REVIEWS – DIMINISHED VALUE

Auto Diminished Value Claims

SEE MORE…

Prospective clients with diminished value questions often tell us they have read favorable reviews about The St. Lucie Appraisal Company. Then they inevitably ask about our results. Our company receives reviews both online and in our own customer comments page for all of the services we provide. These are some that pertain to diminished value.

WE DON’T USE FORMULAS, ALGORITHMS, AD COMPARISONS OR OTHER SHORT CUTS
SIX UNBIASED DEALER QUOTES IN EVERY APPRAISAL TO VALIDATE OUR RESEARCH
TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS ALWAYS FREE-OF-CHARGE

Jon D (Arizona)-Hi Frank. That was the fastest negotiation I’ve ever seen! Incredible! Do I wait now for USAA to contact me? Thanks! Jon FYI, I posted a high recommendation on the Mercedes 500E board where I have been pretty active for years. Not sure if you’re familiar with the history of the 500E, but the owners of these cars are true enthusiasts. The more popular E420 and 400E are very similar to the 500E (same V-8 engine), but the 500E was made by Porsche at the old Zufenhaussen 959 plant in conjunction with Mercedes back in 1992-1995. There were only about 1500 imported into the US and they retailed for about $92,000. Anyway, thanks again for your work. I got the final payment information from USAA today — just over $9,000 (attached). I notarized and sent the title to USAA today. Cheers. Jon

Jon D (Arizona)-Last November I bought a 1999 S320 for $6500. I subsequently had the dealer install a rebuilt 722.6 transmission from Sun Valley Mercedes transmission. I replaced about $1000 more in parts for things that needed changed out like motor mounts and a duo valve. The car was in very good condition. Interior was nearly perfect and the exterior had a few small nicks. Last month, my dad was driving it on I-10 and changed lanes without seeing that there was another car next to him in his blind spot. He swerved left then right then left again and ended up against the cable guardrail, doing an estimated $8000 in damage to the front left suspension and body. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

My insurance company totaled the car and predictably low-balled me with a $2445 appraisal. I invoked the appraisal clause in my policy and found an appraiser in Ft. Pierce, FL who apparently does a lot of appraisals for people fighting insurance companies over total loss valuation and diminished value claims. He charges $275 and it took about a week. He came through with an estimate of $7800. Under most appraisal clauses, the appraisers get together and try to settle (he said it was usually somewhere in the middle). His fee for that was an addition $125. In my case, he was able to settle, but if they can’t settle, under most policies the appraisers try to agree on a third arbitrator to decide the award. If they can’t come to an agreement on an arbitrator, a local magistrate will appoint one.

I was pretty impressed that this guy settled my case in a matter of a few hours for $7300. I had USAA’s optional Car Replacement Assistance where they pay an additional 20% over Actual Cash Value if the car is totaled. Between taxes, licenses and title, I ended up with just over $9000.

I thought I’d pass on his contact information for anyone in need of a good appraiser. I think he does collector cars as well. I would definitely recommend him.

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company
Frank Colletta

Attorney James B (Virginia)-Thanks very much…. Well done!

Marek D (Texas)-Yes, thank you for all of your help. State Farm ended up doubling their offer so it was easy to just accept.

Denise W (California)-I have no hesitation giving St. Lucie a 5 star review. Franklin was amazing and extremely professional. His report was exceptionally thorough and he helped me through every step of the process. Because of his work and guidance, I was able to recover a substantial portion of my diminished value for my car. Thank you!

Dave D (New Jersey)- Franklin, This Diminished Value Appraisal is great, way more than I thought. I put the cards you sent me on my body shop office counter.

Eric K (Florida)- I got $3,850 from GEICO towards the diminished value claim. I kept fighting like you said.

David G (California)- FYI – Progressive contacted me today and accepted the $4,134.40 Diminished Value claim in full. Thanks again!

