OK, I don’t get it.

For six years, I’ve worked with a company that provides a guaranteed method that will add dollars to the bottom line of every estimate. And for six years, I’m continually stunned by the stubborn unwillingness of estimators (and body shop owners) to use it.

The most common refrains are “I know how to write an estimate” or “I’ll never get paid for that.” It is my belief that if you’re performing an operation on a vehicle, it should be on the estimate. Even if you DON’T get paid for doing the work, it should be on the estimate.

If it’s not on the estimate, how can you ever make the argument that you should get paid for it?

I say put that operation on the estimate at zero dollars. The ten seconds per estimate it takes to add the item may just benefit you later, when you’re able to present to the insurance companies the actual costs to you for the things they’re not paying for.