There are two keys to successful restoration insurance invoice negotiations: preparing for negotiation and using the right negotiation tactics. Today, we’re going to be focusing on the best ways to prepare for claims negotiation. From the restoration invoice experts at OCS, here are some of the most important things you can do to set yourself up for success:
The number one thing you can do to set yourself up for success during restoration claims negotiation is to use an Assignment of Benefits. “When used appropriately, that Assignment of Benefits is an amazing tool,” Josh says. Asking homeowners to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) transfers policy post-loss rights from the homeowner to your restoration company. This gives contractors the right to direct payment from insurers, helping you avoid headaches like the liens process during the claims negotiation and payment.
Insurers are legally required to honor AOBs in 48 states. However, AOBs are highly restricted in Florida and not allowed in Texas. For restoration companies based in these states, OCS recommends using Direct to Pay. Direct to Pay requests are a request from policyholders to their insurers, asking them to pay their contractor directly. While not legally-binding, using Direct to Pay is still better than not attempting to get direct payment at all.
You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again: your documentation matters a lot during restoration claims negotiations. Having strong documentation for a job helps support the charges on your invoice and combat arguments. It’s a lot more difficult for restoration claims adjusters to argue that you didn’t need to open up a wall to treat a property’s water damage when you can show the adjuster documented proof of high moisture meter readings in that area. It’s hard for an adjuster to argue that you overcharged restoration labor hours when you have accurate technician job logs showing who was on site and when.
Homeowners dealing with water damage or other restoration emergencies are in a vulnerable position. It’s no secret that the biggest fear of many homeowners working with contractors is that they will be taken advantage of. Because of this, some adjusters try to turn homeowners against their restoration contractors by playing into this fear. For example, an adjuster might tell the homeowner that the damage was not as extensive as the contractor led them to believe or that their contractor is charging outrageous prices for the work that they did. The vast majority of restoration contractors operate in good faith. But regardless of the truth, if an adjuster manages to turn the policyholder against you, claims negotiation will be even more of an uphill battle.
The best thing you can do is to get the homeowner on your side during the job. Homeowners just want to know that you know what you’re doing and have their best interests in mind. You can prove this to them through transparent communication and education. Show them how you determine the degree of damage. Explain the reasoning behind your restoration decisions for their property. Explain how you determine pricing. Prepare them in advance for arguments their adjuster might make, and explain why they are untrue. Then, if an adjuster tries to tell the homeowner that you opened up a wall you didn’t need to, the homeowner can say, “I know that’s not true because my contractor showed me thermal imaging of the water damage to that wall.” When the homeowner is on your side, getting fair claims payouts from providers is easier.
Another thing you can do in advance of the claims negotiation process is turn to specialized restoration insurance billing services. At One Claim Solution, we provide restoration company billing services for restoration contractors nationwide. Our claims experts specialize in restoration claims and insurance adjuster negotiation. Our skillset helps us secure higher payouts for our contractors, even after our fee.
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Hi there! I’m Connor, the Account Executive for One Claim. My goal is to guide our contractors through the sales process, ensuring you’re equipped with all the information you need to make your decision and hit the ground running once aboard. We view ourselves as an extension of your business and I strive to make the process an enlightening and consultative one.
My career has primarily been focused in software sales over a few different industries but the last few years were spent helping general contractors solve similar problems to what we’re doing here at OCS! Outside of work, I love spending time with my family, cooking and boating during the summer months.
Hello! I’m Nicole, and I’m here to champion for our employees, recruit for new talent, and impact culture at One Claim Solution. I find satisfaction in supporting a memorable employee experience and bring innovation, problem solving, and strategic view to the process. Nothing is more important than our people, and a healthy culture is my top priority! I have had the pleasure of building my career in various sectors, specializing in small to medium size firms focused on high-growth. My experience is centered around driving and implementing change, leading high-performing teams, and driving process improvements. I am excited to make an impact at One Claim. Outside of work, my family and I enjoy getting outdoors as much as possible to explore beautiful Colorado!
