Insur. co. do not care

theroofmedic Said: Your scenario of Joe blow Shoe Store is valid if it is a ACV policy- If your customer has standard commercial RCV policy than your customer will not get his depreciation.

Just having an adjusters license will be mute unless you become an expert on policy. Having a license in anything makes you responsible for the laws and regulations that govern that particular license. Having that adjusters license now opens you up legally... because you know.

If you want my humble opinion take that 33 years of experience and locate those building owners with ACV polices... That is the gold mine with roof restoration, that is where you can really help commercial property owners.

I was retained by an commercial underwriter to put ACV Values on their ACV property portfolio. This is the exciting part for you Tim- It is a WIN WIN for both a commercial property owner with an ACV insurance policy and a contractor who offers your type of roof restoration. $$$$

You realize don't you Nick that having your adjusters license restricts your involvement on the roofing end of it, right? And that's not right that it does. It is the nanny state pretending to protect mom & pop from the mean ol' fly-by-night roofer.

That theory holds no more water than it does to attempt to deter gang murders by making it harder for law-abiding citizens to get or carry a gun.

I just despise being told how to run my business, especially when it is by some local building inspector who is a failed roofing contractor. I despise being told that I have to color within the lines - the Adams are an impatient lot and we have many roofing and other inventions/innovations to our credit. I don't like being told to do just what everyone else is doing - again - especially when most of those making the "rules" are clueless.

I make retrofit roofs that have a history of lasting 30 years plus. I will entertain critique about how I should do it from all those who have some that are 31.

More importantly, we're killing the American spirit of innovation by creating these arbitrary rules and regulations that serve no real purpose other than protecting profits of a few. Our founders warned against trading liberty for safety.

I do agree that the big storm trooper companies have caused some of these issues. Some of them have enormous and elaborate teams and connection with the insurance industry and can do north of $100 million in a hail storm.

Repairs/recoating is not depreciated. Just guessing but I'd guess that 25% of the time the insurance company came back out to verify the work was done. Usually I email them pics about 80% through and they call it good.

I don't want to be an expert on policy. I don't even want the license. It is merely a legal hoop to jump through. I just need the parchment.

Just as with my infrared class and certification, 99% of what I had to learn to pass, was useless for my needs. I needed to learn the theory of infrared and you can learn that on the internet. Granted, that was 2000, and now the infrared courses are more roof-related these days.

theroofmedic Said: Since being trained in adjusting and insurance policy I better understand the insurance industry. EVERYONE has to understand that your insurance policy is an agreement of shared risk. Filing a claim is not like winning the lottery. The first monies paid are the deductibles. My personal opinion, (for what its worth) is that dishonest and greedy contractors have perpetuated the insurance racket. I know these are strong words but I have been on both sides- in my first year of adjusting I have been appalled at roofers, General contractors and PAs and their greed to fleece insurance companies.... FREE MONEY! This type of business practice makes it hard for the good and honest contractors.

Many property owners are talked into filing claims that arent there or have been erroneously promised a free roof by these predatory contractors. I have written a book on this subject, hopefully it will educate property owners and help stop this viscous cycle and allow the good honest contractors a chance to expose the bad ones. BTW, it is available for free download on my website.

Your scenario of Joe blow Shoe Store is valid if it is a ACV policy- If your customer has standard commercial RCV policy than your customer will not get his depreciation.

Just having an adjusters license will be mute unless you become an expert on policy. Having a license in anything makes you responsible for the laws and regulations that govern that particular license. Having that adjuster's license now opens you up legally... because you know.

If you want my humble opinion take that 33 years of experience and locate those building owners with ACV polices... That is the gold mine with roof restoration, that is where you can really help commercial property owners.

I was retained by an commercial underwriter to put ACV Values on their ACV property portfolio. This is the exciting part for you Tim- It is a WIN WIN for both a commercial property owner with an ACV insurance policy and a contractor who offers your type of roof restoration. $$$$

People have forgotten how to be free in this country. I am about 2/3 of the way through getting my adjusters license online. And the only damn reason is to avoid any legal tussles, not because I think it serves any useful purpose for what I do with it.

The course is easy and 99% of the content is stuff I don't need to know to do what I've been doing for 33 years. It's doubtful that 2% of the course's instructor collectively know 40% of what I know about hail damaged commercial roofs. It's just another damn hoop to jump through.

One day maybe those who propose these silly regulations, will themselves find themselves a victim of them.

When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist. When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist. When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat. When they came for the Jews, I remained silent; I was not a Jew. When they came for me… There was no one left to speak out.

---Martin Niemöller

theroofmedic Said: Just remember under new Texas law: Prohibitive Conduct (sections Sec. 4101.251 & 163) As a contractor you can not represent an insured- Only a licensed PA can do that. The function of a contractor is to provide a scope of work and expertise of the scope of work if required.

This law has empowered many PAs. Under Texas insurance code: participate directly or indirectly in the reconstruction or engage in any other activities that may reasonably be construed as presenting a conflict of interest. Which they are zeroing in on the contractors. EVERYONE remembers the case: Reyelts vs. Lon Smith Roofing and Construction

That cuts both ways: Sec. 4101.251. CERTAIN ROOFING-RELATED BUSINESS PROHIBITED. (a) An insurance adjuster licensed under this chapter may not adjust a loss related to roofing damage on behalf of an insurer if the adjuster is a roofing contractor or otherwise provides roofing services or roofing products for compensation, or is a controlling person in a roofing-related business.

