How to Become a Preferred Contractor
|
Logged in as: Guest
|
NOTICE: We are no longer using this forum for discussions. Please follow the links to the new forums.
Catastrophe Central-The Adjuster's Forum : Community Center- Forums
New Site Registration : New Site Login
Login  | |
|
How to Become a Preferred Contractor - 1/4/2006 7:58:54 PM
|
|
|
pdaparts
Posts: 1
Joined: 1/4/2006
Status: offline
|
Hi All!
We are a small construction company in the sacramento, ca area. The question is: How should we expose our company to insurance adjusters for fire and water damage claims? Do independent adjusters refer contractors to the homeowners as well as staff insurance adjusters?
Are there any pointers you can think of that would help us to market ourselves to the adjuster community? Are there forums or online vendor databases that you use frequently to find contractors (besides yellow pages)?
Regards,
David
|
|
|
|
|
RE: How to Become a Preferred Contractor - 1/4/2006 8:19:26 PM
|
|
|
khromas
Posts: 606
Joined: 4/19/2004
Home base: Houston, Texas
Status: offline
|
David,
Cat adjusters have NO authority to recommend contractors and are actually instructed to not be involved in the selection process. Your best bet is to talk to the carriers directly themselves. They do have programs but we are so far down the food chain it is ridiculous.
_____________________________
Kevin Hromas
_______________________________________
Definition of a LIBERAL: a person who is so open-minded that their brains have fallen out!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: How to Become a Preferred Contractor - 1/4/2006 8:25:01 PM
|
|
|
rainmaster
Posts: 52
Joined: 12/6/2005
Status: offline
|
Be honest. Know what you do. Carry a 40 ft ladder. Get certified in mold/fire. Advertise to homeowners. Learn what an adjuster needs to close a claim(these forums will help). Talk to your own broker about how to work with homeowners. Get referenced by brokers. The good adjusters generally do not reference contractors but they do know how to close a claim and they will figure out how to use you if you are honest and fair. Import Nutria to Sacramento levies. Drink coffee and hustle. Oh ya, be patient, it will come.
I understand that the levies around Sacramento are in as poor of shape as the levies around New Orleans. Good Luck
|
|
|
|
|
RE: How to Become a Preferred Contractor - 1/4/2006 10:44:16 PM
|
|
|
Wes
Posts: 616
Joined: 4/19/2004
Home base: Deerfield Beach, FL
Status: offline
|
Not all insurance carriers have a (Preferred Contractor) program. They do not want the liability of recommending someone to perform work on an insureds home. One carrier that is deeply involved with a (Preferred Contractor) program is Allstate. It is easy to get on their program. You just have to have the cheapest cutthroat pricing for your work as possible.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: How to Become a Preferred Contractor - 6/2/2006 9:10:35 AM
|
|
|
shannymck
Posts: 4
Joined: 6/2/2006
Status: offline
|
I can assure you, you do not want to be a "Preferred Vendor". I worked for Allstate for 3 years and there is no money in roofing if you are a preferred vendor!!!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: How to Become a Preferred Contractor - 6/2/2006 6:03:15 PM
|
|
|
Big Bob
Posts: 185
Joined: 10/4/2005
Status: offline
|
Shannon speaks the truth, the prefered contractor programs will keep you buzy, and pay you wages.. and maybe enough for a new to you used truck every 15 years.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: How to Become a Preferred Contractor - 6/2/2006 10:27:15 PM
|
|
|
PORTASATGUY
Posts: 316
Joined: 9/15/2005
Home base: Homeless
Status: offline
|
I was Preferred Commercial Contractor for ALOT of years for a Few Larger Insurance Companies, I found that they "USED ME" to do settle their Claims, Had ALOT of BUSINESS, and Only Made money When I sold the Company! Imagine that!
_____________________________
R. Estes
Life is short LIVE IT!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: How to Become a Preferred Contractor - 6/14/2006 11:14:10 PM
|
|
|
Interstate
Posts: 4
Joined: 6/14/2006
Status: offline
|
I agree they can use you, but they can also help gain other business. I have had luck with programs to an extent. I just looked at AllState's site BTW and see nothing about how to get on their preferred contractor list. Out of all of them, this has to be the worst one. I am interested to see how it compares to others.
Thank you,
Darin
|
|
|
|
|
RE: How to Become a Preferred Contractor - 6/15/2006 8:45:41 PM
|
|
|
JRGIBBS
Posts: 2
Joined: 5/26/2006
Status: offline
|
I was a Preferred General Contractor for many years doing insurance restoration. Then one day I woke up and said all I'm doing is saving the insurance companies money. Because I was always busy working on fires jobs, water damage, tornado damages and roofing etc. One isurance company wanted us to buy all of the materials at 2 place. That was ok if you were working in town, but not every job was in town. They keep tell me thats what the O&P was for to cover milage and gas etc. Right I tell the for me to travel 100 miles or more to save the insurance company money. The small jobs were a joke.