Daniel B (California)- Mr. Colletta, Just received payment from Progressive insurance company for the full diminished value claim ($1083.50). They didn’t reimburse me for cost of your report, and I didn’t make an issue out of it. Here’s hoping not to need your services again (at least anytime soon)…but just in case…have your contact info on file. ***Should you decide to “hang it up” one day, would appreciate an email with your reference for a replacement.

Jacob K (North Carolina)-Hey, Thanks! I went from negative 4k to making money on the loan! You guys rock!

Mike L (California)- I collected in a total of $11,500 for my Tesla diminished value claim, they first low balled me around 4.7k -6.7k. But I held out for almost a year and I got 11.5k thank you guys for your help. Please stay safe! All the best, Michael

Kevin L (Illinois)-After much research I went with AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM to get a diminished value report. Frank and his staff gave me a comprehensive report that in addition to establishing diminished value but tips and suggestions on how to proceed if you’re turned away by the insurance company. I submitted the report to State Farm and after initially being turned down, I asked to speak with a manager. He called a few days later and we negotiated a settlement. No hassle with filing a case in small claims court or any other drama. Easy peasy. Thanks Frank.

Sarah B (Minnesota)-Thanks so much Franklin. I very much appreciate all your great advice and assistance in guiding my next steps. This is my first (and hopefully last) car accident. Knowing I can reach out to you for help is giving me some confidence while I navigate this diminished value process. I’ll keep you posted on my progress. Thanks again. –Sarah

John O (Pennsylvania)-Thank you very much for the report, this one is way better and more detailed than the one I received from AutoLoss. Thanks again for preparing this and using local dealers, nice job.

Greg T (Illinois)-This claim process was easier than I was led to believe. The diminished value report prepared by The St. Lucie Appraisal Company had sufficient evidence to prove my car’s loss in value after it was wrecked and repaired.

Kristin D (California)-Franklin was great help though out the whole process .. my boyfriend and I both had diminished value claims in with Franklin his reports were detailed and he responded to every question we had .. we will definitely refer all our friends and family to use this service ..

Pearl T (California)-Thank you for your thorough report. I will look through and submit to insurance company. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks.

Nicholas P (California)-Just an FYI…The Insurance company (Hartford) came back, and asked for proof of MSRP. I sent it to them. They then agreed to pay your entire diminished value evaluation ($34,497), but refused to pay your appraisal fee ($275). I settled 🙂. Thank you for all of your assistance.

Michael M (Indiana)-Hey Frank, The judgment came in for $3,000 plus court costs for a total of $3,104. I want to thank you again for your help in this matter. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a favorable judge on this one. The defendant no showed on the first court date so the judge requested additional evidence. I had your full report, the testimony, and the correspondence with the insurance company but he requested the detailed police report and set a later court date. He also grilled me for awhile during that first encounter and I knew things weren’t going well when he told me I “should have taken the settlement offer.” LOL A couple continuances later and a lawyer showed up for the defendant from the insurance company that he apparently knew because when she showed up late to court she responded to his admonishment with “well you know me.” She gave a low ball DVC appraisal of 2200 and he again asked me all the usual DVC claim questions but his decision mostly seemed to center around the old “did you sell the car?” It kind of sucks they no showed the first date and he covered them like that with the no decision/request for another hearing but something is way better than nothing. Seriously though, THANK YOU for your help. Had I gone in there with anything less than your detailed report and he would have dismissed the case outright.

Karen E (Minnesota)-We heard back from State Farm again on our DV claim that you assessed at $4,000……the Supervisor made us an offer of $2850 on our claim (original offer was $0 from claims agent). Do you have an opinion/advice on whether we should accept the amount or counter, etc.?