A roofing contractor who owns a guarantee on an insured's roof, is entitled to establish a price for repair of hail damage to his roof. Nothing has changed there.

Thirdly and more importantly, it is all a shell game that sheeple use to protect their rice bowl. They promulgate and then hide behind legislation, the only purpose of which is to limit competition. The property owner is not protected by this in any way, nor was it ever intended to help them. It was intended by the insurance lobby to help insurance companies limit costs.

Just one part of the fallacy of it all is that the whole theory falls apart if the roofer is not part of the claims process. As an example: ABC Insurance pays Joe Blow Shoe Store $24,000 minus $5,000 deductible to replace his hail damaged roof. John Doe roofer comes along, completely oblivious that Joe Blow netted $19,000 for a new roof. John Doe runs a very small roofing company, a tight ship which controls its costs, and thus he can make a fair profit by bidding the job for $17,000. Did he cover the insured's deductible? No, he didn't!!! And the only difference between him and a roofer that would be breaking a new law is that John Doe wasn't part of the claims process. Every other detail is exactly the same.

Baaaa.

Just remember under new Texas law: Prohibitive Conduct (sections Sec. 4101.251 & 163) As a contractor you can not represent an insured- Only a licensed PA can do that. The function of a contractor is to provide a scope of work and expertise of the scope of work if required.

This law has empowered many PA's. Under Texas insurance code: participate directly or indirectly in the reconstruction or engage in any other activities that may reasonably be construed as presenting a conflict of interest. Which they are zeroing in on the contractors. EVERYONE remembers the case: Reyelts vs. Lon Smith Roofing and Construction

The insurance industry and the legislators they have bought and paid for, have some of you guys jumping through hoops like a circus poodle. I will NOT play that game - I work for my customer and his best interests.

They have roofers scared of their shadow.

Yes I agree with Tim I've been roofing Southern Louisiana since 91 and I've seen very little evidence of adjusters paying for damages that weren't there. After gustav in 08 we seen quite the opposite on a lot of claims, I would say my experience is most claims are grossly underpaid. We have to deal with the adjusters inside or outside to get pricing up to acceptable settlement exactimate is manipulated by most carriers to their advantage. Covering deductibles is an issue I cant stand they don't pay enough to begin with,our state is now advertising covering deductibles is insurance fraud. Problem is how do you prove it? Our state licensing board has come out on the issue also and you can have your license revoked but it takes proof and that's hard to prove unless a homeowner is mad at the contractor but then the contractor can say hey he paid me in cash.

Insurance adjusters rarely pay claims that aren't there. Ins Co's don't make billions by giving away free money. It rarely happens.

In 33 years I'd guess that for every time I've seen a claim get overpaid, I've seen 75 legitimate claims get underpaid or denied.

Since being trained in adjusting and insurance policy I better understand the insurance industry. EVERYONE has to understand that your insurance policy is an agreement of shared risk. Filing a claim is not like winning the lottery. The first monies paid are the deductibles. My personal opinion, (for what it's worth) is that dishonest and greedy contractors have perpetuated the insurance racket. I know these are strong words but I have been on both sides- in my first year of adjusting I have been appalled at roofers, General contractors and PA's and their greed to fleece insurance companies.... FREE MONEY! This type of business practice makes it hard for the good and honest contractors.

Many property owners are talked into filing claims that aren't there or have been erroneously promised a free roof by these predatory contractors. I have written a book on this subject, hopefully it will educate property owners and help stop this viscous cycle and allow the good honest contractors a chance to expose the bad ones. BTW, it is available for free download on my website.

I came from an area where insurance was not an issue- I had to find a roofing need, present the property owner with their issues, sell the property owner, do the work and get paid by the property owner. When I sold and semi retired to North Texas I went into adjusting... A whole different paradigm! This is where I was exposed to dishonest contractors, slick roofing sales people, poorly trained property adjusters and hate to say it... property owners who don't want to pay for their roof and feel the insurance company should pay for EVERYTHING including their deductible.

In most states, it is illegal for a contractor to absorb, "eat" or offer an "advertising allowance" (if they stick a sign in their yard or promise to use their roof in an advertisement), in lieu of the insured's deductible. Many times, double billing goes on which is complete insurance fraud. In Texas, this is rampant! Insurance companies are getting wiser and smarter and before long I think there will be more prosecution of dishonest contractors.

Roofguy Said:

If youre refusing to suggest your customers file a hail claim because of a personal hangup you have with the whole process, all youre doing is insuring that your customer pays a proportionately higher percentage of the profit that goes into the carriers pocket.

On the contrary- I suggest that ALL my clients file a claim if they have a roof problem. Under the current system in North Texas, you are a fool to pay out of pocket anything but your deductible. However, those who get the full life expectancy out of their roof are in a crap shoot whether they get a roof paid. Just because everyone else is getting a new roof every 7 years, doesn't make it prudent.

I lament what the roofing business has become. It is full of hustlers and slap on artists. No one cares about anything but getting a piece of the vicious circle.

Do you want to see where Obamacare is going to take us? Look at the insurance/roofing racket in North Texas.