What I no)ced is that some poten)al clients have decided that they know best, and that they are smarter than everyone else who have experienced an insurance loss. This very same theme is why Home Depot is a mul)-‐billion dollar company and TurboTax is a household name: there are a lot of things that you can truly do yourself and poten)ally save money.
But there is a difference between using a CPA vs taxes-‐in-‐a-‐box. This phenomenon is not new. There have always been those who look for a cheaper way to do things, or shortcuts to their goals. Here are 4 myths people are most guilty when
in comes to claiming their insurance.
Myth 1. I can handle my own insurance claim, I think it is easy
We have electricians, plumbers, CPAs and doctors because their trades are sufficiently complicated to be regulated and licensed by ci)es, states and the Fed. Yes, there are simple things that we can all do for ourselves. Beyond the simple things, we are all beLer off leaving it to the real professionals.
The Truth: If it were easy (and safe) enough for laymen to do,
there wouldn’t be specialty trades. Workplace Safety
Myth 2: I can always ask advice without cost. I know some close
lawyers friends
The Truth 2: Advice given freely doesn’t equal a
specifically tailored soluHon.
When someone asks me a “general” quesHon about insurance claims or XacHmate esHmates, I give an equally general answer. My advice does not speak to the person’s individual situaHon, policy language or claim circumstances. And, as I’ve learned from my dad’s experience, if someone does ask me to speak about their specific circumstance, I (usually) ask them to sign a service contract. Which leads to…
Myth 3. I thinks I can live with my friend’s advise
TRUTH 3. AcHon taken on free advice, which ends poorly, provides the recipient
with ZERO recourse on the one who gave the advice. OathLiability policies, Errors & Ommissions policies, malpracHce and contractor bonds are all things that exist to protect clients from mistakes that people make. That is why some trades like lawyers have strict policies against providing ANY consultaHon or specific advice without compensaHon or retainer.
Myth 4. I’ll cross the bridge when I get there, I think I know how to claim my insurance even
without experience yet.
This brings me to the heart of the maLer. If you believe that you are smarter than me, why are you asking me for advice and informa)on? If you believe that you can do my job
beLer than me, if only you can get a couple “pointers”, then why are you doing something else for a living?
The Truth 4: The world is full of smarter, more
experienced people
What really gets me is those people who think they can outsmart industries and companies that have
been around for HUNDREDS of years.
Do you really think that the IRS hasn’t already figured out the “trick” you’re about to try? What makes you think that your insurance company
doesn’t know that people are constantly looking for a way to take advantage of their property claim?
The reality is that most trades have more poten)al piXalls than jackpots. Professionals make their livings by
knowing the rules and playing by them day aYer day. Ge[ng rich quick just doesn’t happen (very oYen). St
Paddy's Day
For every story about finding the tax loophole or insurance claim trick that landed someone thousands of dollars, there are hundreds of people that found out the
hard way that messing around with trillion-‐dollar industries is a bad idea.
I make my living the hard way: going to work every day and figh)ng for my clients. The fact that there are so few companies like mine out there is a testament to how difficult my industry is. Truth is, the insurance claims industry is downright hos)le to new players with new ideas about how things can be done. Dima and Toma
I con)nue to do my work because I believe that I DO have a beLer way, and I want to change my industry. Yet my approach is measured, in a “beLer mousetrap” kind of
way, NOT in a “card up my sleeve” way.
So, to all of you out there who fight the good fight every day in their chosen profession, who put the best of
themselves into everything they do because it’s the right thing to do, I say, “Carry on men (and women)!”
We are the light (or something like that). For those of you
with a problem that needs solving, find a quality professional to help you out. Ask people you trust for
referrals, and take the advice of friends. And to everyone looking for a shortcut via free advice, be warned. You
WILL get what you pay for.
When you are ready to stake your claim, just call: 888.745.7568 Claims Delegates is your resource, advocate, and knowledge center
on the front line of the insurance claims process. We support contractors, homeowners, and property managers, giving our clients insider knowledge, management, and estimating services so they can
make the most out of the claims and restoration process.
When it’s time to talk to your insurer, talk to a Claim Delegate first. Claims Delegates is ready to serve and support you through the
process, whether you’re looking to expand your restoration business or recover from a catastrophy. CONTACT US, We make insurance
WORK.