Robin M (Alabama)-Dear Mr. Colletta, I am writing today to let you and your potential clients know that after months and months of struggling with an insurance company we all know, I received a check in the mail today for a little over $13,000.00. This check for the full diminished value amount came just a few week after I hired your company to do an arms length estimation and sent it in to the insurance company. Everyone: my family, friends, and even my attorney advised me to forget it. It would be a pain in the rear and they would never pay. Nevertheless, I know right from wrong and so I persisted. I’m very glad I did. Thank you for your invaluable service and detailed directions.

Jodi G (California)-I posted the following review on your Yelp Page…5 stars of course:)
“I was rear-ended on the freeway resulting in extensive damage to my 2014 Infiniti QX70. At the time of the collision, my vehicle was only 3 years old and had 27K miles. I contacted the other party’s insurance (Farmers) and told them that I would be pursuing a diminished value (DV) claim against their insured. I was soon contacted by a Farmers claims rep stating that they were denying my claim since my vehicle had only sustained “cosmetic damage” due to the collision. I hadn’t even formally submitted a claim yet and was already being denied by Farmers! I realized I would need assistance in the claim. I researched DV appraisers and came across Franklin Colletta, owner of the St. Lucie Appraisal Company. Franklin reviewed my collision repair report (49 days in the repair facility with a repair cost of $12K) and was able to provide a comprehensive DV report.

In his report, Mr. Colletta was able to definitively prove the damage to my vehicle was far from “cosmetic” and exactly how much the structural/frame repairs adversely affected the value – $11K in inherent diminished value. I submitted his detailed report to Farmers. Unfortunately, despite several attempts over a 6 month period to negotiate a fair DV settlement, Farmers best offer to settle the claim only came to $1,100.00.

Franklin advised me to take the other party to small claims court to force Farmers to pay what I was owed. I filed suit… and with his well-written report (and some expert coaching), I won the maximum amount in CA ($10,000 + court costs). Throughout the process Franklin was supportive, responsive, and knowledgeable. I firmly believe I would not have prevailed in court without his detailed assessment backed by his numerous licenses/certifications and over 25 years’ auto appraisal experience. The judge was definitely impressed. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t win a DV claim in small claims court. You absolutely can, and I did. You just have to provide compelling evidence to the judge to back up your claim. I can assure you, The St. Lucie Appraisal Company has the capability, experience, integrity, and know-how to expertly provide the facts, based evidence you will need to ultimately prevail.”

Daniel K (New York)-We were able to collect a diminished value claim against State Farm in New York to the tune of $3,500 so it can be done. Franklin has the industry know how and expertise. I avoided having to go to small claims court. We received excellent customer support.

Kenneth M (Oklahoma)-I was able to settle with Shelter Mutual Insurance (Oklahoma) 11 business days after receipt of my diminished value report. I have no doubt that I could have held out for a few hundred more dollars but I am ok with $3,230.24 from my initial demand of $4,359.50. Thanks Mr. Colletta for the report.

Jodi G (California)-FYI: Your diminished value report on my sideswipe accident was successful. I did not get the full amount, but I did get a decent settlement. Thanks!

Jim S (Oklahoma)-Thank your for the Diminished Value Appraisal on my Chevy Colorado. The fact that you used actual dealers in the Tulsa area was very impressive and very persuasive in court. I originally hired Collision Claim Associates to give me a DV Appraisal and their formula determined I had a DV loss of $4,725.00. I submitted this to Progressive and they told me OK didn’t recognize Inherent Diminished Value and that the Collision Claim appraiser was not licensed in Oklahoma. After they accepted I wasn’t going to go away, they offered me $1,600.12 which came from their appraisal prepared by Auto Damage Appraisers, Tulsa, using the 17 C formula. I told them their appraisal was based on the Georgia class action court case and was not relevant to my claim, and in fact was recommended by the Georgia court to be used only when a more reliable loss appraisal wasn’t available. Progressive then turned my claim over to their OKC law firm which offered me $2,500, take it or leave it. That’s when I found your website and read how you used local reputable dealers to determine that the actual loss in value was $10,875.00. Now I am relieved Progressive decided to take such a firm stand against my claim because I will receive much more that what the Collision Claims formula estimated.

