I am in favor of it. I see more and more people using it: general contractors, roofing contractors, and adjusters. I think it will get more and more popular in the future.

I would guess that one day, if it can't be done already, the data from the satellite will be downloadable directly into the estimating software (Xactimate, Simsol, etc), and with the push of a few key strokes the software will write the roof estimate for you.

However, there will always be the need for somebody (an adjuster) to determine if the roof has damage in the first place, count and/or circle the hail hits with chalk, determine what kind of roof is on the property (3-tab, dimensional, etc), determine how many layers are on the roof, count the pipe boots, chimneys, other vents, satellite dishes, determine appropriate depreciation if applicable, and inspect the interior damage.

I don't think it is something to be afraid of. I think it is just another tool to use to be more productive.

Why would you hire a person technology can do for you.With this tec. and a good inside adjuster on a $50.000 dollor hail loss can be settled by email.Have the insured give you good long shots, from the ground by zooming in on 4 sides of the house and all roof slopes and all inside photos of rooms claimed with the room measurements. Send it by email back to adjuster, the adjuster adjust the losses send it back and the insured signs and sends back, and check is in the mail the same day. Most good adjusters could do 20 per day from home. No not at $750.00 their part each, more like 5% of what it cost now.

If all storms end up like Ike in TX. This may cut down the reopens, as the insured presented the requested documents and agreed to the amount.

my .02

I could see this maybe on a bad hail storm but what about when the damage is not visible from ground, shingles torn through fastners.  Are the shingles in repairable condition.  There are many variables and technology has its place, and in my opinion its place is to be used as a tool not a replacement device.  Also the sat. does not work on all risks if there are trees around the risk they can not get the measurements.  Just my 2 cents.

Dnjsdad

  Have you ever seen ZIP code adjusting. Its not new been around for over 50 years. If the house was in the ZIP that had baseball size hail, hard as a rock with sharp edges and you have the roof measurment all side photos and all roof slopes, all inside damaged photo,s  why do you need to send out someone who had looked at several hundred houses to inspect. After you have seen several hundred or several thousand the learning curve does not move that much. I think you don,t want to hear what I think is the future.

Has the industry not conceded a 3 day school in TX. qualifies a person to measure rooms and roofs. The digital photo,s tells the story, it does not matter who pointed the camera in the direction of the damage. In the fringe area,s  a roof inspection may be in order. Satellite photo,s can be made of roof damage from hail hits, but it is not used, If these photo,s were sold for $50.00 each the climbing days are over.

I also think more files will reopen in the future, by the lawyers, roofers, PA,s and the first estimate has NO IMPACT on the final settlement up in the 100 thousand range to keep it from a jury trial.

I think most people are honest, but over payment on a catastrophe claim is not a moral problem with all citizens. What is a overpayment.?

 This is the war in TX. now.

In my opinion, most homeowners may not know how to read a tape measure, or they feel they shouldn't have to because they are paying for the insurance, so they should handle it. With the photos currently being used by the "eyes in the sky", may be a couple of years old,  you could be looking at old damage if they were taking that good a picture. I think the majority want someone at their house, makes them feel like the ins co cares.

Can you imagine the liability involved if an inside adjuster worked a roof claim with a satelitte photo for measurment, then asked the insured to get on a ladder and take photos of the roof. Then the insured falls from the ladder and injures him/herself seriously. Even if the photo was taken from the ground and he or she fell and broke something, Lawsuit city, here we come, after all, the insurance company rep asked them to do it.

Service is what this country is lacking in and seriously lacking. Seems everybody wants to robotize and electronically connect with each other. I guess I am a little old fashioned. I don't text, nor will I ever text, not when I want to communicate with someone. Texting has become a game and some have become  addicted to it. Guess it is better than a dope addiction however.I have no problem with electronically receiving and sending in claims information because that benefits the insured more than it does you or me. Use technology wisely. Don't go crazy with it.

All catastrophe adjusters gather around. You call the insured to inspect his property and he say,s I have damage, but put me on your 30 day list as I was screwed by the adjuster who came out on Hurricane Ike. hired a lawyer and I did get several hundred thousand more. When I get my claim togather I will call you one week before I file my sworn proof of loss.

The insured calls and said all the damage is straight foward, and I have left photos and receipts for my cash outlays on my office desk for you to take with you. You inspect the house and contents and find extensive wind damage to the roof and water damage to the interior and its contents. The coverage is a HO-3. You inspect while the insured is out of town and email him your estimate in 72 hours. The insured rejects your first offer and states he will hand deliver the sworn proof of loss to the storm manager that afternoon.

The insureds sworn proof of loss is 5 times higher than your original offer. The insured gets a check for your estimate amount. The insured has no further contact with you and files suit using the same lawyer he used on his Ike Claim on the first day the claim was not paid as per the contract.

Now what did you do right and what did you do wrong. The bigger question is will he get several thousand dollors more than your first offer, without ever picking a jury.



I  would like to ask you guys if Eagleview satellite roof measuring service now being integrated directly into Xactimate 25.5 and Xactimate 27 something that has been around awhile or a new development ?

If in fact this is a recent development,  is this something some carriers would look at  this as being more efficient and cost effective than a live IA.

I pretty much asked the same question about eagleview and geoestimator and the consensus was the service itself is  unlikely to eliminate the IA ,

so with the service now intergrated with Xactimate, does that change anyone's thoughts ?

I copied/pasted the Xactware integration with eagleview at the bottom of this post.

                                                                                             thank you for your consideration

                                                                                                                  Robby Robinson

Xactware^® Integration

Now integrated with Xactimate^®. No need to draw from field notes. Order EagleView measurements within Xactimate and open the files in Sketch. Easy to use! EagleView imports directly into Xactimate when you order it within an assignment in the Carrier Profile.

Requirements: Xactimate version 25.5 or greater, qualifying EagleView account, and activation by Xactware.

For more information please contact our Sales department by phone at 1-866-659-8439 or by email at sales@eagleview.com

Catastrophe adjusters take note. Well now the program can be intergrated into the program that estimates over 80% of all roof claims, may even be 90%(simsol still does a lot of local IA's regular losses and flood claims on cats). The IA cat. adjusters will always have a job, thats a given. Its kinda like the TV repairman with the large Tube and the vacum tubes inside... replaced by new tec. Just stay ahead of the curve...

Like some old guys that have 3 rules. 1. Don,t burn bridges when you are young. 2. Do better work than most. 3 Cut your rates and work direct for 35% less than the established fee,s.

I am sure the carriers have thought about the Texas blackmail. Many of these law firms will open in any state that gets hit. I think on the next hurricane, it would be better to ask "how much will it take to make this hurricane loss go away....forever... I really think it would save $.

I don,t think one of the Texas cases have gone to "appraisal" after suit is filed..... but the courts are "taking it under advisement"...O boy.I don,t think one has been set for trial.... but thousands have been sttled in mediation. goody goody justice is served. only cost 100k to settle+50K legal cost.