Auto Estimating: A Guide To Writing Estimates Copyright © 2016 by Collision Blast DIY Auto Body and Paint All Rights Reserved Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book is correct, they do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. This book follows the 2013 NATEF/ASE Damage Analysis, Estimating, and Customer Service tasks, which may be useful when taking the ASE B6 certification exam. However, neither the author nor the publisher claim or guarantee that all information on the exam is covered in this book or the test results that can be expected after reading the book. This book is intended as a supplement to other auto estimating training and to broaden knowledge about auto estimating. The information in this book is provided by a Master ASE Certified instructor. The content is written from experience, training, and the opinions of the author. Contents Chapter 1 The Auto Repair Estimate and Estimating Environment Auto Repair Estimates Supplements Methods Used To Write Estimates The Sequence of Writing an Estimate Who Needs Estimates Setting Up The Estimating Environment Tools Needed To Generate Auto Estimates Chapter 2 The Big Picture Gathering The Information Making The Process As Painless As Possible For The Customer Claim and Accident Report Initial Walk Around Inspection Taking Photos Predetermined Accident Sequence Inspecting Hidden Damage Chapter 3 Vehicle Damage Direct and Indirect Damage 5 Zones of Damage Prior Damage Betterment Types of Frame Damage (sideway, sag, mash, diamond, twist) Inspecting Structural and Nonstructural Damage Inspecting Mechanical, Suspension, and Electrical Damage Inspecting The Paint Finish Inspecting Interior, Restraint System, and Accessories Determining To Repair or Replace Types of Steels, Plastic, and Composites Fasteners Chapter 4 The Necessary Parts of an Estimate Record Customer Information Record Vehicle Make and Model Record and Decode VIN Record Production Date Record Vehicle Mileage Record Date of Accident Locate and Record Paint Code Record Insurance Information Nomenclature - The Parts of a Vehicle Estimating Sequence When Inspecting Damage Understanding The Procedure Pages OEM Recommended Procedures Chapter 5 Labor Rates and Labor Times Estimating Guide Labor Times Repair Shop Labor Rate Understanding Estimating Times in Tenths Labor Categories - Body, Refinish, Mech., Structural Judgement Labor TIme Adding Non-Included Operations Getting Paint For Non-Included Operations General Non-Included Operations Increase Shop Prophets Sublet Work Chapter 6 Types of Parts OEM Parts Availability of Parts Aftermarket Parts CAPA Certified Parts Used Parts Remanufactured, Rebuilt, and Reconditioned Parts Chapter 7 Calculating The Labor and Material Cost Deducting For Paint Overlap Adding For Clear Coat Adding For Tri-Coat Adding For Two-Tone Calculating Material Cost Adding Non-Included Material Cost Chapter 8 Generating The Estimate Analyzing The Damage To Complete Inspection Generating A Computerized Estimate Disputing Estimating Guide Operation Using DEG. What Is A Total Loss Vehicle? Chapter 9 Vehicle Damage Sections of A Vehicle Sides of A Vehicle Frame Types: (Body Over Frame, Unibody, Space Frame) Crush Zones Chapter 10 Customer Service and Sales Making A Good First Impression What Customers Want Don’t Sell The Wrong Benefits Dealing With Angry Customers Good Communications Methods To Communicate Dressing The Part Explaining The Processes To The Customer Don’t Judge Your Customers and Miss Sales Additional Resources About The Author “Organization is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” — A.A. Milne What This Chapter Covers This chapter covers what an auto estimate and a supplement are, how they are generated, who needs auto estimators, and provides tips for setting up an estimating environment. Why This Is Important As an estimator, it is important to fully understand what all purposes the estimate serves. It’s also important to properly set up the estimating environment to become efficient at generating thorough auto estimates. Topics Covered In This Chapter Include: • Auto Repair Estimates • Supplements • Methods Used To Write Estimates • The Sequence of Writing an Estimate • Who Needs Estimates • Setting Up The Estimating Environment • Tools Needed To Generate Auto Estimates This chapter has been aligned with the following 2013 NATEF/ ASE tasks: • A:1 Position the vehicle for inspection. HP-G What Is An Auto Repair Estimate Auto repair estimates are called different names, including damage report, damage estimate, and auto estimate, but they are all basically the same thing. A damage estimate, however, is more than just a sheet of paper listing the total cost of repairs. An estimate is a contract or a mutual agreement between two people. As with real estate, the owner and buyer must agree on a price and sign a contract of their agreement. An auto damage estimate is done the same way, as there should be an agreement between the repair shop and customer, and the customer should sign the agreement to authorize the repair shop to repair the vehicle. One thing the estimator must explain to the customer, which is often misunderstood, is that the total amount is just an estimate. Auto repair estimates do not guarantee the exact amount of the final invoice. There may be hidden damage, parts price adjustments, or many other factors that may change before the vehicle is completed. As an estimator, it’s your job to have excellent communication