Ray Hall Senior Member Posts:2443  
| 04/08/2009 5:54 AM |
|
|
Claims Mentor published a list of about 125 questions that a qualified catastrophe adjuster should be able to answer about 1.5 months ago.Dig up this list and if YOU can not answer EACH question..... YOU ARE NOT ONE of us.
|
|
| 0 |
|
Luther Parker Hinesly Guest Posts:1
| 11/02/2009 9:25 PM |
|
|
I was a contractor for 35 years before I got my adjuster's license. A lady at Littleton group suggested I try this sight. After reading some of the attitude from Ghost I am reminded what my dad once told me. "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all". Guess I won't be saying nothing about Ghost. I came in here looking for a mentor. I am sure Ghost had to walk 10 miles up hill both ways in the snow, summer and winter to get to school and I am sure none of his teachers helped him at all. They probably told him to go get a job, buy his own books, and get what he can out of the books. If you don't want to help someone, why would you even run your mouth in this forum? I am looking for a mentor in west Texas if any body is interested. I would rather pay a working adjuster to show me the ropes because I learn more from seeing and doing, real work, hands on. If anyone would like to meet and see if they would be interested in mentoring me, please give me a call.
Thanks
Parker
806-224-3927
|
|
| 0 |
|
| 11/02/2009 11:27 PM |
|
|
As I have posted in the past, the search for information can be a trip through hell. That is true in all occupations. There will always be that someone or group of someone's that seems to take delight in the exposing or amplification of a persons lack of knowledge. As a person looking to learn, we have to listen/read the comments made of this nature, try to pick out any good information and just IGNORE the sarcasam.
A term that is used on this thread quite a bit is Mentor, which Tom provided a very good orgin and definition of. In the skilled trades the person getting the "mentoring" was called an apprentice. Most of us in our early years got "mentored" by the guy we worked with the first few weeks on the job, or a supervisor. ALL OF US have been mentored all of our lives. Mentoring is just getting training, which is information on how to perform the task at hand. Some of us, I am very guilty, want to ask and get answers before we make a mistake. Many of us will make a mistake first and ask what happened after the fact. Some of us are satisified to go through our whole work life, making mistakes, hearing the "mentoring" (which is then usually in the from of a donkey bar-b-que), and still not learning.
As Bob mentioned above, in previous professions I have been proud to be a distributor of knowledge. The most satisifing thing I have ever done is to take a bright person, provide the knowledge that I have been given by someone else, and have that student become the teacher. In my experience, I have never turned down a request for information, if I was in possesion of that information. In a few cases I have sternly instruced "Students" if you are going to ask me for information, get a big chief tablet and write down the answers.
Each of us, no matter what occupation we are in, has an obligation to insure that those "secrets", "shortcuts", etc. that we wre taught or figured out on our own do not die when we do. Knowledge that is not transferred to another sooner or later becomes lost. Knowledge lost is a shame.
The name of this thread is Training-Licensing-Certification. The name of this thread seems to me very self explanatory, it is a place to transfer experienced knowledge to the in-experienced. Most "Newbies" by the name of this thread are going to look here first. The "experienced hands" that participate in this thread, due to the name and nature of it, should be here to help, not critize.
I have benifited from this thread, and continue to monitor it daily. I will continue to monitor, and hopefully become a contributor, not a reciepient.
Jim Acree
Stupidity is the art of not trying to learn
Ignorance is the lack of opportunity to learn
I am ignorant
|
|
| 0 |
|
SoFloAdjusterGuest Posts:16
| 03/12/2010 12:19 PM |
|
|
When I started out, I would follow other adjusters around all day and night...soaking in everything they had to say and do. I watched, listened and learned. Then I started handling my own claims a few at a time, and I had a senior adjuster who I would request to go with me and watch and make sure I wasn't screwing up. Well, a few months after that craziness and trying to work around their schedules all the time, I finall just dove right in...and I was fine!
David, my advice to you is to have confidence in yourself...learn as much as you can...read over as many policies as you can get your hands on...keep checking the forums for advice on certain topics...never be afraid to ask questions...subscribe to Insurance Journal and/or Claims online to keep up to date on different insurance issues...always be open to suggestions and constructive criticism. With your background, you'll be fine!
