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!!!!!