Julie D (Illinois)- If you’ve come this far, you need not look any further. I knew nothing about the ability to claim inherent diminished value when a lady ran a red light. All I knew was that my two-year old, paid off, Jeep Limited (and I) took a big hit. The slew of emotions spurred me on to talk with many professionals, and through thick and thin, I connected with Frank. …the most comforting part of this whole mess. I found Frank to be intelligent, supportive, patient and a joy to work with. He went above and beyond guiding me not just with pursuing my diminished value claim which resulted in a settlement that was 93% of his appraised diminished value, but also recouping my out-of-pocket expenses. His diminished value report is stellar. I recommend Frank without hesitation. From the bottom of my heart – Thank you, Frank.

Ghislaine G (Florida)- Just wanted to let you know that we got a check in the mail from PA Lumbermen’s Mutual Insurance Company yesterday. I also wanted to thank you for all your help with our diminished value claim. You were very helpful and patient with us and it was greatly appreciated.

Paul N (Alabama)- Franklin, I wanted to thank you for your documents because today we received the full amount from Alfa Insurance Company from your documentation, $10,125.00 diminished value settlement on the BMW. Thanks again.

Dave S (Arizona)- Frank – This diminished value report is outstanding. Probably one of the most professional and detailed reports I’ve ever seen.

Jessica R (Pennsylvania)- After Safe Auto Insurance initially offered me $221 for diminished value on my 2016 Mercedes, I sought the expertise and appraisal services of St. Lucie appraisal company. HANDS DOWN – THE BEST DECISION I made.They did a phenomenal job helping me to recover $2800 for diminished value plus their fee! The appraisal was top notch – thorough, professional and timely sent and resolved within a week; the best part was Franklin handled all the insurance companies questions and negotiations. I cannot thank Franklin enough for bringing this accident nightmare to an end. I truly appreciate it!

Napasul S (Virginia)- The St. Lucie Appraisal Company assisted me for my diminished value claim report for my vehicle. I would like to recommend to everyone who is looking for assistance for this type of claim. Frank has done this report professionally and successfully. The insurance company paid all of my loss value back.

John B (North Carolina)- The umpire awarded me $3,900.00 for the diminished value and I accepted. This was vs. $1,500.00 which was the Farm Bureau Insurance final offer. Thanks for all your help.

Craig S (Alabama)- 1st Contacted you On/About 8/21/17….Claim to Alfa 9/7/17 …Just a note to say that I just received the Full $3880.00 Diminished Value check from Alfa Insurance.

Your professionally-presented claim documentation, particularly the thorough and objective logic used, and interviews with dealer appraisers to derive the claim amount were compelling tools to help insure an acceptable outcome. I’d gladly recommend your service to anyone pursuing Diminished Value Claims.

Santosh G (Massachusetts)- I had contacted you back in May for a diminished value claim that you helped me with and was recently resolved. It was really helpful. Thank you.

Joe Z (Florida)- Just wanted to thank you for all of your help with our diminished value claim. Your service was very quick, thorough and professional. The insurance company we were dealing with was not cooperative and Franklin went out of his way to help us negotiate a fair claim. We highly recommend your company and thank you for your assistance.

Amy H (Florida)- Dear Frank, I am remiss in thanking you for your expert testimony in my auto diminished value case. Thank you! You did an amazing job just as Bill had predicted. You are grace under pressure and you came across as knowledgeable and trustworthy, and I love that State Farm’s attorney couldn’t rattle you one bit. I truly appreciate your time and expertise, and it was so nice to meet you. If you find yourself in this neck of the woods I’d love to take you out for good sushi! Have a wonderful week, Fondly, Amy

Christopher P (California)- Hello. I hope things are OK for you with the recent hurricane. I’m curious: Did the appraiser ever get in touch? I got a phone call today from Liberty Mutual indicating that they would honor your diminished value appraisal on my Tesla of $20,670 as is! So, either they did their own and it came in higher than yours or you have discussed with them and came to this agreement. Either way, I’m very pleased with the outcome.

