How to Avoid Rewriting Auto Damage Estimates For Revisions, Quality Control, or Corrections

As an independent adjuster or appraiser, there are very few things worse in life than inspecting a claim, writing an estimate, submitting your file only to get a lovely rejection letter back from quality control that you have to make changes.

Only thing that is worse is having to rewrite your estimate because you can't make changes to the one you already submitted.

This happens all the time with auto claims. So I'd like to give you a hack that I learned from the awesome people in my Adjuster Mentorship Community.

This hack will make sure you NEVER have to rewrite an estimate from scratch.

WHY DO YOU HAVE TO REWRITE THE ESTIMATE?

For those who are new or don't write auto claims, you are probably wondering, "Hold up, why would we have to rewrite a claim because they need us to make a change?"

For auto damage appraisers and adjusters, we typically write estimates in CCC One. CCC One does not allow you to open up a file once it is locked and make changes. You can only create a SUPPLEMENT.

IA Firms and insurance carriers require that our estimate is locked before submitting it to them.

How do we get around this crazy madness and avoid having to rewrite an estimate from scratch?

AWF Files.

CCC One has an export file type called AWF. This is typically required to be uploaded with the estimate and photos. The AWF file allows for someone to add your estimate to their system. Then lock your estimate and submit it to the IA Firm or carrier.

But the trick is this...

Export an AWF file BEFORE you lock the estimate and save that in your digital file on your computer.

If you get a revision request or rejection letter from QC you just upload your AWF file and you have an estimate already written with all the information in it and it isn't locked.

Make your changes, save a new AWF file and resubmit.

Build that into your workflow and you'll never have to rewrite an estimate again.

If you love getting veteran insights like this our Adjuster Mentorship Community drops gold like this all the time. Not just from IA Path Mentors, but from IA's just like you.

Training, Mentorship, Community.

Your Guide,

Chris Stanley