"Comp Bids" Come From Scabs
Andrew G. McCabe ???????
Xactimate Centralized Estimatics Director │ Author │ Expert Witness │ Licensed PIA
If you are a contractor, and you've been asked to write a "comparative" estimate for a loss on behalf of an adjuster, please simply say "no."
And if you can't do that for whatever reason, at least be decent enough to:
What follows is an email I sent in response to a contractor friend of mine. He asked what his fees should be for writing comp bids. Our email exchange took a turn and I could see that he may have been put on the defensive by my previous replies.
Hey Charlie,
I respect you and the work that you do.?Please don't take my objection to the situation as I see it, as a rejection of you or your intentions.
I am sure you will approach the task with honor and respect.
This is another way the carriers get us to police ourselves to our own detriment.?Playing Monday Morning QB is easy.?Too easy.?We all do things in our own ways.?I'm sure I could find several things you charge for that I would not and vis-a-versa.?It doesn't mean that you are "wrong" and I am "right".?It means we all grew up and learned things differently.
If "crooked contractors" was the real problem, you would see FAR more lawsuits filed and FAR more contractors getting investigated by States' AG and Insurance Commissioners.?The reality is that there is very little fraud happening.
Providing "comp bids" to carriers only allows them to further drive wedges between us as Restorers.?We don't need to be crossing the picket line to produce scab estimates for insurance adjusters.?Doing so only serves to reinforce the idea that we work for them.?We don't.
Writing comparative mitigation "estimates" is even worse though.?The only people who were there and can say without a doubt what was needed and what was done, is the mitigation contractor and the owner.?Everyone else is just guessing.
Make the carrier demand appraisal or launch an investigation if they believe they're getting fleeced by "crooked contractors."?This won't win you any favors with anyone, including your adjuster friend.
If you insist on providing this "service" to your adjuster friends, allow me to give you some advice:
1) Write the service agreement as an expert witness retainer, not an estimating service from a contractor.?If I was a contractor, I would sue every contractor stepping on my job site without permission for contractual interference.
2) Prepare every file as if it will be read aloud to a jury.
3) Consider #2 and charge accordingly.
The last "comp bid" I provided was a five-unit apartment building fire.?My adjuster "friend" told me he "really needed a comparative written" because the insured's contractor was "committing highway robbery" with his repair estimate.
I inspected, scoped and measured it.?I spent a week writing it (with the adjuster calling every other day to see if I was done).?My estimate was just shy of $500K.?He thanked me and said to send over my bill.?I sent an invoice for my time of $2,500.?Five minutes after hitting "Send", I got his call.
He was shocked and offended that I had charged him "so much."?I asked him what he had in mind.
"$250 is all I can pay for things like this," he said, "My other contractors don't even charge me."
领英推荐
They will never see the value you bring.?If you don't cut bills for them, they will stop asking you for comp bids.
#ThickestFileWins #VirtualInspections #RemoteEstimating #Contractors #CustomerCentricClaims #InsuredFirst #TheStructureSpeaks #restoration #largeloss #claimslife #estimating #Xactimate #CoverThatOverhead #dothehardthings #InsuranceClaims #LitigationSupport #appraisal #Matterport?#DroneMeBro #3dscanning #drones?
Get Matterport: https://amzn.to/3BG8gLw
~ Andy has been helping Restorers make better business decisions since 2012.? To book a one-on-one consulting call, click here. https://clarity.fm/andrewmccabe
Xactimate has been Andy's main focus since the early 2000's.? If you would like to experience the premier remote estimating service, QuickCheck is now taking applications.
To gain instant access to QuickCheck's estimating engine, go to WriteMySheet.com
Andy wrote the simplest water damage documentation system on the planet, The 24HR TECH. Access the online training at WaterDamageProfit.com
One-On-One Restoration/Estimating Advice & Coaching: https://calendly.com/insuranceclaimpro/talk-to-the-doc?https://clarity.fm/andrewmccabe
LARGE LOSS CONSULTING | APPRAISALS | XACTIMATE? | CLAIM SUPPORT
The 24HR TECH mitigation documentation system: www.waterdamageprofit.com This training system and documentation package will help you train techs faster and get paid more for mitigation projects. The 24HR TECH on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NVpZ9Y
The Claim Clinic Podcast: www.theclaim.clinic
Professional Consulting-Restoration Industry
3 年I have endless examples of consultants copying my ESX files and deleting valid scope items. The most recent JS something or other…. removed 100k from an obvious policy limit RCV loss to drop it below the limit and then hammer ?? it with depreciation….. Carrier fraud hidden behind a 3rd party consultants or contractors is destroying the institution of insurance. But don’t listen to me I just do the work and let others copy it and fraudulently they bill their clients. I’d love to see the hours they charge to copy my files.