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caddodream
USA
12 Posts |
 Posted - 06/16/2003 : 12:53:59
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I am new to adjusting and I am bilingual. I would like some opinions on whether I should look at continuing my education in Auto, or Real-Property. Previously I was a custom builder for about 9 years so property is more appealing to me, however not having experience I feel I should go where the demand is greatest and I can get the industry experience I need. I am located near Dallas. All opinions appreciated.
patty t |
Edited by - caddodream on 06/19/2003 22:30:10 |
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deward1
USA
11 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2003 : 07:57:26
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| Patty you're continuing education should be in spelling. In response to your question, proper auto appraisal requires three times the knowledge that property requires. I have much experience in both. I financed a body shop for my brother many years ago and spent the next 5 years learning to write a good estimate, and I am not a slow learner. Property appraisal is common sense. If an interior wall is damaged, you replace the baseboard, drywall, texture, paint, and any other trim that might be present. All items are generic and are priced accordingly, in the database that is "cheap", when compared to the price of an auto database. I can glance at an auto appraisal and tell you in 10 seconds if the individual knows auto repair procedure. Also auto adjusting pays about 1/3 what property adjusting pays. |
Edited by - deward1 on 06/19/2003 08:03:23 |
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jlombardo
USA
212 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2003 : 06:35:20
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TO DEWARD 1
Just an FYI, Most of us are NOT PROPERTY APPRAISERS and we DO NOT WRITE PROPERTY APPRAISALS.......WE ARE PROPERTY ADJUSTERS.......GOT IT???????
OH, IF I HAVE TO EXPLAIN, YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND ANYWAY...... |
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yumadj
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2003 : 15:42:07
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Bi Lingual adjusters are a real plus in the southwest. Property adjusting is the easiest to enter..particularly with your background. You can get Texas licensing through Leonards Adjusting School in a 40 hour course. However, you will be climbing those steep Texas roofs. Good luck. By the way..I didn't see any spelling errors in your post.
Another thing you might do is set up an adjuster translating service at reasonable rates. I sure need something like that. |
Jeff Finley |
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caddodream
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2003 : 16:07:54
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Thanks guys for the information, and I am enrolled in the Leonard Class starting tomorrow morning. I have, since posting received responses from a couple of insurance companies and,even a response from a roofing company.
I have decided to stick with property adjusting over auto, and I did understand that it was not "appraisal", I just did not want correct his english. He was so kind to point out on my first post that my spelling was not correct. But for all of the positive remarks and direction, thank you so much. All of your advise is greatly appreciated.
10 Year Member of the American Red Cross Disaster Services.
patty
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American Red Cross Chapter needs your support. |
Edited by - caddodream on 06/22/2003 16:10:45 |
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CSA Cavalier
2 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2003 : 18:11:17
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Hey Deward,
If you're gonna correct someone you should at least show 'em where they made their mistake. Your first sentence is sarcastic, rude, and arrogant as you failed to substantiate your careless remark.
Patty,
If you've been around this internet thing long enough then you know that some folks just forget their manners when they sit in front of a monitor.
I think you made the right choice based on your background. I have found that there is one big difference between auto adjusters and property adjusters. Auto is empirical and property is subjective.
The auto guys have all these books telling 'em that a fender or quarter panel costs "x" amount for parts and requires "y" number of hours based on "z" amount of labor. Easy. My grandmother could be an auto adjuster with the right books.
When adjusting property claims you have no set books that everyone uses. You only have local price guides for material and labor. During a cat situation the labor costs become so high that you need a ladder to get to the top of a contractor's estimate. The material costs for a square of 3 tab shingles will rarely change due to a cat. But you will find that the total cost per square of roofing is a sliding scale during a storm that rises ever upward due to the increased costs of labor (also due to increased greed on the contractor's part, but we don't say that out loud).
That's when the fun begins: negotiation. And, to me, it is the fun part of this job. A good property adjuster is also a good people person and a good salesman (or salesperson, this PC stuff gets me confused).
Besides, if you find that property isn't for you then you can always go to auto later on, you know, the dark side. |
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Kelley
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2003 : 18:12:26
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 patty,
There are those in hear at cado who just love to jump at peoples spelling & grammer, I think it must them feel important.
There are many great people here at cado, do not judge us all buy the butts. Maybe we should start a "Grammer & Spelling" forum for those people who have a concern for such things in their "off time".
We are not writting reports in here to be judged, we are often taking a few free minutes we may have at hand to share, to seek advice or just hear a "friendly" word.
I don't check my spelling when posting in here & don't intend to, my grammer..... well I talk "texan" so that should tell you something.
The first thing you need to get started in this field of "adjusting" is to obtain a lic., which you are fixing to do. You really will not learn much of anything you will need at these schools. They will teach you the parts of a policy but not much more. There are several training schools out there, these are often helpful. There are several servicing agencies that take on "trainees", these are very helpful. It can be a hard business, there are lots of "old professionals" that forget that they to were "newbies" at one time, ignore these folks and you will be better off.
You will get a lot of productive advice, guidance & support at this site from the guys and gals that are "real professionals" and are not afraid of "newbies".
Hang in there.
Kelley |
One persons dream is another persons nightmare. |
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caddodream
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2003 : 19:38:12
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Thanks so much for all the great advice. I finished my class 27 June and will be sending of for my cert. in the next week or so. I still have a few Newbie questions and would love some seasoned advice. I am needing to buy a new lap top and I will be restricted to buying a dell (financing). Can someone please give me some advice on how much memory and speed are needed to be efficiant running both Xactimate and Intregra. I know enough about buying computers to be dangerous.:)
thanks again.
patty
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American Red Cross Chapter needs your support. |
Edited by - caddodream on 06/28/2003 19:41:42 |
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jlombardo
USA
212 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2003 : 07:41:30
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Patty,
Go to www.xactware.com and there is info on minimum requirements... try going to your local CompUSA.....they are fairly knowledgable and willing to help........try and get something that will be over and avove minimum requirements.......senmd a e-mail to Chuck Deacon on this site ---he sounds like he is fairly knowledgeable........OH, congrats on the class----you get'em girl.... |
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Tom Toll
USA
154 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2003 : 10:38:02
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Get a laptop with at least a 17" svga screen, 2.0 gig hard drive, 528 megs of ram. Dell is a good PC, as is Compaq and HP. My wife and I have all Compaq Presarios and love them. Property adjusting presents more of a challenge, partucularly if you get into commercial losses. Be sure and post your resume and credentials on CADO. I love seeing more ladies getting into this profession. I am mentoring 5 new adjusters, so if you need help, just e-mail me. After 43 years in this business, I hope I have learned something.
Good luck with your new adventure. You will need a Digital Camera too. Consider a Sony Mavica camera with at least a 10X lens and wide angle lens.
By the way, your spelling was correct. I have no idea what the poster was talking about, obviously he did not either. Spelling in reports is important. I see your grammer is good and spelling is good, so no problem. The end result of property adjusting is the report, so try and do well there. Pretend you are the examiner when you do reports. Makes it easier to do.
[;)] |
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katadj
USA
315 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2003 : 22:24:49
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| Recommend a 2.0+ Mzh Speed, with 1028 Megs Ram and a 40+ gig Hard Drive, 15" or better screen size. Also get a CDRW installed. |
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Bilingual Adjuster
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