|
rickhans -> RE: How to Become a Preferred Contractor (7/8/2006 1:00:58 AM)
|
Pdaparts,
I have been a restoration contractor for over 30 years and specialized in insurance restoration for about 23 of those years but discontinued it 8 years ago. I did my first insurance adjusting 23 years ago. I had always been told that it was not allowed to refer a contractor to a customer and that it is illegal in Texas for an insurance company to have any interest in a restoration company.
I got most of my business through referrels from customers and friends mostly and some advertising which really did not get me much work. With the adjuster training and experience it certainly helped get jobs because I always would write a complete estimate that would go to the adjuster then sometimes we negotiated on prices. However, too many times prospective customers would use my estimate to get a claim paid then never call me back to do the job. After I started using adjusting software in '95 I probably lost more jobs than I got, probably because I could write the claim faster and was just being used, although on a couple of occassions it was the adjuster who caused me to not get the job. It got to where too many adjusters were walking on to the job with a contractor in tow. I argued vehemenently with one after a lightning strike burned the 2nd floor of a neighbor's house and she said that she would not pay for replacing sheetrock on the first floor even though it was virtually all water soaked.
Her contractor then wrote up his estimate and on the next meeting at the house, she backed down when he also included the sheetrock, but guess who did not get the job. The neighbor got a 3rd contractor to do the job.
If I start doing insurance restoration again I will try to approach it differently. Not being a public adjuster, I can't charge for doing the estimate and negotiating the claim for them, but I believe I can sign a contract with me to take the job through phase one which is primarily drawing any design documents, work up a detail project plan with pricing and options, (I will use my adjusting software for this), taking it to the point where any contractor could take the plan and bid on the job and all would be on a level playing field. I will charge for this phase 1 with the stipulation that if I get the contract from them, this charge will come out of their claim amount.
In a large area like where you live, there are probably many restoration contractors who will under cut your prices just to get the jobs. If you can charge an upfront fee this will probably tell you who is serious about doing business with you. So long as the contract is just for phase 1 and you agree to collect the fee when they get thier first insurance draw, you will probably get the job.
Most of my referrells came through realtors I knew and church members. You need to network and spread your card and brochure around to get the business. In smaller towns you might be able to contact a lot of the insuance agents because they usually get the first call on a claim.
|
|
|
|
