Courses: Property Courses

EFI Global offers several classes approved by various State Departments of Insurance for continuing education credit in a variety of topics.

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This course begins with an analysis of standard commercial property coverage forms with a focus on the Building and Personal Property Coverage Form, Covered Causes of Loss Forms, and Businessowners Coverage Form.  The discussion will also include a review of the commercial property declarations, conditions, and frequently seen endorsements.  Other subjects covered in class will consist of the preparation of narrative reports and a statement of loss for commercial property claims.

Later in the week we analyze the Business Income coverage forms.  Topics include basic accounting terms and principles, and a review of a profit and loss statement and other related documents.  Students will receive an introduction to calculating small business income and extra expense losses.

Class projects include claim scenarios on business property and business income losses.  The scenarios are used to illustrate key points and provides the opportunity for practical application of the concepts learned in class.  These case study assignments provide a hands-on experience that provides students with the confidence to handle commercial property claims.

At the conclusion of the course students will be able to read and apply standard ISO™ commercial building and business property coverages. They will understand the principles of business income coverage, determine the necessary documents needed to support a business income loss, and understand how to calculate the payment for limited business income losses.

Note:  This course does not provide instruction on commercial property construction, damage assessment, or estimating.

Audience:

This one-week course is designed for the property adjuster who needs a working knowledge of ISO’s™ Commercial Property, Businessowners, and Business Income coverages, and needs to learn how a business income loss is calculated.

PreReqs:

None.

Course Topics: 

Commercial Property Forms
Business Owners Form
Business Income Coverage Forms
Common Endorsements
Narrative Report and Statement of Loss
Commercial Property Coverage Projects
Business Income Definitions, Terms, and Concepts
Understanding the Profit and Loss Statement
Business Income Case Studies
Course Reference Materials and Calculators

 

 

This course provides an introduction to common construction methods and materials used in modern commercial buildings.  Topics include concrete and masonry construction, wood and metal framing, and commercial windows and doors.  Interior finishes and mechanical systems are also reviewed.

Throughout the week, students are introduced to terminology, material identification, damage assessment and repairs of the various structural components of the building.  Class exercises include preparing estimates based on given damage scenarios, as well as hands-on practice using Vale’s facility.

Additional costs associated with commercial building estimates are also considered, such as demolition, debris removal, equipment rental, temporary protection, and other general conditions.  The role of engineers, building consultants, and other experts is discussed.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will have the basic knowledge to review or prepare an estimate involving damage to common commercial building materials.

Note:  This course does not teach coverage analysis or how to assess a business income loss.

Audience:

This one-week course is designed for the individual who is required to produce or review structural damage repair estimates on commercial buildings. The emphasis is on buildings of four stories or less.

PreReqs:

Candidates should have some familiarity with the electronic estimating software of their choice (Xactimate, Symbility, Simsol, etc.).    An understanding of residential building materials and construction is also helpful, but is not required.

Course Topics: 

General Conditions
Masonry and Concrete
Wood and Metal Framing
Roof and Wall Materials 
Doors, Windows, and Glass
Interior Finishes
Mechanical Systems
Daily Scoping and Estimating Exercises

Beginning with the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) claims investigation procedures guidelines, participants learn the definition of an earthquake and how one is measured. They also review the four policy types defined by the CEA: Homeowners, Renters, Mobile Home and Condominium. 

Scoping and inspection techniques are covered for foundations, walls, roofs, chimneys, crawl spaces and mechanical systems. Cosmetic damages, new versus existing damage, code requirements, measurement and repairability are emphasized. Participants also learn the procedures of the California Earthquake Claims Mediation Program, FEMA and U.S. Small Business roles in serving earthquake victims. 

Following successful program completion, students are awarded a certificate reflecting their accomplishment. This certificate is valid for 3 years.

Continuing Education Units:

This course may be available for Continuing Education credits, please contact Vale for details.

Audience:

When an earthquake occurs, families depend on trained adjusters to evaluate property damage. Now, this training is not only beneficial, but required by law. New state regulations have been recently adopted which govern the training of insurance adjusters in evaluating damage caused by an earthquake. Candidates for accreditation include company and independent insurance adjusters, claims examiners and claim supervisors of admitted and non-admitted insurers.

PreReqs:

Participants, if licensed as a company or as an individual, are asked to sign a responsibility statement that they are certified per the Fair Claims Settlement Regulations.

