Repost- accidently closed thread of original.

[scampf]

Texas:

I am not a regular poster, I inadvertantley closed the thread of this pasted post. Please allow a variance if reposting this is in violation of the rules or accepted actions. I am not spam posting.

Texas:

Short and simple works best.

I am a GC in Houston TX. I am finishing a flood claim restoration that was dragged out by the Ins. Carrier for over 9 months. The original valuation after deductible was 15k. My estimate using the same industry normal software was over 100k for the same property. The good hands people went from assuring the homeowner it was a small thing and the difference would be straightened out speedily, to a concerted effort to disparage my reputation and drive a wedge between my customer and myself.

the 4th adjuster topped the cake. He called the customer, claimed that I was secretly trying to force the insurance into a number that was ridiculous and not based on reality and my real intention was to perform the repairs, then steal the home from the customer when the carrier denied any supplemental requests I might make.

What he did not know, was that I recorded our walk through, and that the homeowner saw through the lie because he had already heard the same adjuster request that I rewrite my estimate, dropping items he felt were not covered losses and raising my other costs so the claim looked more palatable for final approval.

I think someone owes me a big freaking apology. Is it not a crime to try and coerce someone to commit insurance fraud? To encourage a person to make false statements on an insurance claim.. oh yeah, a federal administered flood policy to boot? The homeowner was present and heard the entire thing besides it being taped.

All comments, snarky or not are welcome. Sour grapes aside, this is one of two that I taped where these snakes have tried to drive wedges between my customer and me, and succeeded in the other case. I lost that job and the customer stated it was the adjusters claims I was gouging that sealed my fate. Then he wrote his estimate $400 higher than my estimate? Claimed he was turning me into the Texas TDI for gouging, then pays more than my figure? how does that work?

Thanks for reading and your comments.

Texas.

 

[moburkes]

If the insurance company isn't paying what they should, that is between the homeowner and the insurance company. It doesn't involve you. What type of flooring do they have, that you determine the restoration is $100k, but the insurance company determines it is $15k?

 

[scampf]

No fundee, no money then no workee, of course it involves me.

If the insurance company isn't paying what they should, that is between the homeowner and the insurance company. It doesn't involve you. What type of flooring do they have, that you determine the restoration is $100k, but the insurance company determines it is $15k?

I am not getting paid unless I get the job. Holding out for $100k, knowing the job is correctly valued at $15K by the Ins Adj is about the dumbest thing I can think of. The Ins. adj knows my numbers are correct. He only wanted me to change my scope around and then value other items higher so I could remove other items he said were not going to be covered by the Flood Policy. Only when I refused to fudge my correct estimate did he get a case of sour grapes and try and throw me under the bus. He states on the tape, my number is the budget for the job and his job is to get to that amount with me. No kidding.

I don't give a rats ass about the policy language, my job is simple. Whats damaged? Whats it going to take to get it repaired? And then gently explain to the homeowner that a deductible rogering of $500 is coming his way in the form of an automatic deduction along with his depreciation amounts, and even though I think he is a great guy. The job is what it is. The price is what it is. And yes, its going to be over 100K to do this because its not just select Oak installation on purloins in a now useless asphalt bedding designed to keep moisture out as well as it keeps it in when it's flooded.

Unlike our Adjuster friend, I don't work as a Contractor on the side. This is what I do for a living brother. Practice ended when I took on the responsibility of a wife and kids. My estimates are market valued, I mark up as much as 65% on higher end work for fussy customers, but the norm is 35% and thats a number I crunch all the time, because it is too close to the edge and one bad turn can ruin Christmas for everyone.

I do not even pretend I know what the couch, clothing and TV will cost to replace, that is between him and his insurance. Correctly estimating my part of the project is what I am there to do, otherwise I own a fax and they could have faxed the Adjuster worksheet to me instead don't you think? I go out so that the Masonite siding is not just correctly measured and estimated, I am there so that everyone recognizes the cost involved abating the asbestos siding that the customers Grandfather encapsulated with the Masonite instead of removing.

I know the Sheetrock is so thick with texture it has to come off to the ceiling line, because matching or removing the texture is just economically unfeasible. I am there though, because the customer know dick about these things and was already tricked into a 15K check once before. I wanted to see if this method of low-balling a claim, at my expense was simply the new method of business and I was powerless to stop the defamation and slander. I can trim a lot of time by just not interacting with Adjusters period if this is the case.

Thanks

 

[Zigner]

The point is, the insurance company has an obligation to THEIR client. YOU are not THEIR client. If you don't get paid, you will end up suing the homeowner, NOT the insurance company.

ETA: I just noticed that you don't even have this job yet. You can't force the insurance company OR the homeowner to use your services.

 

[moburkes]

My bad, I thought you said "floor" claim, but you said "flood" claim. Not your brother, though.

Still confused though. What are you saying which costs $100k, but they are saying is worth $15k. It appears you are using replacement cost for contents. Contents are always ACV for flood claims.

If you're not concerned about the policy language, that's YOUR problem, not the insured's, or the insurance company's. If the insured accepted the policy, then they accepted the policy. What you think doesn't change the contract.