Home Improvement Contractor - Licensed Contractors

I am a contractor wanting to get into insurance restoration work. Does anyone know where I should start?

Public Comments

1. A great place that many people do not know about is a claims association. Many areas have a group called a claims association that meets usually once a month. It is a great place to meet and get in good with adjusters. The other place is agents and CSR's with agencies. I wish that I had a contractor that would come in and tell me that he was able to do anything from small job to a large job. Agents and CSR's (never forget the CSR's) are your best referrals
2. The best place to start is my contacting the Property Claims Mgr at insurance companies that cover your area. Most companies have some type of "preferred contractor" program. They will probably have the following requirements (or similar ones) Be a contractor for more than 10 years Be more than just a one man operation Be insured and bonded Be a member of a contractors trade association Require that you be willing to provide a written guarantee to the property owner after the repairs are complete. Please be advised that doing this type of work for insurance companies will not be a picnic. The insurance companies will expect price concessions from you. Many property owners who have insurance claims are PO'd from day 1 of the claim and will make the whole process even harder. I strongly recommend that you talk to other contractors who are or who have done this before. On a side note I know an individual who owns a small contracting company and he gets "leads" about possible repair jobs by "networking" his local service master office. Good Luck
3. Sure! Have your marketing guy drop off pens, or nail files, or some other marketing tool with your name and number all over it, to all the local insurance agencies. BE SURE to have a certificate of insurance to show them, and it helps to have a "happy customer" reference list. Agents and CSR's do the MOST referrals. Make sure they want to refer to you.
4. Could you not start by simply asking your own insurance agent? I am sure they could direct you to someone who would be able to help. ~