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The Independent Adjuster Podcast (IA Path)
Ready to stop gambling with your career and start winning?
The Independent Adjuster Podcast is where Pathfinders like you find clarity, take action, and escape the traditional grind of the adjuster industry.
Host Chris Stanley redefines success with the EXP Free Path, teaching you how to think differently, act boldly, and claim your future without waiting for luck or experience. It’s time to build a career that works for you, one episode at a time.
The Independent Adjuster Podcast (IA Path)
How to Avoid Being Blacklisted by IA Firms as a New Independent Adjuster
One of the worst things to happen to a new independent adjuster or appraiser is to be blacklisted.
This is where one or more IA Firms or an insurance company list that an individual should not be given any work... period.
If the new person truly offends them they may share with other firms their dislike for the individual and it affects you potentially throughout the industry!
This list is also known as the DO NOT CALL list and several other names.
I've seen this happen to people for only a few simple reasons...
I'm sure you don't want it to happen to you, so I'm going to share how you can avoid this dreadful fate that can stop your career from ever truly taking off.
First off, note that if a specific carrier "blacklists" you it doesn't mean your career is over.
This simply means you can't work for that specific carrier. I've had people in a panic that they were blacklisted or put on the do not call list for a large carrier worried they'd never be able to work again... but this isn't the case.
There are other insurance carriers and plenty of IA Firms you could work for.
Onto the list.
How to Avoid Being Blacklisted as an Independent Adjuster
Today I want to share the biggest mistakes I see people who are new to writing auto damage estimates make so you can avoid them. For context, I've trained nearly 5,000 people with our training platform on how to write auto damage estimates and how to get started in our industry, and me and my team have nearly 1,000 we've personally mentored. So what are these biggest mistakes? Overthinking, clicking everything, bad scope notes, asking their customer how they should do their job. Thinking they know how to write an estimate because they have a license, carrier certifications. Okay, let's go through each one of these so you can avoid these estimating career pitfalls.
Speaker 1:Overthinking. Thinking is important. Overthinking is a career killer. You need to trust how you were trained to write an estimate, even those we certify as ready. Get into the real world and freeze. They question our process, don't follow the steps and begin to get creative because they think they are supposed to be smart. Writing an estimate isn't rocket surgery my favorite combo of rocket science and brain surgery. That's why we teach our students how to write estimates as a simple step of processes. If they follow the process, even if they don't totally understand it at first, they will successfully write an auto-damage estimate. Kill overthinking by having a process and following it and following it. Your confidence starts by trusting the process, but it will grow as you successfully complete claims. And then your confidence is confidence in you and your past estimates, clicking everything.
Speaker 1:We know someone is new when they write an estimate and just click everything. If I open up your estimate and I see clips, bumper brackets, retainers all on a 2RR bumper hit Noob. You can't write what you can't see, at least when working for carriers and firms at a shop. You need to estimate more liberally. Everything you write on an estimate needs to be justified with photos and your appraisal report. You don't know that all eight clips are damaged, so don't click them. But new people are worried they'll look dumb or like a beginner if they only write what can clearly be seen. But a true veteran writes only what can be seen and if they do make a judgment call, give clear reasoning why in their line notes. Random clicking is a giveaway, new person, so don't try to look smart by clicking a bunch Bad Scope Notes.
Speaker 1:Your estimate is written while inspecting the vehicle on your scope sheet. You don't just take photos and go write it at your estimate. This is a recipe for a new person to miss critical items and procedures. We teach our mentored students a thorough scoping process that guides them through writing down everything they'll need to add in CCC1 while at the vehicle. In their notes this turns into a checklist of what needs added into their estimating software to build their estimate. Taking the time to get this right ensures you'll have a good estimate. As an example, a single damaged door that needs repaired could turn into 17 items that needs written down on your scope sheet. Our step-by-step process guides them through how to know what to add to their scope sheet and therefore what to write in the estimating software. Take the time to write good scope notes and your estimate will reflect that.
Speaker 1:Goodness Asking their customer how to do their job. I can't tell you how many times I've had IA firms tell me a new IA told them they know how to write auto damage estimates and then call them asking how to print a PDF or do something they should already know. If you are an independent, your IA firm is your customer, not your trainer. Having your customer train you is a great way to have a terrible relationship. If you were painting houses, you wouldn't get someone to hire you to paint their house and then ask how do I mix the paint? Or can you show me how to use a roller? That is a quick way to lose a customer. You need to be trained and mentored by people outside of your customers. This way you can look professional and competent to your customers and provide the highest level of product possible. Thinking Icker License carrier certifications means they know how to write an estimate.
Speaker 1:Your adjuster license states you know enough about how insurance policies work.
Speaker 1:Nothing about estimating.
Speaker 1:Your carrier certifications state you know enough about how insurance policies work.
Speaker 1:Nothing about estimating.
Speaker 1:Your carrier certifications state you know the specifics about what a carrier would like on their estimates.
Speaker 1:That is different than the industry standard. Icar teaches you how a vehicle is made and repairs, not how to inspect, write and submit an estimate. None of these say that you are competent and know how to write an estimate to industry standard. So you need to make sure you aren't telling people you know how to write auto damage estimates. If you can't do it, start to finish without asking someone for help. If you convince someone to give you a chance and then you weren't ready, you could blow your chances. In our industry, word gets around fast, so understand ICAR. Adjuster licenses and carrier certifications are important and have a place, but they aren't a replacement for actually knowing how to write an auto damage estimate and knowing how to do your job. I hope that helps you avoid these costly mistakes in your auto writing career. Keep walking your path and claiming your life of PS. If you'd like our help getting you trained and working, check out our placement program that trains you, certifies you and gets you working guaranteed.