Having an accurate roof materials calculation is only part of the battle. You need to present the Roof Waste Calcuation Report to the Insurance Company Field or Desk Adjuster combined with a compelling argument on why they should approve the additional materials based on the report you’re presenting. So how do you accomplish this? Below are several sample arguments that have worked well. Feel free to copy and paste these for your own use or create your own, whatever you believe will be the most effective. Bottom line, you need to do more than just email the Roof Waste Calc Report to a Desk Adjuster in order to maximize your effectiveness and approval rate.
Consider this. Successful Sales Reps have multiple pitches and use different ones to adapt to specific situations. One size doesn’t fit all. Supplementing is no different. What you can reasonably expect to be approved varies from Insurance Company to Insurance Company, Adjuster to Adjuster, Region to Region. Being 100% factually correct does not 100% equate to being fairly paid. An expert Supplementer understands this and adapts accordingly. Remember the old saying “Pigs get fat, Hogs get slaughtered”
Heading Paragraph:
Company Name has been contracted by the Homeowner to repair the damages related to the subject claim. The Homeowner has provided us with a copy of their scope of loss to review and compare to our own estimate. We have found several differences in the scope of loss when comparing it with our estimate. We have described those differences following and request they be properly reconciled in order that we may proceed with the repairs.
Approach 1 (Just trying to be paid the correct waste percentage):
Please refer to the attached Roof Waste Calculation report that has been prepared using mathematical facts to calculate the correct amount of roof materials necessary to replace this roof. We are following the guidelines set forth in the scope of loss to submit our differences prior to beginning construction. We are certain the quantity of materials specified in the scope of loss are inadequate to complete this roof replacement. The simple calculation in the Calc 1 section conclusively proves this.
Please note we are not disputing the roof area listed in the Eagle View report. We are disputing the amount of waste used in the scope of loss to calculate the roof materials. Specifically, this would be (type the line item for the Replace amount of field shingles) in the scope of loss. The correct squares of field shingles should be (type in the quantity shown in the roof waste calculation). Please modify the quantity for this line item to reflect the correct quantity of shingles that will be needed to complete this roof replacement.
Our preference would be to order the correct quantity of materials necessary to complete the repairs without delays due to material shortages encountered in the latter stages of the job. Our experience has shown that it is generally not possible to reach the assigned Adjuster or other Insurance Personnel in a timely manner or gain prompt approval for additional materials that are needed. Material shortages can result in additional incurred costs due to trip charges, emergency tarping fees and additional labor charges from the roof crew when they are forced to halt work and return another day to complete the work. These are real costs that would be incurred and would subsequently have to be included along with our supplement for additional materials. We hope you are in agreement and accept our proposed supplement.
Thank you for your consideration. Our mutual Customer is anxious to proceed with the repairs, we look forward to your prompt response.
Approach 2 (More aggressive approach, requiring the right amount of waste and cap/starter be broken out as separate line items):
Please refer to the attached Roof Waste Calculation report that has been prepared using mathematical facts to calculate the correct amount of roof materials necessary to replace this roof. We are following the guidelines set forth in the scope of loss to submit our differences prior to beginning construction. We are certain the quantity of materials specified in the scope of loss are inadequate to complete this roof replacement. The simple calculation in the Calc 1 section conclusively proves this.
Please note we are not disputing the roof area listed in the Eagle View report. We are disputing the quantity of materials allowed and the fact that cap and starter shingles have been bundled into waste. There is no justifiable reason for bundling cap and starter into waste. Cap and starter are unique materials that are different than field shingles. The Xactimate labor rate for cap and starter is more than 2.4 times greater than that of field shingles. This is fact and is easi ly verified. Were we to utilize the inaccurate bundling method for estimating, we would be underestimating the proper cost of this roof replacement by (insert the $ figure shown at the end of Calc 2 in the Roof Waste Calculation). We are convinced this request is both fair and reasonable. If you disagree, please respond by explaining how it is unfair or unreasonable.
Please revise line item (the line item in the scope of loss for replacing field shingles) to XXX squares of field shingles.
Please add a line item for XXX LF of ridge cap shingles.
Please add a line item for XXX LF of universal starter shingles.
Please note we have increase the quantity of LF for both ridge cap and starter that equate to full bundles of cap and starter. It is not possible to purchase cap and starter in broken bundles.
Our preference would be to order the correct quantity of materials necessary to complete the repairs without delays due to material shortages encountered in the latter stages of the job. Our experience has shown that it is generally not possible to reach the assigned Adjuster or other Insurance Personnel in a timely manner or gain prompt approval for additional materials that are needed. Material shortages can result in additional incurred costs due to trip charges, emergency tarping fees and additional labor charges from the roof crew when they are forced to halt work and return another day to complete the work. These are real costs that would be incurred and would subsequently have to be included along with our supplement for additional materials. We hope you are in agreement and accept our proposed supplement.
Thank you for your consideration. Our mutual Customer is anxious to proceed with the repairs, we look forward to your prompt response.