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Last Post 01/24/2010 1:02 AM by  Ray Hall
The perfect Restoration Contractor
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mabr
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Posts:3


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12/16/2009 7:32 PM

    To start off I have to say this is one of the greatest resources I have found as an Insurance Restoration Contractor. This is my first post as you can see, but I do "alot" of reading on here.

    I would like to ask all on here, What would you consider to be the best traits to have as a contractor in this business?

    Why I ask is I was taught what I know by one of the largest restoration Companies on the West Coast. Im not going to mention their name for obvious reasons. They are a very profitable company,and I learned a ton from them in the time I worked for them. I took the position with them to learn Insurance Restoration. I had worked for myself for over 15 years as a remodeling contractor and when the economy started to go down hill I took a position with them as a Project Manager for several years.  It was what ended up being the best move I could have made for many reasons, but the education they gave me was invaluable. And I hope it is going to pay off for me now.

    I have since moved back to my home state of Minn. and Im starting my own Insurance Restoration Company. I learned long ago that in this business  that once you get the adjuster on your side and they feel they can trust you, there are seldom any serious issues with resolving the claim at a fair price to complete the repairs. I have giving, and they have giving depending on the situation. I have always done business by "doing what is right".   And although i took heat at times from my manager I knew it was right and I stood my ground  even though I  wasnt going to make the targeted 30%+ profit margines.  "Those of you that have been at this a while understand that we cannot stay in business on 10/10".  I think I have what it takes to make my business very sucessful, but I would like your opinions on what it is that would make you refer a contractor for any repair. I KNOW YOU CANT LEGALLYOR ETHICALLY!!!  But "IF" you could what would those traits be?

    This actually might help alot of us in this business, thereby helping all of you as well.

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    Ol' Ghost
    Member
    Member
    Posts:279


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    12/16/2009 8:26 PM
    Hay-Soos Christo! I think you took the wrong turn along the way. This is NOT weluvcontractors.com, this is weluvadjusters.org. Please back track your steps to find the better path to where you may be appreciated.

    That is, unless you are ready to abandon your wicked ways to seek the pot-o-gold at the end of our rainbow. If so, perhaps we might tell you where to go.

    Ol' Ghost
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    mabr
    Guest
    Guest
    Posts:3


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    12/16/2009 9:02 PM

    Ole Ghost, Ive actually considered going to your side. Im serious about that, If this doesnt work out I may head that route. Ive talked to a few people asking questions. But after reading the posts on here from the newbies it concerns me about making what I want to make. Im no spring chicken anymore.

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    Bobabooey
    Member
    Member
    Posts:140


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    12/17/2009 2:11 AM
    Be ethical. Be reasonable on the billing and most importantly make the adjusters job easier. I have 2 companies that I use on every claim. I use them because they are fast. They take care of the home owner and they don't call me every 5 minutes. I am hiring them to do the job. I hate when a restoration company calls me every 10 minutes with updates. Do your job and leave me alone. I get enough phone calls as it is. Another reason I use these companies is they get the bill to me fast so I can close the claim. Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to close a file because the restoration company has not sent you the estimate and invoice.
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    mabr
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    Posts:3


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    12/17/2009 10:31 AM

    Thanks Bobabooey. This is the sort of thing i was looking for. Not  a fight.

    Beleive it or not there are a few of us out there that actually do care about their reputation in this business.

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    jmckay
    Guest
    Guest
    Posts:4


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    01/23/2010 9:23 PM
    My advice is simple and it doesn't matter whether you are an adjuster of a contractor (for what it is worth, I am a contractor). Number one, you call a spade a spade. The biggest mistake restoration contractors try to make is pushing the envelope to increase the claim. You will never retire off of one job. Line item every single item that is compromised and nothing more. If it can be repaired, sealed and painted, or cleaned....then do it. Be professional and courteous to both your client and the insurance company. You need to hold your clients best interests at hand, but you also need to hold a reasonable expectation of what the carriers responsibilities are in the loss. Be prompt in both your scoping, pricing, and performance of the work and always do what you say you will do with no exceptions....even on the losers. Don't try to push your reputation on the industry. If you handle your business and follow these simple rules you will quickly be known as a company who calls it like they see it, can disagree with fact, reason, and dignity, and who can put the insured back into a pre-loss condition in a timely manner with quality and craftsmanship. Lastly, supplements are fine and they are a common part of most claims for unforeseens....BUT, use them sparingly. Do you really need to supplement 3 bundles of shinlges? Weren't you long 4 bundles on the job before? It takes a lot of paperwork and time to deal with such penny ante requests. Use your supplements wisely. It will all come around in the long run.

    Insofar as the relationship with the adjuster, be normal. Be yourself. If you hit it off, great...what a bonus. Maybe you can meet for beers after hours and become friends. During the claim business is business. Treat them with respect and you will get the same. Insofar as your clients, always underpromise and overdeliver. Be careful about making absolute statements during your initial walkthrough because they will get things put in their head. I always tell my clients that I need to 'wrap my head around it' which gives me some time away from them to absorb what I am seeing and properly scope the loss. Listen to what they are telling you and remember that you will most likely have to use reason and logic to make sense out of it or find out what really happened alot of the time. Don't create the impression that you are there to help 'fight' the insurance company. Let them know that you are there to assist the insurance company with your trade experience and recommendations from a construction perspective. You will 'work' with the insurance company to help compose an encompassing estimate and scope that will fix their problem. I live by these words.
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    Ray Hall
    Senior Member
    Senior Member
    Posts:2443


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    01/24/2010 1:02 AM

    If I could I would use  a contractor like JimKay.

    I had a contractor call me this week on a Fire & EC policy only the building only loss in the house a grown daughter and 2 children and one of the   heirs lived. It was owned by the estate and the occupant was the tenant and the estate was the landlord. This clown swooped in and wanted to start the pack out routine, cut out the bottom 4 feet of all the walls, the whole blown up water sucker deal on a house that did not have the heat turned on, the occupants not home and the water not drained. Also it did not ave carpet and pad in 50% of the house at the time of the loss.

    This clown had never heard of a house that did not have home owners insurance. It seems he had never met an adjuster that knew what was covered and what was not.He kept saying, I do this ever day and I will work with you. The only answer he understood was, get out of my sight.... I have to work with the policyholder.Keep your Rocket Tickets and lap dances

     

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