Re: [A/S] Airstream Value

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

Hi Chris
I'm not sure who you are dealing with at the insurance company and whether 
they have given you the paper work on your trailer.
Ask for the paper work. You need to see the written estimate that determined 
the cost of repairs. You need to see the offers they got for your trailer's 
salvage and you need to see their "Total Loss Worksheet" which is where they 
or their appraiser has researched the value of your trailer and compared the 
cost of repair plus the value of the salvage to the actual cash value of the 
trailer, in determining  whether it is in fact a total loss.
It should contain, not only quotes from NADA and from other such services, but 
should clearly show "what a willing buyer would pay" for a trailer of simular 
value. I'm not that familiar with NADA and don't know if it represents the 
wholesale value of the trailer or is an average of retail values. Just make 
sure their quotes for value are from Airstream dealers and not from SOB dealers 
who really have no idea what a willing Airstream purchaser will pay for an 
Airstream!
I don't know what kind of coverage you had. If you had a normal sort of insurance 
on a vehicle, it probably only pays actual cash or "what a willing buyer would 
pay for a trailer of simular description". Some coverages are written on a 
pre-agreed value. Some coverages are replacement cost ie. new for old (however 
that is usually only on relatively new (2 model years) or 24 months from the 
date of purchase.
But again, put the onus on them to show they have done a thorough job of 
researching the value of your trailer.

Finally, you are not obligated to accept their first offer. Make them a counter 
offer. Do some researching on your own to find out what Airstream dealers within 
a reasonable distance of your location would have sold your trailer for, cash deal. 

Remember that adjusters are just humans like the rest of us and if they can take 
a well documented counter offer to their supervisor, and close their file in an 
already hectic work load..................

I know, I am a retired adjuster.
Good luck
Sarge