Syllabus:

CA Fair Claims Settlement Practices 
Code of Regulations, Title 10 Subchapter 7.5 Section 2695.1-14 

Earthquakes 
What are they and how are they measured 
Seismic events in California 
Lessons from the Northridge event 

Basic Earthquake Policies 
Homeowners, Renters, Mobile Home,Commercial, Condominium Review and Analysis 

Engineers and Experts 
CUREE Publication QED-02 
Working with Engineers 

Scoping the Loss 
Tools for Inspections 
Foundations, walls, roofs, chimneys, mechanical, cosmetic damage, codes and upgrades
Repairability Analysis 
Subsequent Damage 
Safety Precautions 

Mediation Programs 
Insurance Code Section 2696.1-10 
What, How, Who Procedures 

Earthquake Victims Programs 
FEMA U.S. 
Small Business Administration 

Unaccredited Adjusters 
Requirements

Designed for:
The Residential Examiner course is a 1-week class focused on teaching file reviewers, desk adjusters, and examiners how to review completed estimates on damaged residential buildings which have been prepared by other adjusters or contractors.

Key Learning Objective:
Classroom discussion focuses on identifying common building materials, resolving scoping issues, and analyzing claim estimates for property claims. While students do not write estimates in this course, real claim estimates are used to help prepare desk adjusters to find common errors made by field adjusters and contractors relating to misidentifying building materials, mistakes in measuring, misapplication of estimating software, and other scoping errors. In addition, attendees will get an introduction to proper water mitigation techniques.

Syllabus:

Introduction
Scoping defined, estimate sequence, diagrams, photographs. 
Construction trades, calculating debris removal, and application of minimum charges.

Interior 
Drywall, textures, paint, paneling, moldings, cabinets, countertops.  
Types of materials and pricing factors.

Doors, Windows, Glass 
Types of materials and pricing factors. 

Flooring 
Wood, carpet, and vinyl. 
Guidelines for drying floors.

Exterior 
Roofing, exterior claddings, fences, insulation. 

Estimate Sequence 
The importance of sorting estimates.

Water Mitigation 101 
Classes and categories of water damage, principles of drying, assessing mitigation invoices. 

Estimating Platforms 101
Key differences in major platforms.

This two week course is part 2 of the 3 week Property Adjusting course. The best value is to enroll in the full 3 week course.

Vale is now offering select courses with a hybrid option*.

The Residential Estimating course is delivered virtually most months but once per quarter we offer a hybrid option. The hybrid format allows for the initial portion of the course to be delivered virtually with the final week providing an option for students to continue virtually or join us at our Arlington, TX facility to experience our claims house, framing displays, mock-ups and classroom materials. Students choosing the classroom-based delivery will travel to our Arlington, TX facility to get hands-on training along with extra time with the instructor.

*Hybrid option – Student chooses in the final week of the program to continue with the virtual format or travel to or Arlington, TX facility to experience live, hands-on training. Lunch will be provided each day for students.

Designed for: Designed for the field adjuster, desk examiner, public adjuster and restoration contractor handling all levels of dwelling damage estimating.

Key Learning Objective: This two-week class teaches students how to scope and prepare thorough and accurate estimates on residential dwelling damage using their choice of leading automated estimating systems. All phases of residential construction are introduced including framing, windows and doors, interior and exterior finishes, roofing and mechanical systems. Class discussion includes material identification, nomenclature, measurement, damages, repair versus replacement, and unit cost analyses. Hands-on scoping and estimating exercises are incorporated into the instruction.

The emphasis is on learning to prepare complete, detailed and accurate estimates on damaged dwellings. After successfully completing this course, the student will have the skills and knowledge to prepare a complete and accurate electronic estimate for minor to moderate interior and exterior residential dwelling damage.

Prerequisites:

Attendees must be capable of operating Windows-based programs. Sponsors will need to indicate estimating program selection at the time of Registration.

Syllabus:

Introduction 
Definitions, Estimating, Scoping 
Diagramming, Trades, Tools 

Rough Carpentry 
Floors, Walls, Roofs 

Interior 
Plaster, Drywall, Ceilings, Paneling 

Millwork 
Trim, Cabinets, Countertops, Stairs

Doors, Windows, Glass 
Types and Materials 

Flooring 
Wood, Tile, Vinyl, Carpet 

Decorating 
Paint, Wallpaper 
Restoration, Deodorizing 

Exterior 
Siding, Trim, Soffits 
Gutters, Fences 

Roofing 
Roof Styles, Materials 
Measurements 

Masonry 
Concrete, Block, Brick 
Chimneys, Stucco 

HVAC 
Types, Insulation, Ductwork 

Plumbing 
Rough and Finish 
Water Heaters 
Supply, Containment, Drain 

Electrical 
Service, Fixtures 

Damages 
Estimating exercises that cover damages resulting from fire, water, wind, hail, hurricanes, collision and ensuing losses. 

