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re: Contractor won't give me an estimate
Posted on 9/1/16 at 1:47 pm to Topwater Trout
Posted on 9/1/16 at 1:47 pm to Topwater Trout
quote:
So a contractor thinks a job is worth 20k and the adjuster says nah 15k? well why would the contractor take the job?
doesnt matter what the adjuster says....if the contractor says is worth $20k and the homeowner agrees to pay him $20k but the adjuster only agrees to pay $15k, then the homeowner is on the hook for the other $5k
2
Posted on 9/1/16 at 1:48 pm to Jester
quote:
Getting talked down to by an insurance adjuster...
Well at least you admit to your faults and shortcomings. No worries, I won't hold it against you..
This post was edited on 9/1/16 at 1:49 pm
Posted on 9/1/16 at 1:52 pm to wickowick
what is the adjuster basing his estimate on?
one contractor may have more buying power with a flooring company for example...materials have to be the big issue right? because labor must be pretty consistent across the board for each contractor
one contractor may have more buying power with a flooring company for example...materials have to be the big issue right? because labor must be pretty consistent across the board for each contractor
Posted on 9/1/16 at 1:52 pm to tgrbaitn08
quote:
doesnt matter what the adjuster says....if the contractor says is worth $20k and the homeowner agrees to pay him $20k but the adjuster only agrees to pay $15k, then the homeowner is on the hook for the other $5k
Exactly. The homeowner deals with the insurance company, not the contractor. I'm not trying to make sure the contractor gets paid as much as possible so that my insurance rates go up accordingly.
Posted on 9/1/16 at 1:52 pm to sleepytime
It's an issue of trust and greed on both sides. Trustworthy contractors could and should review the claim with the customer to id work to be done in order to provide an estimate for the owner to compare "apples to apples" with other contractors. An RFP jester. Further, said contractor should audit claim for items missing to supplement. Contractor should also compare and use the lower unit price between their price list and the adjuster unit price in order to drive the customers cost below the RCV in the claim if possible. This isn't brain surgery or rocket science folks...
This post was edited on 9/1/16 at 1:58 pm
Posted on 9/1/16 at 1:53 pm to Topwater Trout
quote:
what is the adjuster basing his estimate on?
Estimating software, not perfect but it provides a very good detailed estimate to repair damages.
Posted on 9/1/16 at 1:53 pm to tgrbaitn08
quote:
....if the contractor says is worth $20k and the homeowner agrees to pay him $20k but the adjuster only agrees to pay $15k, then the homeowner is on the hook for the other $5k
I know
Posted on 9/1/16 at 1:54 pm to Jester
quote:
The homeowner deals with the insurance company, not the contractor.
No, if there are pricing discrepancies, it is between the contractor and the adjuster.
Posted on 9/1/16 at 1:54 pm to Topwater Trout
oh I thought you asked a question
Posted on 9/1/16 at 1:55 pm to sleepytime
Just to clarify a few things:
A: my impression from the contractor was that he was waiting to see what FEMA/nfip is going to pay out for different aspects of construction in general, not to find out how much money I was going to get.
B. I have flood insurance
C. There's no doubt that Fema is not going to pay for everything. It was time to remodel a few things anyway and I'm fully expecting to pay over and beyond what FEMA pays.
A: my impression from the contractor was that he was waiting to see what FEMA/nfip is going to pay out for different aspects of construction in general, not to find out how much money I was going to get.
B. I have flood insurance
C. There's no doubt that Fema is not going to pay for everything. It was time to remodel a few things anyway and I'm fully expecting to pay over and beyond what FEMA pays.
Posted on 9/1/16 at 1:58 pm to wickowick
Perhaps we're all on different pages in here. The way the OP reads and the way people have discussed their dealings with FEMA to this point, I'm under the impression the contractor wants to know how much assistance the OP is getting.
What does the amount of assistance from FEMA have to do with how much the contractor is going to charge for the job? Can any of you explain that?
What does the amount of assistance from FEMA have to do with how much the contractor is going to charge for the job? Can any of you explain that?
Posted on 9/1/16 at 1:59 pm to sleepytime
quote:
Just to clarify a few things:
A: my impression from the contractor was that he was waiting to see what FEMA/nfip is going to pay out for different aspects of construction in general, not to find out how much money I was going to get.
B. I have flood insurance
C. There's no doubt that Fema is not going to pay for everything. It was time to remodel a few things anyway and I'm fully expecting to pay over and beyond what FEMA pays.
I figured we werent getting the full story...
In other words your OP is a complete crock of shite
you should be banned
Posted on 9/1/16 at 2:00 pm to slackster
quote:
What does the amount of assistance from FEMA have to do with how much the contractor is going to charge for the job? Can any of you explain that?
