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 Fathers and brothers are great teachers if they know the biz.

Posted By Jaylee2011 on 02 Jun 2011 09:31 PM
Hello, I'm VERY new to this site so I first off would like to introduce myself. My name is Chris Barry, the past two years I've been managing a contracting office and selling roofs after that company failed (no fault of mine! lol). Anyways, I've traveled to Houston, Austin, Denver, Omaha, Phoenix, and most recently Madison to sell roofs. I'm sick of it! So I took my Texas All Lines Adjuster Exam and passed. I'm waiting for all the paperwork to be processed to get my license in hand. What, if anything, can I do to get deployed soon? I see some obvious downfalls on my resume, one being no prior adjuster experience and second I have very limited Xactimate experience. My brothers father-n-law is an Independent Adjuster, does anyone think that he could get my foot in the door? Please offer me some advice! Thanks!

Hello Chris,
 

I created the Apprentice Project and an IA firm back east for whom I was a claims manager at the time implimented my project beginning 15 November 2010.

Of the first group of rookie adjusters to go through the project,4 out of the 5 are currently deployed working claims in Arizona, Connecticut. One of those adjusters to go through the project had only been licensed for less than 6 months and I am happy to say is now a staff adjuster working daily claims with a protected territory, company vehicle, XM8 scribe, laptop,blackberry.

All 5 of these initial apprentices all have one thing in common, they were all roof salesman. The reason they were above others was that as a roof salesman they were using XM8 everyday writing up estimates. That in my opine is crucial to a new adjusters success. The industry is going to lose the bulk of experienced adjusters in the next 3 to 5 years from retirement in addition to the industry being saturated with less than top shelf talent etc.....

So my opine to you young man is to hook up with another roofing company that utilizes XM8 and spend 6 months to a year using XM8 everyday.

That will make your resume a lot more tasty and also increase the odds of surviving your first event.The money is pretty good as well.

Robby Robinson

Thanks Robby!

I appreciate your help, I'm currently working with a company that uses XM8 and I have been writing estimates for roofs, siding, gutters, fascia, windows, window casings, etc. I have yet to learn how to use the diagram end of it, but I have been practicing with it. I have 24 hour access to the office so I will spend more time utilizing the software available. On my resume, I do not want to mislead a potential employer, do you think it would be a good idea to say that I have experience with XM8 if all I can do is write an estimate with it, without the ability to use the diagram part of it yet? Thanks for you imput, I need all the help I can get. I'm tired of struggling as a roofer, but I love the industry and feel I would make an outstanding adjuster.

Jaylee you should use the whole tool box. Just back up and try to hand write a simple roof claim use 3 grids RC, Depreciaton, then ACV and then run an old adding machine tape to check all the math. You need more time to learn to scope a loss and let the tool xm8 do all the paper work for you that your scooping skills feeds into xm8.

You have used the word" foot in the door" several times. Your family connections should be your gateway to the first job.

Posted By Jaylee2011 on 06 Jun 2011 12:41 AM

Thanks Robby!

 

I appreciate your help, I'm currently working with a company that uses XM8 and I have been writing estimates for roofs, siding, gutters, fascia, windows, window casings, etc. I have yet to learn how to use the diagram end of it, but I have been practicing with it. I have 24 hour access to the office so I will spend more time utilizing the software available. On my resume, I do not want to mislead a potential employer, do you think it would be a good idea to say that I have experience with XM8 if all I can do is write an estimate with it, without the ability to use the diagram part of it yet? Thanks for you imput, I need all the help I can get. I'm tired of struggling as a roofer, but I love the industry and feel I would make an outstanding adjuster.

Chris, last time I checked the ONLY thing you CAN do with XM8 is write an estimate. You just need some training in XM8 sketch is all. You can actually take a class, you can do an online webinar or simply buy the beginner and intermediate self paced learning CD's.

You having a family member in the business right now is your greatest opportunity to get a shot in the industry and should be fully explored .

Now with that being said, you stated that you are tired of struggling as a roofer. I am assuming you are saying you are financially struggling. Brother please be aware that work for a rookie adjuster is dependent on many variables to which you have ZERO control over. In addition, it is expensive to get started. You will also incur operating expenses from fuel,food,lodging LONG before you begin to see a check, average anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months. The only industry with more overhead costs than the adjusting industry is a PGA and Nike tour player.

Make no mistake as you can make a great living as an adjuster, but it won't happen overnight. You will have to pay your dues and take your lumps. If you are struggling financially(brother there is NO shame in that) this is the wrong industry . If you are able to maintain employment as a roof salesman while you learn the biz, over time you will develop skills  and with the work being sporadic in the beginning, you will need an alternative income to get you through the lean times.

You can succeed no doubt about it, but you should atleast know what you are up against and go in with eyes wide open.

 

Robby