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Great tip Ray!
To further improve my work product, I try to use the the following:
Instead of complaining about getting the dog files from someone else who goes off to a storm, I try to learn as much as I can from their re-opened or re-assigned files. I read their reports to see if they are including anything that I would want to know as an examiner. Is their format just a little different, or is it better. Is their description of the damage more informative or less? Why did the file re-open, what could I have done as the original adjuster to have kept this file closed. Paying attention to what others do will improve your own work.

Most of the old company trained adjusters  were trained by reading other adjusters closed files. When you set down and read several hundred files that were closed by top adjusters with many years experience, your have a jump start on the job you have under taken.

Then set on the incoming field desk for a week and see the work flowing in with recommendations to pay and the reasons why. This is seeing the good and bad work first hand.

The IA vendors should be doing more training at the applicates home . The student should ask questions and question why this was done etc. The cost would be UPS back and forth and the quality of work would  improved or the students would wash out.

If we were to review a stack of files completed by "top adjusters" from various companies, it might surprise you to find how similar they are. The "top adjusters" have learned to focus on what the carrier or supervisor wants in the file and then make sure it is in EVERY file.

All of the companies are asking for the same things, almost. The similarities are across the board.

All we have to do is give them what they want, without their asking for it time after time.

Simple stuff.

Standardization in reporting would go a long way towards alleviating examiner complaints. When I started thirty four years ago we had a reporting manual which indicated what should be covered and why within each loss category. Whether you were dong casualty or property the checklist was invaluable in preparing complete reports. Maybe we could put together such a ckecklist for everyone's usage. I'd be willing to contribute.

I realize I'm a couple years late requesting this.....but, has anyone picked up on Cowboy's suggestion of a basic check list similar to his "reporting manual"?
Great idea.

Hey Kevin....nice job perusing the archives.    It's not often a new person re-opens a discussion thread.  It's usually the same ol' yada yada, how do I get started??   Looks like you've actually done a little research.

Its the carriers/vendors duty to train the adjusters. When was the last time you as an adjuster was ask to prove your competance by submitting a reading file with names and phone numbers. This is the year that worm adjusters will began to be fried on the witrness stand for IKE claims.

Fried worms, Ray? Yum Yum

Kevin, since I am now working for a carrier I can tell you that I send out a very detailed instruction sheet with almost every assignment. The exceptions are when I send a limited assignment or send an assignment to an adjuster to whom I have sent several previous assignments. The latter already know what I want. I wrote the instructions so I know what's in them. If an independent follows the instructions and they are competent they will give me what I want. The main problems arise when the adjuster doesn't read the instructions. This happens all too often.

In my previous work as an independent working mostly for GAB, they had a separate instruction sheet for most carriers. For those who did not have specific instructions, there were standard instructions. All I needed to do is read a little bit and I knew how to proceed. If I remember tomorrow, I'll try to post our instructions in this thread.

As promised, here are ICW's instructions to Independent Adjusters. They are patterned after GAB's instructions for a couple of their clients. Bear in mind that our whole book of property business is commercial, so modifications would need to be made for handling homeowners claims. Also, this set of instructions apply only to claims worked for ICW. Do not expect any other company to use the same standards or have the same requirements. This is offered as an example of what an examiner might expect.  Oddly, and for some unknown reason, # 14 is violated more than any of the others.  Too frequently I get estimates with no depreciation, or simply transferring a lump sum from a contractor's estimate or, worst of all, all the buildings and contents lumped into one big gawdawful mess of an estimate.

ICW’s Property Claims Handling Instructions for Independent Adjusters

1. Assignments: Many assignments will be accompanied by specific instructions. In the absence of specific instructions, assignments should be accepted as full adjustments. Accept claims only from the claim department of Insurance Company of the West.
2. Coverage Verification: ICW will supply necessary documents and policy forms to indicate coverage and alert the adjuster to potential coverage questions. ICW will make all coverage determinations. The adjuster is not to commit ICW to coverage. Handle all claims where there is a question of coverage under a non-waiver or reservation of rights.
3. Reporting Requirements: Contact Insured within 24 hours. Acknowledgement within 48 hours. First Report within 20 days. Scope and cause of loss with reserve recommendations should accompany first report. Subsequent Reports: Every 30 days unless otherwise requested by ICW. Contact ICW immediately upon inspection if reserve will exceed $100,000.00 or if any issue of coverage or possibility of SIU involvement is discovered.
4. Settlement Authority: Unless otherwise instructed, the assigned adjuster has no settlement authority.
5. Checks: Issued by ICW.
6. Reports: Reports should be full captioned reports with all supporting documents attached.
7. Billing: All assignments should be handled at time and expense according to our agreed rates. Phone and fax charges are included in the hourly rate. Set up should be charged at clerical rates not to exceed one hour.
8. Statements: Statements should be taken when requested by ICW.
9. Subrogation: Investigate subrogation on all claims. Preserve all evidence. Inform ICW immediately if an expert is needed for subrogation investigation.
10. Photographs: One photo of risk and enough photos to document the damage, or lack of damage where damage might be expected.
11. Experts: ICW’s approval required. In many cases ICW will ask the expert to report directly to them.
12. Public Records: Only if advised by ICW
13. Value: If requested to do so, provide detailed calculations to demonstrate Replacement cost, depreciation and ACV.
14. Estimate: Whenever possible, the adjusters are to prepare their own estimate using an automated estimating program and showing RCV and ACV. This should be done whether there appears to be coverage or not. Do not release the estimate to the insured before we approve it. In most cases a preliminary estimate should accompany the first report. Each line of coverage and element of the loss is to be written as a separate estimate. Do not include more than one building, or building and business personal property, on the same estimate. When the loss involves specialty items that are not generally included in the database of automated estimating programs, it is acceptable to use reasonable contractor estimates. If a portion of the loss may not be covered, write a separate estimate for that portion of the loss.
15. Business Personal Property/Contents: Use of replacement vendors should be considered on large business personal property claims. Consult with the ICW examiner for qualified replacement vendors.
16. Salvage: Always investigate salvage. When possible sell it back to the insured for a reasonable amount. Otherwise, inform us of salvage potential and advise the insured to retain the salvage for our disposal.
17. Proof of Loss/Release: Obtain a proof of loss or release if instructed to do so by ICW.

It's a good idea to ask as soon as you arrive on site if the carrier for whom you are working has supplied specific instructions similar to these to the vendor.

I have worked on T& E for some of the large NY, Boston underwriters on .5 million and down losses and they seem to accept each $10,000 of stick build can stand 1.0 time. It comes out almost equal to the good fee bills these carriers are use to seeing. I have been on  both sides of this T & E debate and the street adjuster does a much better job on T & E, if the carrier will allow the 1 hour for $10,000 (stick build). I remember $700,000 cold water chillers destroyed in a major flood(Allison Houston 2002). The fee bill was not allowed(nor should it be) and a GA fee for one day was allowed. This is only fair and right, we can not act like two snakes eating each others tails.