You're spot on about flexibility. I've dealt with adjusters who seemed glued to their checklists, totally missing stuff like grading issues or drainage problems that can cause headaches down the line. Honestly, insurers could save themselves money if they listened more to field experience...
"I've dealt with adjusters who seemed glued to their checklists, totally missing stuff like grading issues or drainage problems that can cause headaches down the line."
This resonates with me. A few years back, I was involved in a custom build where the adjuster completely overlooked subtle grading issues around the foundation. At first glance, everything seemed fine—until the first heavy rainstorm hit. Suddenly, we had pooling water and minor flooding in the basement area. It was a costly oversight, and the insurer ended up paying significantly more to fix the damage than they would have if they'd caught it early.
It makes me wonder: is it purely a training issue, or is there something about the insurance industry's approach that discourages adjusters from stepping beyond their checklists? Perhaps insurers could benefit from more actively integrating builders' insights into their assessment processes. After all, builders see these potential pitfalls day in and day out...
Had a similar issue with an adjuster once... guy was laser-focused on his checklist but totally missed a drainage slope problem. Ended up costing way more later. Honestly, insurers could save themselves headaches just by chatting with builders more often. Seems obvious, right?
Had the same experience once—adjuster ticked every box but completely missed a framing issue. Ended up tearing apart half a wall later on. Couple things I've learned since then:
- Always do a thorough walk-through yourself before the adjuster shows up.
- Point out specific concerns directly, even if they seem minor.
- Keep builder notes/photos handy for reference.
Honestly, insurers and builders speaking the same language would solve half these headaches... but here we are.
Couldn't agree more about insurers and builders needing a common language—it's like they're playing telephone sometimes. But honestly, even with detailed walkthroughs, I've seen adjusters overlook stuff that's glaringly obvious to anyone who's spent time on-site. Keeping your own notes and photos is definitely key... learned that the hard way myself.
