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ChuckDeaton
USA
373 Posts |
 Posted - 08/04/2003 : 16:34:17
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| Has anyone figured out just how many net residential roofs an adjuster has to climb to pay for DDS/MSB. I figure it is about 50. |
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Tom Toll
USA
154 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2003 : 19:21:23
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| Chuck you must be working for peanuts and candy. If you can't pay for I/C in three days, and probably two days, (and thats for a full year), then your in the wrong business. We have macros set up and understand the program as much as anyone with I/C. We don't sit around when there is nothing to do. We create a test file and learn as much as possible about the system. Learning your system should be a priority instead of sitting on ones keester and watching TV. |
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LAW1526
USA
43 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2003 : 22:07:47
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Tom I can set up the macros, I just have not been able to get the system to hold the prices in the macros. If you can tell me how to hold the prices please let me know.
Thanks Len |
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ChuckDeaton
USA
373 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2003 : 09:05:23
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Tom, we are all working for "peanuts and candy". Note my comments about the flood schedule, I don't know how old it is, but it must be about 10 years. $1,620 a year to lease software is too much. Food, fuel, vehicles, insurance, paper, ink, computers have all gone up in price.
Rather than endlessly practicing with I/C, my suggestion would be to practice some with a good book keeping program and see if you can determine what your "net" per residential hail claim is or your "net" per flood no claim.
Nationwide is blitzing several zip codes in Columbus, OH and is paying $70 gross for a roof inspection. What do you figure you would "net" per claim and how many risks would you have to climb on to pay for I/C.
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trader
USA
236 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2003 : 11:38:50
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| I always found my expenses on the road, including wear out was about 1/4 of my gross fee bills. On the zip code roof blitz, minimum of $70.00 per house with my hard push to close and inspect 8 EVERY day , times 7, plus my complete walk around inspection all the ceramic ducks be polite,professional type, divide my 14 hour work days by $560. is $40.00 per hour without expenses. No thanks I will stay at home and keep working as a temp Auto BI adjuster for $30.00 per hour and 2 hours overtime. |
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BuckyS
14 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2003 : 12:27:06
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| Trader I think when Chuck was talking about $70 gross he was talking gross before the I/A vendor takes their share which is somewhere between 30 and 50 percent, so your portion would be $35 to $49 per roof. But like you I would find something else to do without the road expenses, travel and time away from family for that kind of pittance. |
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trader
USA
236 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2003 : 12:48:51
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| No is $70.00 net per roof or 70% of $100. |
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ChuckDeaton
USA
373 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2003 : 14:13:26
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| We've gotten away from my comment, which had to do with relating the net cost of estimating programs to the net earned by an adjuster. My friend Tom Toll postulated that I must be working for "peanuts and candy" and I used a real life example. My contention is that we are all working for much less than we are worth. And every year the flood schedule gets older and functionally lower. |
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Tom Toll
USA
154 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2003 : 10:21:18
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Chuck, I am in agreement with you completly. We are working for less and expenses seem to get higher and higher. The Memphis schedule is very livable. We have 167 claims since coming here. Have inspected over half of them in one and a half weeks. Motel expense is high. We are staying at the Holiday Inn Express and they offer high speed internet at no cost. All files are paperless, which I love.
We still provide a quality product to our vendor and that, of course, is passed on to the company.
No, we are not being paid what we are really worth. If you can provide a solution to this, please do so. Flood, naw, we are through with them. Too much BS and too many forms for the amount of income. The next paragraph is one reason.
We have received word that FIMA and NFIP are taking a very close look at prior claims where slabs were paid under Post-FIRM, elevated buildings in SFH. We have always taken the approach that if it can be shown that the slab is an "integral" part of the foundation system that it could be considered on the loss. I have been told that the adjuster's determination of "integral" is no longer sufficient. In other words we need concrete information in the claim file that the slab is "required" to support the building. FIMA/NFIP have given us the following guidelines as appropriate documentation to consider payment of the slabs:
1. The insured can show, with original blueprints or building plans, that the slab was installed at the time of original construction to support the
risk.
