Negotiating techniques

It seems like most of you guys here do residential roofing and have dealt with insurance adjusters at some point.In my limited time in this line of work I've seen them approving roofing claims that don't have a lot of damage and turning down others in the same shape or worse.What's the best way to deal with them?

ARRRRRRRR, WELL SHIVER ME MONAYS THER , we says for shure. Tha best way ole Jack has found to deel with them adjusters, is at the point of me blade ther....wurks quite well ther , it does.

when that dont git us nowhers, we slip upon tha ole victums.....er....homeowners roof n we simply help Mister Wind disloge a few more of tha tabbers ther....arrrr, wurks wunders, it does.

Take lots of pictures showing interior damage,exterior damage in your report mention the risks including MOLD , additional interior damage

Minn and Ciak. Thanks for your advice.You both make good points :)

Albo Minn has some good points .I don't agree with some of them nonetheless, what he didn't tell you was the first questions to the adjuster is how many claims is he currently handling. That would be the beginning of the negotiation along with a discussion of the scope of the damage. The adjuster "gets points" from a QCR based on the number of settlements with sound recommendations of the settlement. This is how the adjuster continues his good ratings . Settling claims at a minimal but satisfactory amount is a factor that is balanced by needing to process and dispose of the number of claims outstanding. It doesn't play well on the adjuster to hold a lot of claims in his cue . The insurance company's want them settled

Alba, When dealing with the on site adjuster - Offer him some donuts/coffee whatever it takes be nice and professional and try to get a good conversation going do not fight with them. They have met with thousands of contractors all pushing him and when he/she gets there they are expecting the same from you so need to losen them up a little. Alot easier for them to agree with you if they like you and alot harder for them to say no -- If you see the damage point it out and hold to your story but do not argue be nice - The main thing you are triing to get him to do is concede that there is damage even if it is as little as 1 shingle you need to get him to acknowledge it- once there you can show him more of the same -- If not you at least got acknowledgement that their is damage and it will be easier the next adjustment if you need one. Sometimes it helps if you ask them if they are having a bad day or dont you like me or did i do something to offend you etc if they are not seeing things your way.

Once you get the paperwork back hopefully he covered something -- that is when you supplement for unrepairable and code update/s ( or more damage )to prove as to why you need to replace the whole roof or whatever and hopefully there is full replacement coverage.

It also helps to have things itemized before the adjuster gets there just in case they are having a good day

Min I do want to thank you for the idea that I could have the proceeds from that claim made out to me personally . ( Topic ) " Fire at one of my last rental " I was sceptical at first was advised by council that it couldn't be done. Perseverance paid off. I was W-9nd for the proceeds . As far as a 20 year old toilet etc . When I bought the property I gutted it and remodeled it inside and out . So most of what was old ...now new before the fire and after a phoenix has arisen out of the ashes. B) ;) :) :) B) I paid my premiums and my contract was full filled to the letter . The insurance company's can drive local construction + auto economy's . How H/Os responds to that is not the insurance company's fault. If a H/O turns in a claim and is paid for it . The insurance company is following the contract between them and H/Os . If it is bogus . The blame lies as much or more on the H/Os greed not the Insurance company . IMO B) ;) B)

Ciak, Look at your own property Insurance paid out very well did they not? If you were the insurance would you have been this easy to yourself? Only if it gave you the license to steal which is what we are giving them -- they just charge more and more -- what'd they give you for your 20 year old toilet and 40 year old siding and 15 year old roof -- You got a spanking brand new home for free!!! which everyone pays for.

You could find me a shingle roof anywhere here in MN -- If it is not new i could get insurance to buy a new roof and find damage significant enough 2 out of 4 times even if there was .5 inch hail reported witin that zip code. or 40 mile per hour winds - I have had countless hail inspections where i told the homeowner i cannot meet with your adjuster on this job because i do not see significant enough damage done to your roof -- but you still have a good chance at getting it since they bought every other roof on the block -- call them out and give me a call and let me know how it goes -- sure enough 2 weeks later Homeowner calls and says they sent me a check what do i do now?

You can also look at it this way i will take my 16 oz hammer and hit a new shingle on the roof and it will be fine for 20 -25 years -- yet i take that same hammer and walk up to your car or truck with the same force lets see what takes more force to damage it will be the shingle. Granted we had a few 2-4 inch diameter pocket of hail here but noting that justified the amount of coverage that was paid out.

Ciak, Yoy totally missed my point -- The only independant study that was done was by Haag Engineering in like 2000 -- They said shingles with no granules on them would last 20 years plus -- and that hail damage was and considered significant if the mat was cracked - this means lifting the tab and inspecting the mat -- I have seen all insurance companies use this independant study when denying a claim -- So the point you missed is they do not follow it 90% of the roofs being bought are being bought for granule loss or a mark where the shingle is scuffed -- so if these insurance companies were to go by the book on all jobs that would mean 90% of the roofs that were done in the past 5 years would still be needing new roofs soon.

And no i do not agree buying a impact resistant shingle does anything except make the manufactures more money -- i do not care if the asphalt mat is 1/8 of an inch thick or 4 inches thick like the road or my driveway they will still crack within 20 - 25 years.

Another situation maybe the shingles are not up to UL2218. It could be the suppliers don't want to stock UL2218 materials because they won't be able to sell the other junk in hail areas after each storm . The H/Os should be demanding UL2218 to stop two or three roofs within a ten year period . Lobby your community to mandate UL2218 and rid the market of junk shingles, Prohibit them by a performance criteria with code and enforcement !!! Not to put to fine a point on it, costs to the H/Os is the amount of the deductible they carry. Insurance may be there, when and if needed. However with all the needless losses you are seeing , caused by not using impact UL2218 roofing products, the question is whether H/Os will be able to afford the premiums. That in a nutshell is the problem you are facing . I would discus's with the H/Os about using UL2218 products before they make a decision. Inform the H/Os of these products. H/Os generally make the right choice . IMO

Itemize "everything " you do

CIAK, I am eagerly awaiting for your self-help, autobiography

Minn There is an interesting history of Die Hagelversicherung -- "Hail Insurance." Hail insurance first policy was written in 1733. Minn you might have alot in common with Kant, who in 1774, published ,Toward the Development of a Philosophical Position on Hail Insurance ,Zur Entwicklung einer philsophischen Stellungnahme über die Hagelversicherung. Prussian government outlawed hail insurance in 1778. You can read about it in the aforementioned book. Or you can read a review here http://andrewhammel.typepad.com/german_joys/2005/07/do_you_have_eno.html Enjoy B) ;) :) B)

Twill I believe you are begging to understand " Ciak " B) :laugh: :side: :silly: :woohoo: :side: :laugh: B)

I can guarantee these lawsuits are coming with premiums and all going up mark my words even the health Ins -- all you need to do is tell the doc your knee, back, foot, etc.. hurts and you cant live with the pain and as long as you have health ins they will cut you open for 10's of thousands..