Posted By LucyZ on 31 Jul 2011 01:24 PM
Ok Thanks.
I was an adjuster for 15+ years but due to family, traveling really isn't an option any more. I am looking for a more "local" position that still offers some flexibility. For these Florida inspections I don't have the equipment required so that with the training will cost me about $400-$500. I am not sure how much my insurance will charge to change the liability to $500,000. That has to be another several hundred. My questions are:
Are the inspectors receiving a good number of claims that are in close proximity to each other? How long do these inspections take?
Again, thanks for any help.
Lucy, in regards to adding Citizen's as an additional insured whilst seems expensive, is not really . The 500,000.00 limits of liability is negligable provided you are a good driver, with no record hits etc.....
HOWEVER and this is extremely important and can boost your premiums significantly, you are most likely on a personal use policy and that is a dangerous thing.
I have been a licensed concrete contractor in the state of California for about 18 years now (havent done any concrete in the last 8)and I gave 3 of my guys a truck allowance to use their personal vehicles and I was added to their policies as an additional insured. In December 2002, one of these guys rolled his truck on his way to one of our job sites. He hit a city fire hydrant, sheared the damn thing clean off and a nice 20 ft. geyser ensude. He files a claim with his truck being a total loss and his claim was DENIED!!!
Since I was an additional insured (RCS), the carrier asked does he use his vehicle for business, he said yes obviously. The carrier denied because he had basic personal use policy insurance , he did not clarify to the carrier he was using his vehicle for business use and as such the damage was excluded. I see that as a mistake on the underwriting involved when my company was added as an additional insured, but the agent didn't catch it and my guy didn't realize what he needed to do and I didn't either.
So with having Citizen's as an additional insured , you need to change your policy to business use which could be a significant cost. There is one thing you can do to stay compliant since you are using the vehicle for business and personal use. You can obtain what's called Artisan insurance which is simply a hybrid of a personal and business use policy and is much more reasonable for the pocketbook.
In regards to the Florida inspections, I believe you are receiving 50.00 per claim. You will have to do quite a few per day to come out on the plus side. Last spring, a business associate had thousands of these types of "Underwriting inspections" in Louisiana (I don't know but it could have been for Citizen's as well) and was getting 35.00 per claim. The thing was he was able to do these very quickly and do enough per day to come out on top. I have read all the requirements of these Florida inspections and you are required to access every attic and therefore significantly slow you down. Not to mention attics in the the middle of a Florida summer, yikes!!!
Good luck,
Robby