| 06/01/2009 7:57 PM |
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Hello All,
Yes I am a certified wanna be newbie, sorry for you that are offended that I want to join in.
I am looking for comments on .com
They offer a 3 day school for the license and a 3 day class with a 1 day practical in between.
Have any of you other new folks out there been to this school in recent years and what do you think of it, I am wanting to get my classes in prior to mid July and any opinion you have would be appreciated.
Thank you in advance for your time.
Richard Fry |
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| 06/01/2009 10:47 PM |
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Just my personal opinion, but the course I took was just a hook for the next course. A lot was left out (in my opinion) so you would buy the "intermediate" course. This was Xactimate training. Personally I would go for a longer more involved course. A 3 day course will create a vacuum in your wallet.
JWG
I know the voices aren't real, but sometimes they're right!
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| 06/02/2009 11:57 AM |
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I have seen some comments about online courses, is it best to go that route for licenseing and take the reccomended classes by a starter company like Pilot or US Staffing to get knowledge they want you to use for their clients? There are many choices at this point and much promised, with few ways to verify delivery until you have already spent the money.
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Ray Hall Senior Member Posts:2443  
| 06/02/2009 1:07 PM |
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Richard some company ran a ladder assist job # @ $300 per day. You do not need a license. Check that out and and you will find out if you are cut out for this work. The legal liability problems for independant contractors are MUCH greator than they were before hurricane IKE in September 13, 2008. It will never ne the same AGAIN. The hold harmless and indemnity contracts you have to sign to go to work for the blood sucking vendors, will cost you thousands in legal fees , if you are named in a law suit. Its really not worth the risk these days unless you have a CPCU or JD degree. I started in 1955 and I have never seen the personal liability or cost of legal expense exposure higher in Texas than it is today. NEVER.
About 80% of the so called vendors treat you as an independant contractor qualified to do the job. They do not care about your ability to do the job. It will get done somehow some time. They give you no protection, training, advise, cost of legal defense or indemnity payments for judgements. None... and the plaintiff's will prove their case by calling you as their first adverse witness.
I would not work unless I was trated as a temp. employee, or the INDEPENDANT CONTRACTOR CONTRACT spelled out I was covered by the vendors General Liability and E&O insurance (as part of the compensation...or at nominalcost per file) Workers Comp. would be a plus but not required. ALSO pay day twice a month on approved files by cut off date. If you are worth you salt you deserve this basic employment contract , nothing less. |
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| 06/02/2009 2:09 PM |
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I have been an self employed contractor, developer, real estate agent, mortgage lender for about 12 years now. Also have been a part time farmer/ cattle producer. I am experienced in all phases of residential and metal building construction. I have adequate funds to do this right, I am not looking to poor boy my way into the business; however I do not intend to spend for that which is not needed. I also have considered crop/hail adjusting as well.
You are a frequent poster here and obviously have a great deal of respectable experience in this field. I do not expect to be a shining success until my level of proficiency is on par with the top ranks, I realize that will take time, perseverance, and hard work. That said; given the current enviroment what is the path of least resistance to get a proper start in this business.
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| 06/02/2009 5:45 PM |
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Richard,
Newbie here too. Just took the Xactimate 3-day course and keep your $$ in your pocket. The whole class stayed lost and the instructor moved on regardless.
Let me be honest that I missed the first 1/2 of the first day of class but regardless, everyone stayed lost. They provide no manual that you can look at for answers. Although, they do download a macro of a handbook that is several hundred pages that you can download and print.
There's a reason this class is cheaper than the rest--you get what you pay for.
I did hear other people talk about the pre-licensing class that the parents teach and all comments were positive. |
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Tom TollModerator & Life Member Senior Member Posts:1865 
| 06/02/2009 7:04 PM |
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Richard, attend Vale tech's residential and commercial classes. That will get you started in a positive way. It will be money well spent.
Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
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Ray HallSenior Member Posts:2443
| 06/02/2009 7:09 PM |
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Richard Fry you have the background to be an excellant catastrophe adjuster. Start at the top with Pilot, Crawford & Company and Cunningham Lindsey. They all have training schools at very little or no cost. Try Pilot first and if they accept you for their school you will be one your way. Remember all carriers do not require x-mate. If you live in a state that requires a license most can be taken and passed with a two day course. Also try Simsol as they are specialist in flood claims and your contracting backgound will count for experience. If one of these four does not snap you up.. something is odd. And they all protect you as them as master and you as servant.
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| 06/03/2009 9:11 AM |
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Posted By krhoward on 02 Jun 2009 05:45 PM
Richard,
The whole class stayed lost and the instructor moved on regardless.
That was exactly the same experience in the class I took. I have attended 3 other classes, the best was a short class through Renfro, and another through Mason claims, both were very informative, and not designed to sell you another course. And Masons class gave CEU's which is why I took it. There are several good classes out there that will not be a waste of money. Look at Vale, Wardlaw, Farm bureau, Epps.
JWG
I know the voices aren't real, but sometimes they're right!
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| 06/03/2009 5:19 PM |
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Thank you all for your comments!
I just received a call from the school again to inquire if I still plan attending. I told them (prior to reading the last 24 hr posts) that I was still gathering opinion at to the worth of their classes, and the decision was yet to be made. I will probably not go now. I will however pursue the companies list by Ray and then take their reccommendations as to training.
If Vale is the the best then that may be my destination.
Do any of you know about crop adjusting? As a Texas Panhandle dryland wheat farmer I have experienced a number of losses over the years, I insured with Rain & Hail, but never spent much time pondering the adjuster's side of it.
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CatAdjusterX Veteran Member Posts:964
| 05/05/2010 8:29 PM |
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Posted By Richard on 02 Jun 2009 02:09 PM
I have been an self employed contractor, developer, real estate agent, mortgage lender for about 12 years now. Also have been a part time farmer/ cattle producer. I am experienced in all phases of residential and metal building construction. I have adequate funds to do this right, I am not looking to poor boy my way into the business; however I do not intend to spend for that which is not needed. I also have considered crop/hail adjusting as well.
You are a frequent poster here and obviously have a great deal of respectable experience in this field. I do not expect to be a shining success until my level of proficiency is on par with the top ranks, I realize that will take time, perseverance, and hard work. That said; given the current enviroment what is the path of least resistance to get a proper start in this business.
I will teach you how to be an adjuster if you can teach me how to make a cow !!
"A good leader leads.....
..... but a great leader is followed !!"
CatAdjusterX@gmail.com
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| 05/05/2010 9:09 PM |
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Lemme see now, if I remember right, that was taught in Adjuster Class 104b. First you put on your rubber waders and bib overalls, a straw hat with a wad of Red Man in your left cheek. The heifer is crammed into the back seat of your company car shaking her tail in a seductive wave while your cars AM radio is blaring a Barry Maniloe song.
The bull is brought in with his horns all polished wearing the bell bottom polyester slacks, reeking of Old Spice. From there on out, it's let Nature take it's course. I'm told this is also how it works when dating the office clerical, tho I never did.
Ol' Ghost
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CatAdjusterXVeteran Member Posts:964
| 05/06/2010 3:48 AM |
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I suppose polyester pants are better than a baby blue leisure suit ! "A good leader leads.....
..... but a great leader is followed !!"
CatAdjusterX@gmail.com
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