So you're an adjuster, now what?

Good job! 

You passed the test. You’ve got your Adjusters License.  Now you’re a bona fide licensed insurance adjuster…on paper.

Passing the test makes you licensed, but it doesn’t make you an adjuster.

It doesn’t teach you how to get rolling, keep rolling and enjoy it along the way.

Getting claims, running them, writing them, turning them in, having them be accepted by the carrier, the insured and the contractor is what gets you paid and makes you an adjuster. 

In short, you’re an adjuster when you successfully and efficiently are closing claims. Or as they say in the field: Turnin’ & burnin’ or Runnin’ and writin’

Let’s get started.

Resume

Get your name out there. Not unlike any business you need to solicit if you want to get called. Write a resume heavy with any construction and estimate writing background. You want to show that you know what it takes to fix a damaged structure. Even if you don’t know how to physically do the work, you need to be able to show what needs to be done on paper, in the form of an estimate, reflecting step by step repair procedures.

Let’s say for example you receive a claim where a tree has damaged part of the insured’s roof. You will need to know what needs to happen to make repairs and be able to communicate it on paper. Such as; replacing the tree damaged insulation, rafters, sheathing, felt, drip edge, shingles, fascia, soffit etc. Notice I listed in an order that resembles the actual layers of a roofing system. If you get in the habit of writing your estimates in a way that makes sense, it will help you to not forget anything, and it makes it easier for your file reviewer to understand your estimate.

If you are working a flood you may want to start at the pad and work your way up on your room by room estimate; pad, carpet, baseboard, drywall, paint… We’ll go into more detail about this later.

For now let it suffice to say you want to impress anyone reading your resume that you know construction and you can write an estimate.

Secondly, if you have any knowledge at all of the Xactimate program you want to put the word Xactimate in your resume. It is the most popular adjuster’s program. The carrier will dictate which program you use, and most likely it will be Xactimate. We’ll talk about other programs later and by the time you finish this book I tell you how you’ll at least be able to put on your resume that you have working knowledge of Xactimate and other adjuster software programs. The key here is to just have the word Xactimate on your resume. It’ll help.

The next thing you want to show on the resume is people skills. Although technically your job is to determine cost of repairs for insured damages, really you’re in the people business. And don’t forget it. If you do—your life as an adjuster will be miserable. You need to do all of this in a way that makes everybody happy—as much as possible. You want to show that you’re able to communicate well with others. You’re the face of the insurance company—their representative. They want to know you will represent them well. 

In summary your resume should show that you have knowledge of construction, estimate writing, the word Xactimate, and you’re good with people.  

Go to http://catadjuster.org/  Scroll down and find the heading, Resume hosting, on the right margin. 

It states:

 Adjusters we provide a free resume hosting service.  Just create a free account, login and visit the Roster to add your information and upload your resume.   The Roster is used by many employers to locate adjusters so don't miss out on an opportunity add your name to the National Adjuster Roster.

Jump through the hoops and get your name listed on their roster as a licensed adjuster ready to be deployed. Then turn your ringer up and listen for the phone. While you’re waiting be sure to finish this book, so you’ll know what to do when the phone rings.

Also while you’re at CADO (Cat Adjuster Dot Org.) click on the ‘Classifieds’ tab. It’s located on the top second from the left. Then click on jobs. You’ll notice venders looking for adjusters.

A vender is like an employment agency for adjusters. A carrier is the insurance company. Click on any vender looking for adjusters and send them your resume. You may need to fill out their online application to be officially on their roster. Getting on a roster is simply getting your name on their list of adjusters. Get on as many rosters as you can for starters. Of course, you can’t deploy for more than one vender but until you get your foot in the door and have more work than you can handle—get your name on every roster out there.

You see, a vender wants bragging rights to the carrier. So, the more adjusters they have on their roster the more they can tell the carrier they can handle.  

The carrier (insurance company) can make one phone call to a vender (adjusting company) and say we need a thousand adjusters on the east coast. The vender puts out a deployment request to the adjusters on their roster.

In catastrophes with advance knowledge, like a hurricane, the vender will put adjusters willing to deploy on standby. Which means: be packed, have the truck full of fuel, and if we confirm be ready to roll.  

See, it's not all about being there, it's what you do before to get you there. Know before you go. 

Adjust well, 

Doug

Adjusting, everybody’s got to do it…some do it for a living

Adjusters Life@aol.com

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