to family , vendors, carriers not to travel on storms was made. In 18 months with all the qualifications I had on all property and liability claims regular work was very slow; WITHOUT using xactimate. In December 2007 I caved and have picked up some simple losses in my area BECAUSE I a have xactimate.

It is more difficult to learn on the fly than any program and I do not recommend it. I can see that the program is loved by the public adjusters and the water suckers as you can write a 50 page estimate on a kitchen grease fire and it sails right through.

On the next monster flood event try to guess how many pages of named defendants will be listed in the  lawsuits. Since we are discussing company practice and software programs it may come out to be 80% of all the carriers and some of the decision makers if they can find them.

Perhaps I am even more confused than you think. I read the original post as saying that Nationwide Financial Services (NFS) won the flood contract and they were requiring the use of Xactimate for all flood claims.

Did you mean that NFS or another NFS?

If Nationwide Financial Services won a contract to handle Nationwide Insurance flood claims, that is hardly surprising since they are the same company.

So, just how confused am I?  Somebody set me straight.