Ol' Ghost and OKCLARRYD...you do have some good points and I can certainly understand where you're coming from...but with that said, it's not brain surgery and it's not rocket science either, and if you think it's even remotely similar, y'all are crazy! LOL It's just claims adjusting...with a little practice and determination and hard work, I think anyone can do it, well considering they have the right mindset for it and aren't afraid of heights and they can read and write! You get all bent out of shape because somebody hasn't "paid their dues" like you have, but ya know, he has to start somewhere, just like all of us...just like you. I think maybe even brain surgeons say that to Interns LOL
Good Day!
SoFloAdjuster
|
|
| 0 |
|
Ray HallSenior Member Posts:2443
| 03/15/2010 1:47 PM |
|
If you can understand some complex quirks of wind/hail/hurricane losses like trees are not covered for windstorm nor is any growing plants. Sore ot what is debris, tree debris and removal from insured property an ex contractor can be an excellant cat adjuster. For that matter a person with a high school education and some computer experience can make good money drawing digrams of roofs and taking photos of roofs and ceilings of houses. This is what most windstorm/hail losses comes down too. Most adjusters will pay $30.00 per house for this task, and you do not need a license, just one day training. Do this for 30.60.90 days 7 days per week and you will have learned all you need to work roof claims and 95% of all catastrophe claims, that are not FLOOD claims fall into this bracket. You can easly do more than 10 per day. Just do the math and learn this way.
I think this is the way of cat. adjusting in the future. |
|
| 0 |
|
| 03/28/2010 6:46 PM |
|
I to have come from a contractors background. 20 plus years doing mostly hail storms. Last year I jumped in and did the Texas license and spun it of into 14 licenses. I have used Xactimate for the past 6 years but elected to do a lot of training with xactimate and MSB. Did a 5 day scoping class, got a rope/harness cert, State Farm cert, Fla citizen cert. All in the last 12 months.
Thanks Bob Harvey for that excellent California fire scoping post. I have spent a lot of time and money to learn what I need to know and I have to say your post was up there with my rope/harness instructor for value.
Kudos to the 2 post I got about Accu-line. My drawing skills just improved 1000%
Last comment, I am 63 and have been around construction for over 30 years and would be thrilled to have a mentor. This old dog is always ready for a new trick. Oh last thing I have yet to handle an insurance claim for the insurance company but when I do one skill We all need in spades is the right way to treat a customer. That contractor that started this thread, you have a leg up on a lot of folks jumping into this field. |
|
| 0 |
|
Ray HallSenior Member Posts:2443
| 03/28/2010 7:41 PM |
|
You will not have any problems. The right way to treat a customer is to tell them what you are going to do and do it. Please tell them you make a recomdation to pay the amout on your estimate. Answer any questions. Do not give hard dead lines for checks, etc. Wear your best clothes and drive your best vehicle. Get in and out, but do not be in a rush. You should be able to be in and out in no more than 30 min. on a simple storm claim. Its best to say NO when you are there. No the vegitation is not covered. No the auto and cycle must be turned in to the auto carrier. No your house must be unlivable to eat ever meal out. Yes I can sell the generator back to you for 50% of what you paid for it. Yes I can pay 3 people minimum wage to cut the tree off the house, fence, driveway. No the lmit on "tree debris" $500.00 total, not per tree. I,m sorry we can not pay for the leaning tree. Yes save your receipts to get you hold back, but you must spend the full amout in 6 months. If it cost more you should get approval before you get the work done as the company will want to approve the new amount. Work like this for a week and you will do OK. |
|
| 0 |
|
| 03/28/2010 8:18 PM |
|
|
Thanks Ray. If I am not mistaken you were one of the posters that turned me on to Accu-line.Thanks for that. Nice to read your post, like many in this forum you provide a lot of information that I think is going to be very helpful when I get my first shot.
|
|
| 0 |
|
ChuckDeatonLife Member Senior Member Posts:1110 
| 03/29/2010 12:30 PM |
|
|
Most of the old timers, those of us who have survived and are still surviving, attempt to give straight up advice. Unfortunately most newbies those that are poor students, failed in their last career and job, don't know the difference between "sight" and "site", aren't going to make it. Better that you hunt a less difficult job on the front end.
I have a consulting company, you can contract with me, on a yearly basis, cash money up front, and I will answer your questions. My qualifications are that I have been in this business for 30+ years and I got a pay check last week.
I am dolittle52 on Skype so the calls are free.
"Prattling on and on about being an ass with experience doesn't make someone experienced. It just makes you an ass." Rod Buvens, Pilot grunt
|
|
| 0 |
|