Steve, I'd like to add a few other "pearls" to your list...
I have discovered a few things in the process:
1.) Simsol is so much easier to use than Xactimate or Integraclaim. It takes half the time to use Simsol, and time is money (and sanity).
2.) Working from home is immeasurable harder for a catadjuster than working on the road. As Jesus said, "The cares of the world swallowed them up" (The parable of the wheat and the tares)
3. A branch assist assignment becomes all the more complex when you throw a winter storm (in Northeast PA) and a flood (in NJ) is the middle of it. Branch assist is cool. Catastrophe work is a great way to make a living. Mixing the two is a shortcut to a nervous breakdown.
These are my " things I have learned" added to the above list...
4. Family and Friends never recognize what you do as work if you're doing it from home!
5. The above mentioned people will never understand WHY you are up at 1:30 in the morning writing up a claim (further, think you're an IDIOT for being up at 1:30 in the morning writing a claim!!!!)
6. Most "regular" or so called "normal" people tend to think we're some kind of vulture, rubbing our hands together, waiting on a disaster to happen......hmmmmmmm I might have to rethink that one!!! Let me rephrase.... They don't understand that we watch the weather channel continuously because we're concerned and we want to be ready at a moment's notice to leap into action to ASSIST those who have been left with damages, ( my caveat: We do not cause the weather to happen!!!! '06 confirmed that, huh?)
and finally.....
7. A cat adjuster who has no cat work to do is a dangerous thing!!!! LOL
~M~