Great to meet you! I’m Elizabeth, and I’m the one behind all the emails and advertisements you’ve been seeing. As the Demand Generation Manager at One Claim Solution, my mission is to connect with contractors like you who need our services. I’m passionate about having an impact on others and I bring a wealth of experience in demand generation and marketing strategy to create moments of delight, curiosity, and education for you.
Prior to One Claim Solution, I had the privilege of building marketing departments from the ground up at companies in a variety of industries, including IT consulting, first protection, and healthcare. Personally, I love being outdoors, playing Dungeons and Dragons and board games, singing, and traveling.
Welcome! I’m Alisha, and I’m here to champion your success as the Director of Contractor Success at One Claim. With a passion for helping contractors thrive, I bring a wealth of experience in onboarding, customer service, and account management to ensure your journey with us is nothing short of exceptional.
Prior to joining One Claim, I had the privilege of scaling SMB and Enterprise Customer Success teams at fast-growing SaaS startups. With over six years of experience at companies like Mavenlink, Teamwork, and ServiceTitan, I honed my expertise in building high-performing teams and fostering proactive, consultative relationships. This background has equipped me with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by businesses like yours, and I’m dedicated to helping you overcome them.
Hi there, my name is Eric! I am the Chief Technology Officer here at OCS, spearheading our technical strategy. I have a background in computer science, graduating cum laude from BYU-Idaho with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Technology.
Before coming to One Claim, I served as the Director of Engineering at Slingshot Technology, Inc., a company later acquired by WorkWave in 2021. My professional journey has spanned both emerging startups and established corporations, with a steadfast focus on cultivating high-trust, low bureaucracy teams and innovating technology using agile methodologies.
In my free time, you can find me flying drones, enjoying the outdoors, and spending time with my family.
Hello, my name is Cam, I’m the COO of One Claim Solution! I come from a management consulting background (Bain & Company) and hold an MBA from the University of Michigan. I have worked at a wide variety of organizations, from Fortune 500 to small-cap, in an equally wide variety of industries. I have over 15 years of experience in operations and strategic growth, and I have spent much of my career focused on developing high-performing tech-enabled service organizations through early stage and high growth phases.
Outside of work, my wife Brittny and I have four kids, ages 13 to 6. As residents of Mesa, Arizona, we love to ski and explore the national parks of the southwest!
Hello, my name is Dan, and I am the CEO of One Claim Solution. I am super excited by everything we are doing at OCS to be the market leading insurance billing specialist that advocates on behalf of our restoration contractors.
My professional experiences are predominantly corporate in nature. My career started at General Electric in finance and accounting. Immediately prior to joining OCS, I spent time as an investor at Bondcliff Partners and management consultant with Bain & Company. I also hold an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and got my BS in finance and accounting from Northeastern University.
Outside of the office, I enjoy spending time with my wife, two young children, and our family dog, Whiskey. We live in Charleston, SC and take advantage of the beautiful weather by spending as much time as possible outside at the beach or adventuring around town
Hi, I’m Josh! In 2016, I co-founded One Claim Solution with my partner Jeremy Traasdahl, and I serve as General Counsel of One Claim Solution. Working in the restoration industry, Jeremy and I saw contractors struggling to get paid quickly and fairly and we knew there was a need for change. We founded One Claim Solution to be this change and it’s been my privilege to see our company grow and to advocate for our clients as general counsel.
Outside of my passion for helping the restoration industry, I enjoy spending time outdoors, fly-fishing, hunting, skiing, and coaching my kids’ baseball teams. I’ve been married to my amazing wife for 20 years and we have a beautiful family of 5 children.
Hey, I’m Jeremy! In 2016, I co-founded One Claim Solution with my partner Josh Ehmke. Working in the restoration industry, Josh and I saw contractors struggling to get paid quickly and fairly and we knew there was a need for change. We founded One Claim Solution to be this change and it’s been my privilege to lead our amazing team.
Prior to One Claim Solution, I started my career as an inside sales rep for Avnet, then moved to Pepsico as a district sales manager. Outside of work, I love spending time with my wife and four children, two boys and two girls!
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