RE: [A/S] Airstream Damage Pictures

["John Sargeant" <john.sargeant@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As an adjuster for 37 years, I can only agree with Steve. 

Document the value in as many ways as you possibly can. Show pictures of the
trailer before the incident, to the appraiser, so he gets a true idea of
what the trailer was like before the incident. The value you probably are
insured for is what is known in insurance as "the actual cash value". This
is not the value the agent used to calculate the premium on the trailer. It
is the amount "a willing buyer would pay for an item of like kind and
quality". Your adjuster will probably have an appraiser do research on the
value of the trailer. Make sure that the appraiser sees your photos and your
research. Make his job easy by putting the facts under his nose. As much as
possible be the appraiser's friend. He really is the one putting the value
on the trailer, not the adjuster. He is going to give a detailed written
report to the adjuster on the value of the unit. Make sure the appraisal has
figures from sources that are real. A book price is not entirely the whole
story and is made up of an average of the values for the trailer of LK&Q. It
should include listings from RV Trader or similar publications, ads from
newspapers, EBay, or wherever you can generate values. If yours is "better
than average" make sure the appraisal reflects that. This "better than
average" proof can include things like, the original purchase invoice,
trophies for best in show, Concourse d'Elegance entry forms, offers of
purchase, invoices for materials you've bought to "improve" your trailer. If
you've replaced the original equipment with an upgraded furnace, water
heater etc, make sure you show the invoices. In other words, flood the
appraiser with information.

You have every right to have a copy of the appraisal as part of the
negotiation. Ask to have it sent to you before the appointment to negotiate
the settlement. Scares the bejeebers out of the adjuster.

Don't take his/her first offer. That is put forward as a "starting point" in
negotiation. The adjuster expects to have to go up. If the adjuster isn't
willing to talk an increase, be prepared to walk out of the session. He is
duty bound by his employer to settle the loss. That's his job. If you don't
hear from him for a couple of weeks, give him a call and make him an offer. 

Most adjusters have an unmanageable case load. You are just another case to
close and so you have to make him feel that he's going to be able to "get on
with the rest of his life". My biggest problem was holding the line with
pleasant intelligent people. The horny toads were no problem.

I'm probably preaching to an experienced negotiator (are you or have you
ever been married?) so all this you know.

 

Finally, it is always a possibility to do a deal including the salvage,
however some adjusters are under instructions from the company they
represent not to sell salvage to the owner. That however, in my experience,
was unusual. Usually they will let you meet their top salvage bid and net
out your settlement so you end up with the difference between the Actual
Cash Value and the value of the salvage in cash, and the salvage.

Sarge