IA Path

George Cottell is our very first member of the month! For the month of August the IA Path team nominated three members of the community that either, • Answered other peoples questions with excellence • Asked great questions • Was a great encourager/cheerleader of other members Then the IA Path community voted and George ran away with the election, I mean contest. George answers so many questions with such expertise he deserves this honor! He graduated from IA Path in December 2022 and has been an amazing part of our community ever since. He's certified by IA Path in Auto Collision Damage, RV, and Liability. He is located in Clarks Summit, PA so if you need a good auto or heavy equipment appraiser in the area this might be your guy!

Matt Ebert of Crash Champions visits IA Path on our Independent Adjuster Podcast. If you've been dreaming of a career writing estimates with consistent pay, this episode is for you. In the latest Independent Adjuster Podcast, I sit down with Matt Ebert, CEO of Crash Champions, the 3rd largest body shop chain in the nation, to explore the world of collision estimating. Key points from the episode: The industry is in need of trained estimators, creating big opportunities for those with the right skills. If you're an IA or appraiser, your skills are highly transferable to body shop estimating. Collision estimating offers consistent pay and career growth potential, with opportunities to move into management. Crash Champions is leading the charge in training new talent from the ground up. If you want a career path that combines hands-on work with the stability of consistent pay, you won't want to miss this.

With Hurricane Milton about to hit Florida, every available Adjuster's and appraiser needs to know how to handle auto flood claims. Thats why we are giving away our 1.5hr flood training FOR FREE to help you be ready. Firms and carriers, we teach best practices your adjusters and appraisers can plug in your guidelines/prices or use to fill in the gaps. Feel free to share so they are ready to hit the ground running long beforehand they get on sight. Use it to relieve the demand on your helping rooms. Comment "flood" for the link to the free training. P. S. Please share so people will have access to his training.

Wrecks, hurricanes, hail, oh my! With a hurricane threatening the Florida panhandle Oklahoma city got hit hard with a category 5 hail storm! Ia's get ready, this is a time you may be needed. Contact firms and let them know your availability. (regardless of what they say about reaching out, it works)

I know why you don't have work as an independent adjuster. I'll be revealing all the reasons why new adjusters don't get work and performing live coaching this Thursday for anyone that needs help getting started. I'll be discussing "A Business Blueprint for Independent Adjusters" which will show you how to secure work and scale success. And I make sure it doesn't rely on luck or the weather. Interested? Comment "Blueprint" and I'll send you the registration link.

I stepped out of my comfort zone this weekend and helped an adjuster revamp his resume for a completely different industry. Although my experience and expertise are in helping independent adjusters craft their resume, the same principles applied. The adjuster was applying for a pastoral role, but his resume was packed with claims experience that didn’t matter to the hiring committee. So, we flipped his resume. We showcased his years of volunteer work at churches, focusing on leadership, counseling, and event management — the skills that were relevant to the job. Everything else was left off. Here’s the takeaway: As an independent adjuster, your past experiences are valuable, but only if they align with the job you’re seeking. Craft your resume to highlight how your experience applies directly to the role — and leave off everything else. P.S. Need help in getting your new career writing auto damage estimates off the ground? I'd love to help.

Learn how to inspect and assess damaged vehicles for free. We know that getting work writing auto damage estimates can be REALLY hard. It is also really hard to get the knowledge of how you write those estimates. We have a 27hr training course that teaches you how to inspect and scope a damaged vehicle that we normally charge $1000 for. Chris Stanley has instructed to give this away if someone schedules and completes a free career coaching call with our mentors. Chris and his father-in-law Mark Passmore do coaching calls every day answering people's questions about their situation and the auto damage industry. (Independent adjusting, appraising, estimating, body shop, etc.) Nothing is off limits and they are are only there to help serve and mentor you. You getting work is our primary priority. Want to schedule a free career coaching call and then get our $1000 auto damage training course for free? Comment below "Coaching" and I'll send you the link to schedule a call with either Chris Stanley or his mentor Mark Passmore.

Getting claims to inspect is awesome, but it can quickly become overwhelming if you don’t have a plan. Many IA’s start off strong but quickly burn out without a solid strategy in place. That’s why I created a system after failing miserably during a major storm event. The key to managing a high-volume claim load is having a plan. My 4 S’s to Stress-Free Scheduling can help you stay on track: Stop: Pause and plan your approach to the influx of new claims. Segment: Divide your coverage area into buckets, assigning claims to specific days. Schedule: Use tools like Badger Mapping to optimize your daily route and give realistic appointment windows. Status: Keep IA Firms in the loop by promptly updating files with your inspection schedules. Master the 4 S’s to keep your workload manageable and your clients happy. Don’t let a flood of claims drown you—take control before it’s too late.

If you're considering expanding into property adjusting, it’s important to start with the basics. Property adjusting involves assessing damage to buildings and contents, which requires different skills compared to auto adjusting. Begin by familiarizing yourself with building materials, construction methods, and common causes of property damage like fire, water, and storms. You’ll need to understand how to estimate repair costs accurately, considering both labor and materials. Starting with a solid foundation in these areas is key to your success. For those looking to dive into property claims, I recommend starting your journey with Mathew Allen at AdjusterTV. He covers everything you need to learn for property claims, including Xactimate, Symbility (CoreLogic), scoping, policy interpretation, and more. Lay the groundwork for a successful property adjusting career. P.S. If you are trying to decide betwen auto and property claims drop a comment below saying "coach" and I'll send you a link to schedule a free career coaching call with me or someone who has been in the industry longer than me.

Continuous education is your key to staying competitive in the adjusting industry. The landscape of insurance and claims is always changing, with new technology, regulations, and best practices emerging regularly. By committing to ongoing learning, you ensure that your skills remain relevant and sharp. I learned this lesson the hard way—I once failed to complete my required continuing education and ended up losing my adjuster license. Don’t make the same mistake I did; staying current is crucial. Learning never stops for successful adjusters. Reading industry news, attending webinars, and seeking out new certifications can all contribute to your growth. The more you know, the more value you bring to your clients and employers. Continuous education helps you stay ahead of the curve, making you more adaptable and better equipped to handle the challenges of the field. It’s not just about keeping up; it’s about leading the way. Invest in your education to invest in your future. P.S. We created an Auto specific complete 24hr CE bundle in partnership with AdjusterPro. If you are interested in learning auto while getting CE credits comment below and I'll send you the link.