Hello, I would like to get into the auto adusting field, i hv been reading and researching.... i understand the collision estimates, but how do you write an estimate on a hail damaged vehicle???  count the hits for each panel?, is there a flat rate, use pdr?, if pdr not possible, do you paint every panel that has a hit that cannot use pdr??.   Also,  how do you write a flood estimate, if the water only covered the floor and never reached the seats, do i just replace the carpet and padding??.  Where can i find copies of old auto estimate that i can review...THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU GUYS CAN PROVIDE.    Becky 

Ok....i forgot to mention i do not hv funds for training right now, although i did purchase the $38 manual from Vale, it does not go into detail on hail and flood claims......any cheaper ideas?   I did complete the online mitchell training......Thanks for the suggestion,  I would love to go to Vale.

Becky, Handle hail exactly as you do collision. If a panel is damaged and conventional repair is used, then paint and maybe blend the adjacent panel. If you can PDR the panel, use a PDR pricing matrix from a reputable PDR company, and reference it on the estimate. And remember, its an estimate, not a contract. I have a PARS PDR matrix if you need one, just email me.

JWG

THANKS FOR ALL THE GOOD INFO!     With my limited knowledge...do you guys think i would be able to make it through a Pilot auto evaluation??  has anyone attended the Pilot auto eval??    what can i expect, what grade do i hv to make to pass??

That's a tough call, girl....we don't know anything about you.  Do you know the difference between a fender and a quarter panel?  It seems like you've done some research, so I expect you know the answer to the above.  So it comes down to you and your own confidence in yourself, but I think you got some pretty good advice earlier about trying to get a staff job with somebody like Progressive or the like.  They'll train you like you can't train yourself.  Otherwise, you want to take a grunt job at a body shop doing whatever & then learn the estimating part of it along the way as they find time to do it with you.  

I almost hate to answer this one but, here goes. I went through the auto eval in 2005  I believe, There was about 12 of us. About 1/2 of us knew what we were doing 1 knew nothing, absolutely nothing. I don't know about their grading system, but the person who knew nothing got a contract packet, just like I did. So go for it. I can't tell you whether that person got deployed or not, but according to the person running the eval, if we got a packet, we passed. I have never been avail when called by Pilot, but I understand its a first rate operation.

Good Luck

JWG

Jim,  thanks for your honesty!!!!!

Hey Mike, your answer was dead on also, others hv told me to get training from  progressive,  and i hv also been told to go work at the body shops for free---clean up,answer phones,do paperwork---in exchange for free training. I do plan on  doing this,  anything that can help me gain knowledge. Yes, i do know the vehicle components pretty well.  The things about Progressive...1) I'm 45, will they hire me, or do they just want college grads.  2) if I hire on with them and someone offer me a chance to deploy to an auto cat drive-in, I'm going to want to jump at that opportunity! even though I may not hv completed my training with Progressive. So, if we do not get a really big storm this season and noone takes a chance on me, then i will pursue Progressive. I guess a perfect scenario wld be to hire on with Progressive and they pay me CAT pay doing a big storm, (instead of the $35,000 entry level pay) and i would not hv to leave in search of a higher salary.  Does anyone know if Progressive pay their adjusters more during a major catastrophe??   Mike, I appreciate all your help!!!  I want to know the good and bad of this field. I'm just not looking to get into this for the money, i like helping people, i hv a lot of customer svc experience and i believe in finding solutions to customers problems and getting the job done right. I believe this field will give me the job freedom i'm seeking.

You will most likely need a degree to get on with most carriers. Auto on CAT is not  'big money' and you will not do well unless you are very good and extremely fast. Have you seen the fee schedule for auto? You will be paying your expenses on the road too. If it is a flood you will have to drive to the location of the vehicle to inspect it.

Wow, Becky, I don't mean to sound critical, but if I were in the hiring department at Progressive, or any other carrier for that matter, and I saw a statement like that, I'd be hard pressed to hire that person.  This is precisely the reason that most carriers are reluctant to hire CAT adjusters, because of the fact that they are quite likely to jump ship at the first catastrophe, yet get frustrated with the carriers during the lean times because they aren't hiring them, regardless of their experience.  

If you're  a new adjuster and seeking training its a good idea to develop some loyalty and dedicate yourself to learning the trade rather than have your eyes dazzled by the rumors of the quick buck.  Its just not true, the quick buck is getting more and more elusive and there is NO easy work involved. 

If you get hired, I'd tell you to dance with the one that brought ya!  Good luck to you!