Date:         Thu, 27 Jan 2000 21:27:02 EST
Reply-To:     BenTbtstr8@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Benjamin Tan <BenTbtstr8@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Possible '80 Westy toaster FS
Comments: To: bchristensen@infogenesis.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The insurance company will have an adjuster give her a "total" value if she
takes no action. Depending on the insurance carrier, it could be a walk in
the park or march to hell.

She should be well advised to start looking through the newspapers and other
media (such as the list) to prepare a counteroffer to whatever the insurance
adjuster gives her. It's almost always guaranteed low. It's best to insist on
having the vehicle repaired whether you intend to or not. This will net you
the highest value to negotiate from. Get at least three (3) estimates from
reputable shops on what it would cost to repair the vehicle. Find a good
sampling of recent sales values of comparably equipped vehicles. Present all
this to the adjuster.

Insurance carriers will usually place a 25% salvage value on the vehicle.
Should you decide to retain it, that's 25% PLUS the tax attributable to that
amount and your deductible. Then that total is deducted from the amount that
you mutually agree on. What's left over is the cash that you receive.

They will also frequently find their own "comparable sales". Insist that they
prove the sales were comparable. they also look in the papers but frequently
use low 7 average values rather than high's.

This strategy worked very well for me on 2 occasions. Of course, it helped to
intimidate the adjuster that I was a fire & casualty agent for the company he
was working for. Thankless job, that was. I don't do that anymore.

Pmail me if I can assist her any further,

BenT
San Francisco

Because I have several licenses to protect, here's a little disclaimer:

Not licensed to dispense legal advice. Do not construe this to be such. I am
relating personal experience. Should you need legal advice please contact
your local State Bar Association.