The Adjuster's Survival Kit: Conquering Catastrophe Zones With Style!
If you thought being an insurance adjuster was all about sipping coffee in a cozy office and crunching numbers on spreadsheets, think again! When catastrophe strikes, we are the brave souls who venture into the fray, armed with little more than just our charming personalities, a cup of coffee and pure psychotic glee. Like modern-day explorers, we need our tools of the trade to conquer any calamity zone. So, buckle up and let's dive into the wacky world of insurance adjusting equipment!
First up, the ladder. Not just any ladder, but one sturdy enough to hold you, your coffee, and that hefty holiday weight you've been meaning to shed. It's your stairway to heaven, or rather, rooftops. Pair it with a set of roofing boots, (we recommend Cougar Paws) because nothing screams "professional" like not sliding off a roof mid-inspection. Don’t get one of those lameo, telescoping, new fandangled 16’ ladders. Get a good articulating ladder. Preferably 23’. You don’t want to hit a 20’ roof with a 16’ ladder and be left talking to yourself like your dad talked to you when your were 12 y/o and holding the flashlight.
Next, the laser tape measure. It's not a Star Wars lightsaber, but it's close. This bad boy not only lets you measure like something out of a “Mission Impossible” movie (thank you Tom Cruise for the cool ideas), it also lets you size up damage from a safe distance, perfect for those 'I need a pointer ‘cause I’d rather not get too close to foul smelling green ooze' situations.
Then, there's the drone. No, you're not spying on your neighbors (unless they're filing a claim). This little fella gives you a bird's eye view of disaster-stricken areas, making sure no damage goes unnoticed. Make sure your licensed to use it, though. Again, nothing screams “Professional” like being arrested by the FAA’s Men In Black mid inspection.
Moisture meters and infrared cameras might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but they're vital in detecting hidden water damage and heat losses, respectively. Ghost hunting is purely optional (and not covered by the policy, sorry). Should you happen to spot a ghost with your IR camera, this is the one and only acceptable occasion to act like you didn’t see anything and slowly back away.
Say cheese to the digital camera, your best pal in documenting property damage. Your laptop, mobile printer, and document scanner are the holy trinity of paperwork, ensuring no claim goes unprocessed, even in the middle of nowhere. Jambalaya is not Jambalaya without the holy trinity; likewise, an adjuster just isn’t the same without this holy trinity.
Power inverters and equipment charging cables, because running out of battery in a catastrophe zone is a catastrophe in itself. Nothing says “I’m an unprepared imbecile” like a dead battery on your digital camera mid inspection, or a dead cell phone battery when you run over one of the 17 billion loose nails that are going to litter your path in and out of the catastrophe zone.
Let's not forget the good old clipboard - the ultimate symbol of authority and organization. You want to be in control of your scope notes and claim paperwork like an elementary lunch lady in control of the chow line. Each claim has its place and everything about that claim goes in that place on the clipboard. Got it?! Don’t be mixing your peaches and your pizza. It’s bad form.
A 35' tape measure and a 100’ tape measure are also must-haves for those times when you need to measure things the old-fashioned way. I know younger adjusters will stare at them in awe and amazement like they’re a rotary phone and a casette tape, but believe me, this is a cassette they need to know how to play and a phone they will need to know how to dial. They may not appreciate Guns-N-Roses or Southwestern Bell, but they will appreciate these particular masterpieces when they’re trying to measure a roof for the first time.
Shingle Gauges. Yeah, those little tuning fork looking doo dads from Haag. Those give you some idea of what kind of warranty the shingle your looking at should have. Get both of ‘em. The old one and the new one. If you’re going to carry em, why not look cool doing it?! Pair these with a good slope/pitch indicator and Jason Bourne has nothing on you. I mean you can know for certain what pitch the roof was that you slid off of mid inspection because you weren’t wearing your Cougar Paws. That’s great graphic text info for your Instagram and TikTok posts of your adjusting adventures.
A micrometer. Okay, I know I just threw a bunch of people for a loop. You can also use siding gauges or metal gauges if it makes you feel better, but a good old micrometer is always going to be more accurate than a random slit cut into a metal disc. Now if you have the little metal disc, and you don’t mind looking like a drummer who’s lost his way in the cymbal game, okay. Use it. It’ll work, but a micrometer just give you that extra nerd effect that might give you an edge on your fellow adjusters. They might not have the right slit on their disc. You can never have the wrong slit with a micrometer.
A 2’ level. You can use the little level on your iPhone, but a good 2’ level will help you identify uneven floors, out of plumb doors, etc over a longer distance. I mean iPhones are great and all, but if you use that level your probably the same kind of person that would use a butter knife as a screwdriver, and you keep your cash in a coffee can. Yeah, it’ll work, but it’s not really meant for that particular task.
Finally, your cell phone. Because, let's face it, how else are you going to post about your epic adjuster adventures on Instagram? I mean TikTok isn’t going to populate itself, and you really should call your wife and kids if you get a chance. Oh, your boss called while you were reading this. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Call the boss back.
And there you have it, folks! The ultimate survival kit for any insurance adjuster worth their salt. Armed with these tools, no catastrophe zone will be too daunting. After all, we're not just adjusters; we're heroes in khaki pants, chartreuse vests and hard hats! Yes we look like something out of a giant Bill Dance Tackle Box, but your can’t say you didn’t see us.
Now, go forth and adjust…
Bill Simmons, AIC, CPI, CCI, CASA is the owner of L2 Insurance Consulting LLC, and he is an industry recognized expert relating to insurance claims and claim related damage. Bill has worked in every aspect of insurance claims from automobile liability and subrogation to property claim specialist, and he has worked both aspects of insurance claims, for carriers as a staff adjuster and as an independent adjuster. Bill also serves as an expert witness in the insurance claim legal process. Bill lives in Panama City, FL with his wife, Amanda and their two sons, Layton and Lucas.
