SIS - SPECIALTY INSURANCE SERVICE CORPORATION

Being a good claims person starts with a strong grounding in specific product lines so that you understand the technical ins and outs. Sure, if you handle homeowners claims regularly you can probably improvise your way through a mobile home claim. But you are also going to miss some things because you do not understand how manufactured housing is built — for example, how tie-downs ought to be installed or why skirting is more than just an aesthetic covering.

We can fix that. Watch how we do it.

Jump ahead to our course descriptions

• Property courses
• Certification courses
• Recreational courses
• Skill courses

The SIS Training Center, located in Amelia, Ohio, is a 32,000 square foot building which has been set up as a real-world, hands-on shop environment where our trainees get their hands dirty rebuilding motorcycles, collector vehicles, boats, and RVs so that they have a personal sense of what time and effort repairs require.

Adjusters also get to work on both site-built home construction and a manufactured home, learning the essentials of roof and siding repairs, window replacement, plumbing and HVAC work. A full roof is set up on ground level for easy and safe access, and a damage simulator lets us mimic a tree or limb falling on a roof.

It all makes for more accurate adjusting estimates. Our video will give you a sense of the facility, and we will be glad to give you a tour anytime.

Jump ahead to our course descriptions

• Property courses
• Recreational courses
• Certification courses
• Skill courses

SIS instructors are more than just professional instructors. They have professional experience in the real world, too. Averaging more than 20 years of claims handling and trade experience, they have been in the field and seen it all. They will share their years of experience working with customers (the patient and the distraught) and repair shops (the good and the bad). It is rare to find a wealth of expertise like this all in one place.

Jump ahead to our course descriptions

• Property courses
• Recreational courses
• Certification courses
• Skill courses

• 

  Janice Cook Recreational Vehicle Specialist

  24 years of RV sales, finance and insurance experience

• 

  Rick Drewry Motorcycle and Collector Car Specialist

  30 years of auto repair and insurance experience

• 

  Greg Gessendorf Training Specialist

  17 years of multi-line claims and training experience

• 

  Jim Grimm Watercraft Specialist

  10 years of claims experience

• 

  JD Satterfield Manufactured Home Specialist

  33 years of contractor and insurance experience
  Haag Certified Roof inspector

• 

  Doug Thomas Dwelling and Commercial Specialist

  29 years of contractor and insurance experience
  Haag Certified Roof inspector

• 

  Mary Wright Training Manager

  26 years experience with personal and commercial lines

Jump ahead to our course descriptions

• Property courses
• Certification courses
• Recreational courses
• Skill courses

Dwelling
This intensive, four-day, hands-on workshop in dwelling construction, materials, damageability and repairs is conducted on, and inside, a full-size dwelling – complete with a “falling tree” simulator. Students are taught to assess damage, identify building materials and labor times, complete repairs, write electronic damage estimates, and “sell” estimates to the instructor. (Two software choices are available: Xactware or MSB.)

 

Manufactured Home
This intensive, four-day, hands-on workshop is conducted on, and inside, a full-sized manufactured home located inside the SIS training facility. Students create damage to metal and shingle roofs, flooring, insulation, windows, walls, cabinets, appliances and decks. Then they scope the damage, identify building materials and labor times, write electronic estimates, “sell” the estimates to the instructor, and complete the repairs themselves.

Residential Smoke Damage
This four-day, hands-on workshop is taught inside a full-sized dwelling located at the SIS training facility. Students learn how fire and smoke affect the interior structure of the dwelling, including finish carpentry, plumbing, electric, A/C, floor coverings, and finishes. Students also learn clean-up and reconstruction processes involved in a kitchen fire/smoke loss. Students then learn to write electronic damage estimates, “sell” these to the instructor, and complete the repairs themselves.

 

Residential Water Damage
This three-day hands-on workshop is taught inside a full-sized dwelling located at the SIS training facility. It covers how water can damage a home. Students in this workshop learn how to: scope water-related damage; identify dwelling building materials and labor times; perform water-related repairs; and write, explain and negotiate estimates.

 

Residential Smoke/Water Damage
This is a five-day, hands-on workshop combining our Residential Smoke and Residential Water Damage courses. It is taught inside a full-sized dwelling located at the SIS training facility. Students learn how to: scope smoke and water-related damage; identify dwelling building materials and labor times; perform smoke and water-related repairs; and write, explain and negotiate damage estimates.

 

Roofing
Haag-certified instructors lead this two-day, hands-on workshop using a full-sized dwelling and a free-standing roof structure located in the SIS training facility. This course, designed for entry to mid-level property adjusters, covers construction principles, roofing materials and damageability. Students learn how to: assess damage to the most common composition, metal and cedar roofs and roofing systems; evaluate and negotiate roofing contractors’ estimates; and perform roofing repairs themselves.

Commercial Roofing
Haag certified (commercial and residential) instructors present this 1½ day course using a full-sized commercial free-standing roof structure located inside the SIS training facility. The course includes commercial roof construction principles, roofing materials and core sampling, damageability, estimatics and repair operations, as well as instruction on commercial HVAC systems. The course is designed for entry- to mid-level commercial property adjusters. Upon completion, adjusters will be able to assess damage to the most common commercial roofing systems (EPDM, TPO, Modbit and Ballast) and they will be able to evaluate and negotiate roofing contractor estimates. Additionally, they will be familiar with HVAC equipment and labor charges involved in commercial roof repair and replacement.

