How to go toe-to-toe with a contractor and win every time during insurance claims negotiations

Jon Isaacson, The Intentional Restorer, was invited to present a breakout session for the 2021 IA Path Virtual Job Fair.

What is the IA Path Adjuster Job Fair?

The IA Path Adjuster Job Fair is an online platform for adjusters and companies looking for adjusters to find each other. This is adjuster-specific networking designed for insurance adjusters and those looking to recruit and hire insurance adjusters. https://virtual.adjusterjobfair.com

This is a twice-annual event. Dates for the two upcoming events are,

• January 10th-12th 2022
• July [TBD] 2022

This event was created by Chris Stanley and his team. Chris was a guest on The DYOJO Podcast Episode 38 where, among other topics, we discussed how to work with an insurance adjuster's "box". Chris explained his process for working insurance claims in the automobile wing and how those principles can apply to property insurance as well.

For this presentation, How To Go Toe-To-Toe With A Contractor And Win Every Time During Insurance Claim Negotiations, we played off of the title of a presentation that Bill Wilson, author of When Words Collide, used to use to share his process for doubtful and disputed claims. We had the pleasure of diving into this topic with Bill and David Princeton (Advocate Claim Service), on The DYOJO Podcast Episode 48.

Sample dialogue from this presentation:

In insurance work, where Xactimate is the common estimating platform, the first step is to establish the agreed-upon scope (based on data capture) and then build an estimate that reflects this approach (data input). Thorough data capture leads to accurate data input. These are also fundamental elements of a contract. Insurance is a bit unique in this aspect, where the scope is negotiated between the contractor and the insurance carrier which establishes the agreed-upon scope whereby the contract between the customer and the contractor will be created.

The primary goal (aka the standard) for insurance claims repairs is: To restore the property to resemble pre-loss conditions, no more and no less.

This is the standard by which all efforts should be judged. This standard is critical to remember during all phases and starts with the estimating process. The property restoration estimator, insurance adjuster, and homeowner/insured should have a “meeting of the minds” to confirm the scope of work relevant to that standard.

The DYOJO Way of the Intentional Adjuster: Use this standard as your opening statement to the client as well as your introduction to the contractor, take the lead on the conversation and establish the process for your discussions. (Read more on The Standard) 

In insurance work, the agreed scope of work is a foundational element. While many people focus on the price, in insurance the standard estimating tool is called Xactimate which helps create a common language between contractors and carriers. Xactimate estimates are constructed based upon quantities and are composed line by line and room by room. While Xactimate is often over-utilized as a guide for the insurance claims repair process, it is also blamed when either party doesn’t agree with the output.

Thorough data capture leads to accurate data input.

The software’s role should be understood as communicating a fair and reasonable price in relationship to the scope of work necessary: To restore the property to resemble pre-loss conditions, no more and no less.

The DYOJO Podcast airs Thursdays at 9am PST, you can WATCH on YouTube or LISTEN on Spotify. The podcast for the intentional restorer, helping you shorten your DANG learning curve for personal and professional development. thedyojo.com/listen

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