2. The slab is required by local ordinance or conversely, is not aI/owed and thus would eliminate coverage immediately.
3. An engineer report states that the slab not only provides support to
the pilings, but is required. The question should be posed to the engineer - if the slab was not present, would the building fall down?
Please consider these directives when submitting claims to us. I know many adjuster's that will say we paid for them before, why not now? The answer is simple-The people in charge of the NFIP said so! Let me know if you have questions or concerns.
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Edited by - Tom Toll on 08/09/2003 19:27:16 |
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Tom Toll
USA
154 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2003 : 20:38:31
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| For the first time, I am getting somewhat disheartened with I/C. They were supposed to have some fantastic new improvements on the 6.51d ver., I see very little. Now I think Scott is one of a kind and appreciate all he has done for us, but, in my opinion, I think he is limited on what he can do. He tells me that a new database is scheduled to come out in about a week or so. I sure hope so, cause the one they have now is half as good the craftsman database. Only time will tell if I/C is going to help the independent, or are they concentrating on the big boys. |
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Gale
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2003 : 08:52:09
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| Tom I think all will agree with your statements about Scott especially if they have met him. Concerning data bases why do you like the Craftsman data base, well since they have 56 I am talking about the NRI (National Restoration and Insurance Repair database) that was used by DDS and another estimating package. With the Craftsman database is it easier to fine what you are looking for, have better and more accurate pricing, more line items, etc for example that makes it twice as good as the MSB current database in your view? |
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TomToll
USA
87 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2003 : 22:43:45
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Gale, my mistake, I meant NRI. All data bases lack, including yours. Too many everyday items are not in the databases. Someone with adjusting experience needs to assist making a good database. Simsol has a good database, but it too lacks. Perhaps there are just too many items to put in the base. Perhaps I am dreaming out loud. For what we have to pay for the programs, I would think the programmers would be a little more conscientious about the data base content. A true adjuster knows how to get prices and knows his material, so entering it into the estimate is not a problem, just slows us down. This is the reason for computerized estimating systems, (time savers). Now some programs do not allow us to make our own databases to use. That is sheer moronic business.
You can forget any of the programs if your doing historic buildings or residences. |
Tom Toll |
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jatstorm
1 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2003 : 09:12:44
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Tom
The key to your/my/our problem is related more to experience, knowing where to go, how to obtain materials & pricing, not letting the obstacles of the "cookie cutters" stand in the way. Its getting the job done which you do well.
Unfortunately there are more of them then us. As you look around it appears what companies want these days is to provide a computer & program, push a button and you have an estimate. Its just not that easy, a fender is a fender for a particular make and model. Crown mold is available as hard or soft wood, fluted, plain, art carved wood, plaster casts, 2pc, 3pc, 4pc, 1 5/8. 2", 4", w/picture mold, scalloped, fluted, on and on. How do you include all of this in a program?
I use Simsol, their data base for residential, commercial, mobile home, contents w/DTI are more than adequate for the everyday stuff and then to the advanced level. However, you bring up an excellent point when looking to work on historic or specialty construction, all of the estimating systems come up short.
Simsol affords you the opportunity to copy the data base, rename it to whatever you want, change line items and prices and to include as custom items which have been developed from your own research to be entered and tracked as you dictate. This is an ongoing process as we accumulate this coveted information to include in our future resourcing of those special projects. Unfortunately not many adjusters want to be this resourceful, but then you sure do a lot of work simply because you are this kind of person.
Times are a changin, but one thing for sure, its always going to take people to make it happen because the playing field isn't as level as the "cookie people" would like you to believe.
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trader
USA
236 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2003 : 10:59:31
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| John stated very well. Old timers will teach the proper questions and complete investigation with correct scoping will lead the adjuster to a point, when his knowledge and creativity will produce paperwork that is professional. |
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ChuckDeaton
USA
373 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2003 : 13:17:51
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| As I said before life is a contact sport. |
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Integra Estimating Software
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