The adjuster is setting the baseline for covered damages. Any improvements beyond the agreed scope of covered damages should have a separate estimate with the contractor and all those cost and work to be performed should be included and agreed prior to any work being completed
Posted on 9/1/16 at 2:07 pm to wickowick
quote:
The adjuster is setting the baseline for covered damages. Any improvements beyond the agreed scope of covered damages should have a separate estimate with the contractor and all those cost and work to be performed should be included and agreed prior to any work being completed
But none of that tells me why the contractor needs to have any insight into the covered damages. I agree you, the homeowner, should have both the estimate from the adjuster and multiple bids from contractors, I just don't know why the contractor needs to know what that estimate is.
How much FEMA is going to pay me has no bearing whatsoever on how much you should charge me for the work.
Posted on 9/1/16 at 2:14 pm to Topwater Trout
quote:
So a contractor thinks a job is worth 20k and the adjuster says nah 15k? well why would the contractor take the job?
Its up to the home owner then to either cut back on what he wants done, or to come out of pocket for the other 5k. Why does a contractor care where the money is coming from, as long as he is getting paid?
What this sounds like to me is that the contractor is going to say "ok, youre getting $28,000 from FEMA, $28,000 is my estimate". Rather than saying upfront that the cost is only $21,000. Its shady.
ETA: For my parents after Katrina, we did minimal repairs/ demo until after we rec'd insurance/fema assistance. No where, in any of the money they received, was it spelled out what that money was to be used for. The only thing the lender said was that a certain percentage of repairs had to be completed before the next check was cut.
This post was edited on 9/1/16 at 2:20 pm
Posted on 9/1/16 at 2:14 pm to slackster
It can be hard for someone not in the insurance field to wrap their head around how this works but it is a waste of time for the contractor to write and estimate before they see the scope of damages from the adjuster. What if they figure to reset the granite and the adjuster pays to replace it. What if the adjuster pays for the lower and upper cabinets but the contractor addressed just the lower or vise versa. The only way for the contractor to write a like-kind and quality estimate is to see what the adjuster is paying for in damages.
The homeowner could take the estimate, mark out the prices and hand it to the contractor to get a bid, but why? The prices are coming from a nationally recognized independent company. It is a good baseline. IF there are items missing for the estimate, let the contractor save his time to work to get money on those items. If the contractor sees and estimate for $80k and he can do all the scope of work for $80k, what does it matter? We know that if the contractor is working from the xactimate pricing, then he isn't price gouging...
The homeowner could take the estimate, mark out the prices and hand it to the contractor to get a bid, but why? The prices are coming from a nationally recognized independent company. It is a good baseline. IF there are items missing for the estimate, let the contractor save his time to work to get money on those items. If the contractor sees and estimate for $80k and he can do all the scope of work for $80k, what does it matter? We know that if the contractor is working from the xactimate pricing, then he isn't price gouging...
Posted on 9/1/16 at 2:16 pm to stout
quote:
I know. I wanted him to explain why he thinks it is, though.
If you do the work for under the FEMA grant and the homeowner spends that money on non-approved items and service, they're committing fraud.
If you would have done the work for under the FEMA grant, but you increase your bid to match the grant funds, they you're committing fraud (and possibly the homeowner too).
This is OUR money being used. Every cent should go to legitimate, market-rate flood repairs or back to the government. If your bid comes in above the grant, so be it, but wanting to know how much it is so you don't "leave money on the table" is fraudulent.
Posted on 9/1/16 at 2:17 pm to slackster
Contractors will lie and cheat you every chance they get. frick em
Posted on 9/1/16 at 2:19 pm to lsufan31
quote:
contractor is going to say "ok, youre getting $28,000 from FEMA, $28,000 is my estimate". Rather than saying upfront that the cost is only $21,000. Its shady.
exactly
Posted on 9/1/16 at 2:20 pm to wickowick
quote:
It can be hard for someone not in the insurance field to wrap their head around how this works but it is a waste of time for the contractor to write and estimate before they see the scope of damages from the adjuster. What if they figure to reset the granite and the adjuster pays to replace it. What if the adjuster pays for the lower and upper cabinets but the contractor addressed just the lower or vise versa. The only way for the contractor to write a like-kind and quality estimate is to see what the adjuster is paying for in damages.
I was with you until this part. The only way for the contractor to write a like-kind and quality estimate is to know the SCOPE OF WORK, not how much FEMA or insurance are paying for said work.
quote:
The homeowner could take the estimate, mark out the prices and hand it to the contractor to get a bid, but why?
Because that is how it should go in order to get the most competitive bid possible.
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