A Note from Scott DeMelo, Supervising Property Adjuster

 

Here at Friedline & Carter Adjustment, LLC, one of the things we focus on is consistency in the order of items—the format—of a building-repair estimate. Our standardized estimating format allows us to complete a more thorough and accurate review prior to providing our work product to an insurance company.

With dwelling-repair estimates, for example, our adjusters use a top-down approach. This technique provides for a written, cross-section view of interior repairs, starting at the ceiling and working down the room to the subfloor.

With F&C’s standardized format, all related line-items appear adjacent to each other, making it easier to identify missing entries and verify quantities. The result is a simple, straightforward review for our team as well as for the insurance company examiners and, ultimately, for the insured and their contractors.

Consider an estimate for replacing a door and trim. With F&C’s standardized estimating format, the next entry following the door and trim on the estimate is for painting these items. By contrast, in a typical trade-breakdown estimate, the painting of the door and trim appears in an entirely different grouping, in this case, with all other painting. This approach requires the reviewer and any end-users to jump around the estimate to confirm accuracy. As a result, most trade breakdown estimating formats, especially on large losses with multiple affected areas, are more difficult to review, making the whole process slower and more complicated.

Consistency in estimating ultimately leads to a better work product that can simplify and even decrease the workload transferred to the insurance company examiners. For these reasons, we feel our use of the top-down estimating approach benefits all involved in the estimate review process.

Connect with Scott:
508‐771‐3232 Ext. 222
scott.d@friedlineandcarter.com