 

Overview

Course length: 1½ days
Students per class: 6 minimum, 10 maximum
Format: hands-on and classroom
Cost: $1,500 per trainee

Commercial and residential instructors (Haag certified) present this 1½ day course using a full-sized commercial free-standing roof structure located inside the SIS training facility. The course includes commercial roof construction principles, roofing materials and core sampling, damageability, estimatics and repair operations, as well as instruction on commercial HVAC systems.

The course is designed for entry- to mid-level commercial property adjusters. Upon completion, adjusters will be able to assess damage to the most common commercial roofing systems (EPDM, TPO, Modbit and Ballast) and they will be able to evaluate and negotiate roofing contractor estimates. Additionally, they will be familiar with HVAC equipment and labor charges involved in commercial roof repair and replacement.

Schedule

Day One, part 1

• Materials identification and proper measurement
• Introduction to roofing construction and core sampling
• Damageability and file expectancy (thermal imaging)

Day One, part 2

• Causation (wind vs. hail and wear/tear)
• Roofing estimatics
• Repair operations
• Commercial HVAC equipment and labor charges

Day Two, part 1

• Commercial roofing review
• Manufacturer defect
• Final review and exam

All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)
This is a three-day, fast-paced, hands-on workshop designed for students with little working knowledge of ATV construction and repair. Students learn ATV terminology, pieces and parts, damage recognition, repair techniques, flat rates, part prices and how to write and negotiate estimates. Students also perform suspension overhauls on domestic and foreign models and complete R&I operations on all body components.

Motorcycle
This fast-paced, four-day, hands-on workshop is designed for students with little working knowledge of motorcycle construction and repair. Students learn motorcycle terminology, pieces and parts, damage recognition, repair techniques, flat rates, part prices and how to write and negotiate estimates. Students also perform engine and suspension overhauls on domestic and foreign motorcycles and complete full frame replacements.

Recreational Vehicles (RVs)
This four-day, hands-on workshop teaches students about the parts and repair practices for motor homes/RVs and travel trailers. Students learn about vehicle terminology, pieces and parts, damage recognition, R&I operations for various assemblies, and how to write, explain and negotiate estimates. This course emphasizes identification of damage related to loss as opposed to wear-and-tear related failures and preexisting damages.

 

Watercraft
This four-day, hands-on workshop prepares students to inspect, process and approve watercraft claims. Students learn about the parts, reparability and common repair practices for powerboats and sailboats, as well as fiberglass construction and repair. Students also learn to disassemble, inspect and estimate damages for outboard, stern drive and inboard power systems. This course covers routine maintenance and emphasizes identification of damage related to loss, wear-and-tear related failures and preexisting damages.

California Earthquake Certification
This is a two-hour (approximately), self-paced, online course that covers the specific requirements for earthquake claim handling according to California Insurance Code Section 2695.42. The skills taught include: generating loss estimates; completing earthquake mediations; assessing damages to concrete surfaces and foundations; and recommending assistance programs for victims. Successful graduates of the course receive three-year certifications for handling California earthquake claims.

 

California Fair Claims Settlement Practices Certification
Successful graduates of this one-hour (approximately), self-paced, online course receive the annual certification necessary for adjusters to legally handle California claims. Topics in this course cover: definitions outlined by California Insurance Code Section 2695.2; duties and responsibilities of insurers; California standards for prompt, fair and equitable settlements; and the definition of non-compliance and penalties outlined in settlements.

 

Arson Investigations
In this one-day, comprehensive, classroom and webinar course, an instructor teaches students how to detect and document arson and fire losses for any type of insured product. This includes learning regulatory requirements and strategies for dealing with government agencies, other insurers and third parties. Students also learn how to identify characteristics common to arson losses, recognize bad faith, identify red flags, and apply investigative best practices.

Fraud Compliance
This series of 10 courses is designed to satisfy annual state anti-fraud compliance requirements. Students learn which courses they need for their specific business. The courses cover such areas as low speed impacts, falls and various types of theft and arson. Students learn to review procedures for questionable claims, review state specific fair claims settlement practice requirements, identify red flags, review state Fraud Division reporting requirements, and recognize insurance fraud trends.

Recorded Statements
In this two-hour, classroom and webinar course, an instructor presents a series of interviews designed to enhance adjusters’ skills for recorded statements, claims investigations, and fraud identifications. The skills taught are consistent with state anti-fraud requirements. Students learn how to: properly prepare for and record an interview; improve their listening skills; identify red flags disclosed in an interview; avoid common pitfalls; and apply interviewing best practices.

Symbility Software
This two-day, comprehensive course teaches the features and functionality of Symbility software under the supervision of Certified Symbility instructors. In the classroom, students learn to upload claims, create diagrams for floor plans, roofing and exteriors, complete estimates, and create supplements. Students also have the option to write hands-on estimates on a dwelling and a manufactured home located in the SIS training facility. Upon successful completion of this course, students will receive Symbility Certifications. (Offsite classroom instruction is also available and priced separately.)