Myself if was trying to get started doing insurance work. I would look for the smaller insurance co. to work for.
So I finally decided to become at Cat Adjuster about 1 year ago. Being a Preffered Contractor I already knew how to write estimates and scope damages. Hope this helps.
See Ya,
_____________________________
J.R.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: How to Become a Preferred Contractor - 7/5/2006 11:28:31 AM
|
|
|
bigrog1966
Posts: 9
Joined: 7/3/2006
Status: offline
|
I as well am a contractor outside of New Orleans area. Yea there is stilla lot of work for me and were doing fine, but I want to jump to the CAT adjuster as well. I have been writing them for free any way.
Roger
|
|
|
|
|
RE: How to Become a Preferred Contractor - 7/5/2006 11:54:53 AM
|
|
|
PORTASATGUY
Posts: 316
Joined: 9/15/2005
Home base: Homeless
Status: offline
|
I know there is a Group of Contractors who Formed a "TRIAGE" for Catastrophe Services. Mostly Roofers, and Building Contractors. I looked for this Organization on the net maybe youll have better luch than I!
_____________________________
R. Estes
Life is short LIVE IT!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: How to Become a Preferred Contractor - 7/6/2006 10:44:26 PM
|
|
|
scottlamp123@yahoo
Posts: 1
Joined: 8/30/2005
Status: offline
|
David,
I am an independent adjuster and was an insurance contractor for nine years before that. Insurance contracts are extremely lucrative. Like any other business decision it has to be a win win situation. Some companies pay like slot machines and others never pay. Some adjusters think like homeowners and don’t understand the construction business. You have to train them on the costs involved. Xactimate breaks this down and is the most widely used program used. I have found that a combination of independents and large company contacts work well. Market to adjusters if you can find them, or directly to the insurance companies. Remember that the insurance contracting business is about service, consistent quality, and happy customers (these things make the adjuster look good and keep the referrals going). Independent adjusters usually refer at least three contractors for liability reasons, but also tell stories about there contractors that take care of customers. Be the best not the cheapest. Remember you are NOT the bank just the contractor. Let me know if any questions. I also work as a consultant.
Scott
|
|
|
|
|
RE: How to Become a Preferred Contractor - 7/7/2006 5:01:29 PM
|
|
|
Dimechimes
Posts: 256
Joined: 11/3/2005
Home base: Destin, FL and Franklin, TN
Status: offline
|
http://www.triagenetwork.com/frameset.asp
Here's a link to Triage out of Jacksonville, FL providing Preferred contractors Nationwide direct to carriers.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: How to Become a Preferred Contractor - 7/7/2006 6:12:51 PM
|
|
|
dcmarlin
Posts: 145
Joined: 2/10/2006
Home base: Morrison, CO
Status: offline
|
I believe Crawford still has the referral program called Contractor Connection.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: How to Become a Preferred Contractor - 7/7/2006 7:06:12 PM
|
|
|
Dimechimes
Posts: 256
Joined: 11/3/2005
Home base: Destin, FL and Franklin, TN
Status: offline
|
Interesting that you should mention that about the Crawford program as the "About US" page from Triage shows the CEO sold his first restoration program to them:
James (Jay) W. Southerland, Jr. – CEO
Mr. Southerland began his career with Accenture, an international business and systems consulting company. After serving in various executive capacities with companies in utilities and banking, he assisted a regional heath care organization develop a unique managed care offering. He then ventured into the entrepreneurial world and founded The PRISM Network, Inc, which became the property insurance industry’s first national third-party administration restoration network. The company was sold to Crawford and Company in 1999. He has served as consultant to several businesses over the past few years, including assisting in the establishment of the industries first large loss restoration network.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: How to Become a Preferred Contractor - 7/8/2006 1:00:58 AM
|
|
|
rickhans
Posts: 65
Joined: 5/8/2005
Home base: Dallas, Tx.
Status: offline
|
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.
|
|
|
|
!! You are viewing a post in the forum archive.
NOTICE: We are no longer using this forum for discussions. Please follow the links to the new forums.
Catastrophe Central-The Adjuster's Forum : Community Center- Forums
New Site Registration : New Site Login
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts
|
|
User Agreement | Privacy Statement| Contact |Copyright 1995 - 2006 CatAdjuster.org. All rights reserved.
0.078
|
Printable Version
