I don't know how to put this in as few words to fit in the subject line, but, just after the storms here in FL, I started getting more requests for bids for insurance jobs. The customer would usually try to get me to bid real high. I now realize that they get the money and then call someone else to do it cheaper. Has anyone noticed this? Is this a common practice? Why didn't it occur to me before?
Dan
Insurance repair work is lucrative. It can pay very well, and the contractor only does the work contracted. Bidding high as the demand is high, and the repair work firms available is comparatively small. There's nothing wrong with "subbing out" work. Yep, some are comparative "ambulance chasers" for broken home claims. Yes, the customer can make money off of this too at their own risk by accepting a certain amount of money to close a claim. The insurance companies policies regarding bids and their requirements created the monster you're speaking of. More people simply found the "loophole", and make money off of it. Insurance companies don't care, they just want to expedite the numerous customer claims. Sadly, this does not only happen in the state of Florida. Am surprised that you're surprised by this.
requests for
someone else
It is not unreasonable to require a fee for estimates. It is common in the Charleston SC area for the better contractors to charge $75 / hour. That fee is often reduced when actual construction work is awarded. You will "loose" a few chances to do estimates. However, if you count your time worth anything, it's not a loss. TB
I think your definition of "don't care" and viewpoint of the insurance companies' ultimate objective(s) are somewhat off target...
I can assure you the primary concern of the insurance company isn't to "expedite" claims only in the sense of a speedy response.
Too honest?
Tell them to come back for a better quote once they get the insurance claim settled.
and you wonder why US medical/dental bills are so high.
On the flip side of that, what percentage of income is paid as tax where you are?
Nothing's free.
R
I saw an example of this on one of the court shows where a woman had done this as a result of one of the hurricane storms in her area. The judge saw right through her though and the contractor that had sued her won his case.
It doesn't matter how much prepared you are for something because something else will always come along that is either new or different
- as far as scamming people are concerned.
In an indirect way this is one of the reasons why insurance costs are so high and why you have to go through a lot of paperwork just to get one's insurance claim approved.
Rose
subject line,
more requests for
get me to bid
call someone else
practice? Why
If you were a dishonest scammer, you would have noticed instantly what was going on. But you dont think that way, so you were expecting as usual that the request for quote was legitimate.
One solution is to charge for quotes, tell the customer that if you get the job its deductable from the price of the job if you get it. That eliminates the scammers.
and saves you a lot of time if you can afford to blow off some work. or you can ask ahead of time if they want a 'first class high end repair or something in the real affordable range'... the scammers will want the high end quote.. your clue to inform them that you charge for quotes and save yourself the trouble.
Phil Scott
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.