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Last Post 03/04/2009 3:22 PM by  JimGary
AUTO ADJUSTING
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becky
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07/08/2008 9:12 PM

    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 

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    okclarryd
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    07/08/2008 9:16 PM
    Vale Tech, Becky

    That's the ticket
    Larry D Hardin
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    becky
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    07/08/2008 9:37 PM

    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.

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    JimGary
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    07/09/2008 9:26 AM

    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

    I know the voices aren't real, but sometimes they're right!
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    Florida Boy
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    07/09/2008 9:29 AM
    Posted By becky altmon on 07/08/2008 9:12 PM

    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 

    Get a job with Progressive etc. They will train you. You will learn -0- looking at old estimates.

     

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    becky
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    07/10/2008 10:21 PM

    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??

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    HuskerCat
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    07/10/2008 11:23 PM

    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.  

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    JimGary
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    07/11/2008 10:43 PM
    Posted By becky altmon on 07/10/2008 10:21 PM

    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?? 



    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

    I know the voices aren't real, but sometimes they're right!
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    becky
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    07/11/2008 11:50 PM

    Jim,  thanks for your honesty!!!!!

     

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    HuskerCat
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    07/11/2008 11:57 PM
    Posted By becky altmon on 07/11/2008 11:50 PM

    Jim,  thanks for your honesty!!!!!

    Becky, I hope you didn't take me wrong.  Jim probably gave you a better & more polite answer than I did.  And I am sorry for that, but.......til you do the do, who knows?  You got options. 

     

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    becky
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    07/12/2008 12:36 PM

    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.

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    Florida Boy
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    07/12/2008 1:02 PM
    Posted By becky altmon on 07/12/2008 12:36 PM

    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.

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    StormSupport
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    07/12/2008 3:17 PM
    Posted By becky altmon on 07/12/2008 12:36 PM

      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.

    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!

    Do the right thing, ALWAYS
    ~Meg~
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    Kevster898
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    03/01/2009 11:09 PM
    Like many folks I having to change careers and I have landed here.  I am very interested in getting a staff position as an Auto Adjuster or Estimators position.  However, I know for a fact that many of them require a degree or 2-3 yrs of exp. in adjusting or collision repair,  I have neither.  I do have the time to go to Vale, which I have been told is the best!!  The training that they offer in their auto est. 3000 course, will it help me in getting my foot in the door with a company.  I been looking for some auto collision courses, but not much luck there.  Any thoughts where one could go for a basic collision repair course?  Any help or advice would be most appreciated.
     
    Thanks
     
    Kevin
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    ChuckDeaton
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    03/02/2009 9:48 PM
    Remember the old saw, "Cobbler stick to your last." Kevin if you have to ask the questions in your post you will be extremely lucky to find any work after you go to Vale. Go back to whatever it was that you were doing before you had to "change careers."
    "Prattling on and on about being an ass with experience doesn't make someone experienced. It just makes you an ass." Rod Buvens, Pilot grunt
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    Kevster898
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    03/02/2009 11:24 PM
    Chuck I would like to go back to what I was doing, however do to an auto accident I am not able too.  But thanks for the advice.  I only asked the question so that I don't waste what little resources I have.
    God Bless
     
    Kevin   
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    Ray Hall
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    03/03/2009 4:07 PM
    Kevin this is a true story. A young man I know took a part time job writing sheets in a large body shop in Houston on the weekends. He learned the estimaties and was promote to the service manager of a dealership in San Antonio. Try this approach.
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    JimGary
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    03/03/2009 5:30 PM
    Kevin, Unfortunately, Chuck is right. And the plain fact of the matter is, that auto adjusters, at least on the cat side, make an average living. At a good shop, you can make a good living if you know your stuff and keep your work done. The hours are long, usually 12+ a day. It is true, most companies are requiring a degree. but experience at a shop will help. Try one of the big chain shops in your are, some have training programs. Good Luck

    JWG
    I know the voices aren't real, but sometimes they're right!
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    ChuckDeaton
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    03/03/2009 7:30 PM
    I don't know what kind of a job you had and I don't know anything about the job you can't do, but if you can't do it because of an injury, then Auto Adjusting ain't for you. You don't know pressure and exhausted until you have estimated another vehicle every 45 minutes for 10 hours a day, 7 days a week for weeks.
    "Prattling on and on about being an ass with experience doesn't make someone experienced. It just makes you an ass." Rod Buvens, Pilot grunt
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    JimGary
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    03/04/2009 3:22 PM
    Chuck, That's an easy day on the drive in, last one I was in we wrote 30-45 a day, ran cars from 7a to 7p, 4 bays deep. and all the files were complete before we left. It was actually fun, but you were beat by the end of the day. They sere setting appointments every 10-15 minutes, and then working people in as they showed up unannounced. I sure was happy to get back into the field.
     
    JWG
    I know the voices aren't real, but sometimes they're right!
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