Man, this is exactly what’s been stressing me out as a first-timer. I keep thinking there’s gotta be some official checklist, but nope—just a bunch of vague “make sure the damage is clear” instructions. I actually tried the sticky note trick after reading about it somewhere, but then I worried it’d look weird or mess with the adjuster’s view. I guess my approach now is: 1) clean car, 2) take pics from all sides, 3) get close-ups and wide shots, and 4) hope for the best. Still feels like a guessing game though. All this tech and we’re still playing photographer in the driveway... wild.
I keep thinking there’s gotta be some official checklist, but nope—just a bunch of vague “make sure the damage is clear” instructions. I actually tried the sticky note trick after reading a...
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but I actually think the sticky note trick isn’t as weird as it feels. I’ve used colored tape before to point out scratches, and the adjuster didn’t bat an eye—actually thanked me for making it obvious. The “just take pics and hope” method works, but sometimes those little markers help cut down on back-and-forth. Maybe it depends on the adjuster, though. Still wild that there’s no standard checklist anywhere... you’d think by now they’d have an app or something.
Yeah, it’s kind of wild there’s no universal checklist—feels like every company just wings it. I’ve done the sticky note thing too, and honestly, it made the process smoother for me. The adjuster could see exactly what I was talking about, no confusion. I do wish there was a more official guide, though. Until then, I just take a bunch of photos from different angles, mark the damage, and write down anything that might not show up well in pics. It’s not perfect, but it seems to help avoid headaches later.
Yeah, the sticky note trick actually works? I always figured adjusters would just roll their eyes at that kind of thing, but maybe I’m overthinking it. I get what you mean about there not being a universal checklist—my last claim, the agent kept asking for different stuff than the time before, and it was the same company. Makes you wonder if they’re just making it up as they go.
I just take a bunch of photos from different angles, mark the damage, and write down anything that might not show up well in pics.
That’s pretty much what I’ve ended up doing too. With my last car (not cheap), I even put little tape flags next to scratches so nothing got missed. Still, the adjuster almost missed a dent because it didn’t show up well in the light. Do you think it’s worth hiring a third-party inspector for high-end cars, or is that overkill? I keep hearing mixed things—some folks say it helps, others say it just complicates things. Curious if anyone’s tried that route in South Dakota.
I’ve wondered about the third-party inspector thing too, especially after my last claim dragged on forever.
Seriously, right? Has anyone actually had an adjuster push back on using outside inspectors, or do they just roll with it? I’d hate to pay extra and then have the insurance company ignore their report.Makes you wonder if they’re just making it up as they go.
