Estimating Essentials
Is there really a difference in preparing an estimate for a high-end vehicle versus a high-production vehicle? The answer is a resounding no! Both require education and training to ensure that proper and safe repairs are outlined in the estimate.
Diminished Value: Fact or Fiction?
Whether or not you agree with or support the idea that customers’ vehicles lose significant portions of their value after they leave your shops, the market has spoken to the issue, and it appears to be an inescapable fact.
Getting Paid for Not-Included Labor Items
Reader’s Choice Question – “How do you get paid for rust, fused, pinched and fudge time factors that aren’t listed in the regular new parts on and off sections of the P-pages and estimating guides? When will true reality begin so that the time necessary to cut, heat up, unscrew, unfuse or unclip two different kinds of metals without burning up or exploding the rest of the car will be included?” – Rosemarie Seppala, office manager, Seppala’s Body Shop & Restoration
BUSINESS FEATURE: Stamp Out Liability
Declaring that a customer’s vehicle is unsafe to drive by stamping the estimate protects you from a potential lawsuit, not to mention increases your chances of closing the sale.
BUSINESS FEATURE: Blueprint for Efficiency
Spending more time creating a complete and accurate damage evaluation results in more profit, faster repairs, reduced headaches and improved efficiency.
Out With Estimating!
Estimating has no value whatsoever to the customer, so by definition it is
waste. Plus, it gives birth to almost every other kind of waste in the collision
repair process. So the logical thing to do is…get rid of it!
Work Off Your Own Estimate
I remember 20 years ago when a wreck would be driven in or towed in and we would let the insurance company write the estimate, putting “repair as per insurance estimate” on the work order. Then, we would order the parts and fix the car. There might even have been an occasional phone call made
Sell That Job!
More often than not, your estimators don’t want to sell because they view selling as an unsavory activity. But there is a professional, effective way to go about it that could
lead to a higher close ratio.
From Red to Black
We lost more than $150,000 on paint and materials last year. The reason is because the old dollars times paint labor hours formula is outdated. The
solution is invoicing.
A Supplement-Free World: Just a Dream?
Many shops say much of their inefficiency comes from having to write and request supplement after supplement. Is there another way?
For Good Measure
You must make sure your techs are taking measurements to accurately diagnose the condition of a collision-damaged vehicle. If you don’t, you’ll cheat yourself, them and your customers.
Service Repair Information: An Important Tool
Accessing manufacturers’ proper repair procedures during the preproduction phase or when creating a repair plan is crucial to being efficient and profitable.
