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At the present time claims work seems to be hard to find, If it wasn't for my A / C work( Residental ), Inspections, and Substitute Teaching jobs there wouldn't be much going on these days. I wonder how many I A adjusters left with the lack of work these last three years. Perhaps something will happen in 2008, if not then its going to be all over for many here.

When/if a cane hits the USA, this site will look like you turned on the lights in a truckstop cafe.   Watch where you step & bring the Raid.   

The everlasting problems of Catastrophe Adjusting. What do you do when there is no work. There is no answer to this question except within yourself. No one know your capabilities better than you. We find local claims work and pursue it to the inth degree. We manage financially, but it gets a little frightening at times. This work is seasonal. We have learned you save as much as possible and try to lay back as much funding as possble in a savings account.

Many of the new adjusters that started back in 04/05 have fallen to the wayside, unless they have found employment with a staff company. This is a very difficult profession to stay in. During good times, when there are many storms, no problems, but then suddenly there is no work and that leaves you confused and lonely. Be a good scout and be prepared. That includes financial preparedness for the future. Always stay in touch with friends within the industry and remember, never burn a bridge behind yourself.

Then there are those of us who have sold out and taken staff positions.  With each down cycle I saw in my decade as an independent there are fewer and fewer who come back.  I would be surprised if there are still 500 independent catadjusters left who predate 2004.

But I'm sure the short sighted carriers who think their two year "veteran" staff adjusters can handle the next catastrophe can find a few people hanging around the 7-11 parking lot drinking from a brown paper bag when the need for more warm bodies arises.  Then they will spend the next couple years complaining about the quality of independents.  Then the carrier execs can pat themselves on the back and tell themselves they were right all along about independents.

There is a shortage of catastrophe adjusters, but Citizens in Florida is claiming they have commitments from over 6500 for the upcoming season.  I remember in 2004 they claimed over 2000 commitments, but could field half of that.  Does anyone know where their are 6500 qualified catastrophe adjusters? 

MB

I guarantee its the same couple hundred adjusters signed up over and over again by different companies.   And qualified for Citizen's work doesn't mean they have more than six months actual adjusting experience, if that.  Remember that someone who worked the hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 for three months each, and nothing since, are likely to claim they have been adjusters for four years.

As for me, last year I saw the Citizen's schedule and said to myself, "This reeks.  This is the worst fee schedule I may have ever seen."  But I started down the process road in the event I may have to accept that work.  I also had it in the back of my head that I would take almost any other work first.  After the tests and the drug test and the confidentiality statement and the ethics course, and when a new demand surfaced each week to be "Citizen's Certified", I just said, "No more." 

The liklihood is that Citizen's will only need people in the event of a hurricane.  Furthermore, they won't need that many unless there are multiple hurricanes.  In 2004 I got 75 calls from different vendors to come on down and work the hurricanes.  Then I stopped counting.  If I had not been gainfully employed already, I could have taken only one anyway.  If I have 75 options, do you think I will work for a Citizen's fee schedule?  Not on your sweet bippie.

Honestly, though, the fee schedule may have been too high for the folks they would have had to settle for if there had been any actual work last year.

Time to go round up the Applebee's parking lot guy.  Citizen's needs him bad.

Citizens is about the most dysfunctional organization that I have seen in my 47 years as an adjuster. They are "ruling" themselves out of assistance from competent adjusters. Who wants to work, during a catastrophe, for an organization that is going to fine you for getting up in the morning. Not me.. They can take their business and put it where the sun doesn't shine. Yes, they need a director of operations and someone who has a clue as to what common sense is. I can't say I blame them for wanting competent adjusters, their just going about it all wrong.  I am sure there are some vendors who will bend their adjusters over though, after all, greed is what rules our society now.

Tom, might I just say it is a good thing lately to see you showing your "not so Mr Nice Guy afterall" persona.  In the past I had been a little critical (tongue in cheek, of course) of you for being too warm and fuzzy.  Now that you have taken this new approach, is it because you have had enough after 47 years and it really doesn't matter anymore?  Or is it because no one is looking or whoever is looking doesn't care, and it doesn't matter?  I've always been one to take a direct approach and maybe now & then regretted it a couple days later if I might have hurt someone's feelings, but it was never intended that way.  The folks I've worked for have never had a problem with it because they understand my nature, but do you see the climate changing just in the past 2 years more than it had in your previous 45?  Frightening isn't it?  I think I can speak for about a half dozen other regulars that we may not always be politically correct, and may ruffle a feather or two, but usually only to entice further discussion.

Happy Trails!! (I borrowed that, thanks Larry)

Mike, warm and fuzzy? Not hardly. I believe in having a postive attitude about all there is in life, as this allows you to become more motivated to do this work. I believe in diplomacy, first and foremost, but when that diplomacy falls upon deaf ears, then the posture requires changing. I feel we all realize that Citizens is in a complete state of chaos and they need to re-think their posture in the adjusting arena, or they will not have quality people working for them.

Yes, times have changed this profession. Some of the vendors and companies have become subjects of La La Land. No longer can we have extensive windshield time without some form of fuel or mileage allowance when we are paying $3.50 to $4.00 per gallon for fuel. I don't think a Toyata Prius would work in this business with all the equipment the companies expect us to carry. So, yes, I am changing my posture to a more forward way, at least on this subject and of others. I should have retired three years ago, but I love this business and will do everything I can do to change it, for the benefit of future and present new adjusters.

Absolutely. I have been in this business 24 years 16 in CAT and if I stay in it I will work regular claims at home.

Here are file requirements  for Met Life and the fee schedule is attached at the end of the post as a PDF. Working for this carrier also requres a special version of Xactimate. Looks just like Citizens. Comments?

Overhead 10% / Profit 10% (20% combined)Application limitations:3 or more trades with unique discipline. Roof is excluded.Agreed with licensed contractor, public adjuster or attorney documented in the file.Xactimate

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MetLife Homeowner Estimating Standards

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You can thank generation "Y" for all these changes, many of whom have never been out on a loss and do not have a clue of the work involved. If the trend continues, they will be hell bent to find qualified adjusters that are desperately needed on complex losses. Time will tell.

R.D. the requirements and fee schedule are Met Life, not Citizens.