Earn a six-figure salary. Travel nationwide. Meet new people. Pick your own schedule. Be your own boss. The benefits of working as a CAT adjuster are seemingly endless. But there are still some things you should be on the lookout for as you start looking for independent adjusting jobs, maximizing your profits, and avoiding the dangers of the job. Keep reading to discover what you can expect as a Texas CAT adjuster.
1. If you want to make a lot of money, you’ll need to travel a lot.
Most CAT adjusters average 35,000-40,000 miles per year so you can expect to go through cars quickly and spend a fair amount of money on regular oil changes and maintenance. Still, this isn’t a major deterrent for most independent insurance adjusters who adjust catastrophe claims since they make money hand over fist.
You can expect to spend a lot of time on the road even if you just plan to adjust in Texas. Wildfires can crop up in rural areas, Houston and coastal Texas are very prone to flooding, North Fort Worth and San Antonio get a lot of hail damage, Northern Texas falls into tornado alley too so you can expect to spend quite a bit of time there. Since it takes at least four hours to get from Houston to North Texas, you can expect to spend a lot of time on the open (gridlocked) road.
Hot Tip: Use one of these convenient apps to find the cheapest gas while you’re traveling.
2. You will have to deal with hazards, even after the storm passes.
A lot of CAT adjusters get into the industry thinking they’ll be there to adjust claims after dangerous storms have passed. However, it’s important to realize that sometimes the dangers don’t recede with the storm clouds. Roadways may be flooded, you may run into fallen power lines, you will likely have to navigate around fallen debris, your vehicle or ladder may sink into the mud, or you might step on broken glass. It’s important to stay alert, make safe decisions, and keep your insurance up-to-date.
3. You don’t have to work catastrophes all year
Winter is generally a slow season for Texas CAT adjusters so some choose to just take it off and relax after months of hard work. Most adjusters will close at least 2-3 claims a day during storm season though and make six figures. It’s up to you if you want to work more or less though. You’ll definitely want to work during the spring and summer to make good profits to sustain you for the rest of the year.
4. You’ll want to get licenses in other states.
Florida, California, Oklahoma, Colorado, Louisiana, Alabama, Oregon– what do these states have in common? They’re prone to catastrophic weather events, which means they’re often in need of independent insurance adjusters. Now, you may not want to travel as far as Oregon, but if you’re based in Texas, you may decide to visit some of these Southern states to get the highest-paying jobs. The Texas All-Lines license is reciprocal with most of these states too so all you have to do to start adjusting in those states is apply for a license. Check here to discover which states have a reciprocity agreement with the state of Texas.
5. You need to be on the lookout for insurance scams
Unfortunately, any time there’s a natural disaster, people who weren’t affected use it as an opportunity to get a claim payout. This may come in the form of people damaging their own property or worsening storm damage to get a bigger payout. Of course, there are many home and business owners filing legitimate claims, but it’s your job to look out for the insurance company and ensure that nothing unscrupulous is going on.
2021 Training: Become A Texas CAT Adjuster
Are you ready to start an exciting career in CAT adjusting? Well, 2021 Training is here to prepare new adjusters for the job and teach you how to find and perform amazingly on high-paying claims. Don’t delay, join our Texas All-Lines online licensing course today. Not ready to dive into your new career just yet? Give us a call and request more information about our pre-licensing and continuing education (CE) courses.
Here’s John’s story about CAT adjuster online training he did.
My Training As A CAT Adjuster
I used online training to get my Texas Insurance Adjuster License and then went to get my Xactimate training. Next was Practical Adjusting training. Personally, I prefer the online training because it’s really more cost effective, and I didn’t have to take time off from work.
As I mentioned earlier, I started sending out my resumes and signing up at several of the large CAT firms. Pilot invited me to a 3 day live training to get my State Farm Certification.
After that, Pilot asked me to complete an online training of the State Farm ECS which is their Electronic Claim System. Hurricane Isaac is out in the gulf and as customary, Pilot sends out a questionnaire to see if I’m available for deployment.
But it’s my job to be prepared and ready. Thanks to people like 2021 Training, I feel prepared for what’s ahead. The best thing you can do prior to being asked to take the certification is to be prepared. Get the best training you can ahead of time.
Xactimate software training is crucial. I’ve found that 2021Training.com has a great Xactimate class that will train you to be an efficient adjuster in the field and prepare you to be totally comfortable taking certifications such as this when they’re available.
2021Training also has a Practical Class that will prepare you how to show up in the field. Making a good first impression is important out in the field. It’s incredibly useful in learning the little things that will make you efficient in the field. And that means completing claims faster.
You’ll want to be prepared. The companies need claims completed. Bottom line: Be prepared and get busy!
I look forward to sharing more along the way. Happy Adjusting!
John Bowers has a background in construction and decided to add claims adjusting to create a new income source. Follow John\’s journey as he shares his experiences on training and deployment.
What Does a CAT Adjuster Do?
CAT Adjusters 101 — What They Do and How They do It
People don’t normally dream of becoming insurance adjusters. How many kids say “insurance” when you ask them about their dream job? Probably very few. But the career of an insurance claims adjuster can be a rewarding one. There are many avenues of insurance adjusting that you can pursue after getting your Texas adjuster license. Independent adjusters handle all sorts of claims — from property adjusting to auto-damage claims to handling catastrophic claims. A CAT adjuster or a catastrophe adjuster is the person who handles the claims after a natural disaster hits.
What Is a CAT Adjuster?
Independent adjusters who finished the natural disaster insurance adjuster training are specialists. They concentrate in surveying the damage caused by natural disasters and catastrophes. Sadly, natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornados, wildfires, floods, tsunamis, etc., are common. Climate change and human factors increase the chances of natural disasters every year. That’s why CAT adjusters have plenty of work.
Becoming a CAT adjuster is an excellent career decision, given that insurance companies will always hire independent adjusters after a catastrophe. After every disaster, insurance agencies will call a large number of independent adjusters to the scene. That’s the only way to quickly and efficiently process all the claims.
No matter the type and size of a natural disaster, the impact is always massive. That means hundreds of claims are waiting for a CAT adjuster to assess them and determine their outcome.
What Do CAT Adjusters Do?
When a disaster hits, a lot of people have to rush to the scene. As far as insurance companies are concerned, adjusters are the most important ones.
When you’re a CAT adjuster, you have to be ready to travel at a moment’s notice. Remember, natural disasters don’t really schedule their appearance. They happen when they happen. And, in the blink of an eye, they devastate an area.
That also means these disasters leave a lot of insurance claims in their wake. A CAT adjuster is the person who goes to the scene to:
- assess the damage (the extent, level, and number of claims)
- determine if the damage falls under the insurance policy (for each claimant)
- report back to the insurance agency.
Although CAT adjusters have to wait for a disaster to hit in order to work, sitting at home isn’t exactly what they do. Instead, they network, reach out, and look for work where they are needed. Being a CAT adjuster means going to the scene of the disaster, wherever it may be.
How to Become a CAT Adjuster
The number of natural disasters went up by 35% since the 1990s, and it will only continue to grow. That’s why becoming a CAT adjuster is a good career choice. In order to become this, you must finish the necessary pre-licensing courses and get a license from the Texas Department of Insurance.
2021 Training offers courses on all types of insurance adjusting, CAT adjusting included. It also offers a chance for newcomers to pick up the tricks of the trade. That means they’ll get not only the necessary education, but also practical tips on how to get your first CAT job, how to network, and which responsibilities they’ll have.
Do you think you’d make a good CAT adjuster? Contact 2021 Training, and start your journey of becoming one!