If I was looking to be an adjustor.

What do you think of being a service writer for an exp adjustor, before getting my license and etc?

Would I still need all the xactimate traing classes and everything before I would be an adjustor? or does it count that they trained me and had me doing their work? Thanks Mike

I would like to clear the air on this Xactimate training.  Xactimate training is not required to be an adjuster. If you have learned from an experienced adjuster then I would not spend any money on additional software training.  It appears that people may be spending money on training that they may not really need and may never use. 

Look around people the unemployment lines are not getting any shorter.

Thanks Roy, what do you think about being a service writer 1st? Thanks

I'm not sure what a service writer is but working with an experienced adjuster is one the best ways to get into this field. If you were to set down in front of your laptop on a real assignment in most cases I bet you would be able to get up to speed on the software especially if you have someone with experience nearby.

Mike I'm not picking on you but what lead to your interest in this field? And why is Xactimate training on your to do list? There are a lot things that need to be learned before the estimate writting. But writting estimates for an experiance adjuster will help as long as you ask why from time to time.

Thanks Roy for the input.

I am a contractor now and really enjoy helping people go through the process and etc, but in the last few years(as i am sure you will agree) the qaulity of other contracotrs out there seem to be diminishing and I have found my self really getting sick of knocking on doors when you are competing against the shady types that are giving kickbacks, credits and the the host of other outlandlish things I hear every day.. I enjoy working storms and dont mind the hours that come with it.  But the area I really lack is xactimate and it seems like all the job ads displayed want that exp.  Which is why I was asking your opinion on that stuff.

As far as the service writer thing, here is what it is in a nutshell...

I guess they do the inspection and etc and then drop it on my desk and I do the estimate upload and etc for them so they are out looking at houses all day instead of being tied up all night doing the paper. Thanks Mike

Mike,

You're gonna have to have some degree of expertise in writing estimates and this is, in fact, the computer age. Xactimate, Simsol, MS/B, et al, all have training discs (I think) and if you're dedicated and can find someone to look over YOUR shoulder, you can become competent fairly quickly.

I think the secret to becoming competent in computer estimating is to actually do the estimate with someone with experience supervises your work. If you watch them, it doesn't seem to work as well. Accurate and thorough scope notes are the secret.

Assuming, of course, that you are dedicated, like 18-20 hour days, like 7 day work weeks, like dealing with folks that do not trust you, like doing your claims 3 or 4 times, sometimes, to satisfy a supervisor or manager, and the list goes on and on and .........

If you're a contractor, why don't you do the inspections and let the experienced older, fat guy do the computer stuff? Ever thought of that?