This course uses the latest versions of: 

PowerClaim
Simsol
Symbility
Xactimate

Vale is now offering select courses with a hybrid option*.

We offer the property adjusting course with a live/hybrid option once per quarter. The format allows for the initial portion to be virtual with the final week to be classroom-based. The live classroom sessions will be hybrid. We will broadcast all live sessions to participants following our current virtual delivery protocols. This reflects interest in travel cost savings, learner scheduling challenges and the efficiency of having some production time retained by the virtual attendees.

The Property Adjusting course is delivered virtually most months but once per quarter we offer a hybrid option. The hybrid format allows for the initial portion of the course to be delivered virtually with the final week providing an option for students to continue virtually or join us at our Arlington, TX facility to experience our claims house, framing displays, mock-ups and classroom materials. Students choosing the classroom-based delivery will travel to our Arlington, TX facility to get hands-on training along with extra time with the instructor.

*Hybrid option – Student chooses in the final week of the program to continue with the virtual format or travel to or Arlington, TX facility to experience live, hands-on training. Lunch will be provided each day for students.

Course description

An intensive three-week course on property insurance coverage, property claims adjusting, and scoping and estimating residential dwelling damage.  It is designed for entry-level and experienced students who must be able to understand and apply policy language from standard Homeowners and Dwelling policies as they relate to investigating and handling property claims. 

The course includes the application of construction estimating concepts to residential building damages.  Students prepare estimates on the latest versions of the industry’s leading electronic estimating systems.

Strong emphasis is placed on learning how to read and apply the language in the ISO Homeowners (HO3) policy. Throughout the course, coverage application and structural estimating are integrated using workshops and claim scenarios to challenge the students to apply what they learn.

The student will learn to prepare damage estimates on their choice of electronic estimating systems, practice reporting and produce statements of loss just as they would in the real world of property claims adjusting. Arson, fraud, documentation techniques, reporting formats and good faith handling are also emphasized.

Upon successful completion the student will have the skills to analyze and apply property coverages, be able to investigate the cause of loss, prepare an electronic estimate, prepare a report package and negotiate and settle property losses.

Audience:

Entry-level adjusters and claim service representatives who will be assigned property losses involving Homeowner, Dwelling, and Condominium policies. Individuals with limited experience who will become catastrophe adjusters handling weather-related property losses resulting from hail, wind and/or water damage.

PreReqs:

Attendees must be capable of operating Windows-based programs. Sponsors will need to indicate estimating program selection at the time of Registration.

Syllabus:

Insurance Basics 
Insurance Principles 
Policy Structure 
Provisions Common to Property Policies 

Contracts 
Elements of a Legal Contract 
Distinct Characteristics of an Insurance Agreement
Rules for Interpreting policies 

Property Coverages 
Dwelling and Other Structures
Personal Property
Loss of Use 
Additional Coverages 
Selected Endorsements 

Causes of Loss 
Open Peril vs.. Named Perils 
Analysis of Specific Perils 
Court Cases 

Adjusting Losses 
Duties After a Loss 
Determining Value and Loss 
Apportionment of Losses 
Resolving Coverage Issues
Negotiation and Settlement 
Subrogation/Dispute Resolution 

Investigation 
Theft/Fraud Indicators 
Photos & Diagrams 

Projects 
Workshops on Coverage 
Loss Scenarios 
Testing and Evaluation 

Reporting 
Documentation of Events 
Captioned Reports 
Statement of Loss Format 

Good Faith Claims Handling 
Avoiding Bad Faith 

Structural Estimating Introduction 
Material Identification, Scoping, Estimating
Diagramming, Trades, Tools 

Rough Carpentry 
Floors, Walls, Roofs 

Interior 
Plaster, Drywall, Ceilings, Paneling 

Millwork 
Trim, Cabinets, Countertops, Stairs

Doors, Windows, Glass 
Types and Materials 

Flooring 
Wood, Tile, Vinyl, Carpet 

Decorating 
Paint, Wallpaper 
Restoration, Deodorizing 

Exterior 
Siding, Trim, Soffits 
Gutters, Fences 

Roofing 
Roof Styles, Materials 
Measurements 

Masonry 
Concrete, Block, Brick 
Chimneys, Stucco 

HVAC 
Types, Insulation, Ductwork 

Plumbing 
Rough and Finish 
Water Heaters 
Supply, Containment, Drain 

Electrical 
Service, Fixtures 

Damages 
Estimating exercises that cover damages resulting from fire, water, wind, hail, hurricanes, collision and ensuing losses. 

Students who enroll in this course may use the latest versions of: 

PowerClaim
Simsol
Symbility
Xactimate