Re: Bighorn Destroyed--Update on replacement
I looked intently for 3 days perusing hundreds of large 5[SUP]th[/SUP] wheels for sale and found what appeared to be a great identical BH3610RE last Sunday. Unfortunately it was put under contract just hours earlier!
I spent most of the next day again on the computer and phone and was getting discouraged. But mid-afternoon I finally located what appeared to be a pristine BH 3670RL at Landon's RV in Mesa for a fair asking price. I immediately called and told the sales person, Josh VanVaukenburg, our situation and that I wanted it. I still work full time plus having to deal with insurance and unload the destroyed unit. It was all totally consuming to the point I could not travel to Mesa to see the unit. I told Josh I would buy it sight unseen, wanted them to install a bedroom AC, do a thorough inspection and deliver it. When I told him I was still dealing with insurance but could go ahead and send a substantial deposit since I wanted them to start immediately, his response was if I trusted him he trusted me and I didn't need to send a deposit!
By the end of the next day they had worked all day, had the AC in and were taking care on truly nit picking items. Josh did a long walk through video he posted for us that was amazing in detail. He was also very responsive to all phone calls and emails. They are to deliver it next week so I'll give a final report here after I am in possession but so far I am highly pleased with Josh and Landon's. I believe they are meticulous and of high integrity and have no qualms about trusting them.
Insurance. I am an adjuster and know that most of the time companies give low offers that can be negotiated up. I want to share my experience here as a teaching moment for future reference in the event any of you may be unfortunate enough to be dealing with a total loss (it is true for autos too). THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT RULES! Put all communications in writing and do your own homework.
After I filed the claim by phone an inside adjuster called me the next day. I sent good photos and they agreed without an inspection that it was a total loss. I also gave them a list of the main options and sent a follow up email asking questions and stating the condition of my unit,
“I know for settlement purposes you get some sort of a computer generated valuation. Is it based on recent sales or units available? Will you be able to give me a list of comparable units currently available? Does the evaluation include tax and registration or is that added once I incur them? What about transportation and set up cost? How do you estimate that? I know I can’t get exactly what I had but hope to find something close as the BH 3610RE was the most appealing RV ever to us and it was still like new in every way.”
I then spent most of the next day looking for units for sale (anywhere in the country) and looking at online evaluation services. I had two different documents going in my computer, one for INSURANCE SETTLEMENT and one for REPLACEMENT UNIT. I was only looking at Bighorns of the same size (but all floor plans) from anywhere for settlement purposes but also looking at other similar size brands I thought I would like and only closer to the west coast for a replacement unit. Each entry had a website link, prices and notes. By the end of the day I had 2 potential units I thought I would like and had in mind what I thought would be a fair settlement with the insurance company.
Two more days passed by before the adjuster called me and said they had the appraisal and said how much they would pay me. It was $2,000 less than what I thought was fair based on my research and I was firm but polite in stating that I thought it was low. He explained it was based on a very thorough appraisal completed by an independent firm. I asked for him to send me the appraisal and if it was correct, we would settle. I said if I found errors, I would point them out and ask that corrections be made.
The appraisal was 7 pages long and very similar in format to how a house appraisal is done with comps and adjustments. I spent about 5 hours pouring over the appraisal, finding the comps on line and studying the photos and specifications and even calling where they were for sale and asking additional questions and then putting my findings in writing. The biggest adjustment factor in the appraisal was rating the comps as average condition and mine was rated as poor. This really angered me as I had stated in writing that mine “was still like new in every way”. I also went to the original Heartland brochure and studied what were factory options. I was not the original purchaser and had no idea how many items on my coach were options!
I sent a very polite and business like 4 page letter challenging the appraisal and offered to send numerous pictures of the undamaged portions to prove the like new condition. I listed every error I had found on the comps and noted signs of excessive wear I saw in photos as well as the detailed list of all of my options. The adjuster said he would send my notes to the appraisal company for corrections to the appraisal.
Two more days went by during which time we made the commitment on the BH 3670RL referenced above. The adjuster called and said the revised appraisal came back $5,100 more! A few days earlier I would have settled for an additional $2,000 but my time spent researching and documenting every detail paid off. We are getting a slightly more expensive model, a year newer model, one in like-new condition and delivered from AZ to Northern CA (which was not a part of the insurance appraisal) for $128.67 more than we were paid in settlement.
Do NOT take the first offer.