Jake H (Indiana)- Franklin, Thank you for your work. I was paid the full diminished value of $6,896.50 without any fight from insurance. Thanks again!

Junior P (New York)- Hey Franklin, It is me Junior the guy with The BMW X5. I would like to thank you for helping me in getting me compensated for diminished value. I am very proud & impressed with your report and your professionalism for helping me out.

Attorney Fausto R (Florida)- Franklin— I thought I’d let you know Geico settled this claim for $2k even, which I’ll take as a win. Thanks for your help on this one! It took some back and forth with educating the DV team that their State Farm 17C schedule is completely arbitrary and defective. They also used KBB and edmunds as a basis for determining the DV and, notably, didn’t hire their own DV expert. When I pointed this out in a nasty response letter, they quickly paid the $2k. Again, thanks for your help. I’ll keep sending you any cases I come across.

Nuridin P (New York)- I gotta say that I’m blown away with the work that you have done. It’s so perfect. I’m glad I sent you that request for a diminished value report but at the same time I am so disappointed in now knowing what the real value of my truck is. I already forwarded your appraisal to my lawyer and he was also impressed. Thank you very much.

James K (Massachusetts)- Hi Frank, l want to take this opportunity to thank and happily inform you that finally l got the $5,000 check from Safety Insurance, l received it last night in the mail. Now l want to click to the link and write my review on your noble report and let other people know that your appraisal company is the real deal to seek help from!!
Thank you again!

Walter B (California)- We received the settlement check for our diminished value claim. Just wanted to let any potential customers know that you are a company that can be counted on for good reporting and fast service.

Donald M (Connecticut)- I just wanted to let you know I did settle my Diminished Value claim with Allstate. It was your superior and thorough appraisal that allowed a three times larger settlement than the insurance company initially offered me.

Jonathan H (Washington)- You did a Diminished Value report for my 2013 Tesla Model S a little over a year ago. I was able to win a settlement with it. I now have a 2015 Tesla Model S, and was recently backed into. The repairs are still ongoing, but I’m trying to be prepared. Thanks, and look forward to working with you again.

Wimberly T (Tennessee)- Hi Franklin, Just wanted to let you know that my check from Chubb Insurance has been mailed (not received yet) and is to be in the full amount indicated on your diminished value appraisal including the fee! $2900.00.
Thank you very much!

Devi M (Missouri)- It will please you to know that Esurance sent me a check for $2,775.00 which was the same amount of your diminished value appraisal + the cost. I was shocked after all I have read about the difficulty people have collecting fair settlements. I am sure that The St Lucie Appraisal report was instrumental in their decision to pay.

Georgia B (California)- It was easier than reported to obtain a check for diminished value. I am satisfied with the service provided by The St. Lucie Appraisal Company and with the compensation I received for the loss of value to my Audi.

Danny B (South Carolina)- Quick Turnaround. Unbiased report containing objective opinions from relevant auto professionals. Very pleased with service provided. Would highly recommend to others involved in similar situation.

Mike C (South Carolina)- Thank you for the complete report and quick turnaround. You have it down to a science. Pleasure doing business with you and will recommend you if anyone has need of your services.

Blaze S (Alabama)- Your appraisal was the most important factor in my receiving a $5,000.00 settlement from State Farm for the diminished value on my 2016 Toyota Tundra. Even though your appraisal showed that my truck lost $10,041.50, I am satisfied with their eventual offer which was originally $500.00. Thank you so much. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend St Lucie Appraisal.

Judith M (Texas)- Mr. Franklin Colletta has a great and friendly costumer service. As well the diminished value report is very professional and prompt. I am very pleased as he exceed my expectations. He took the time to contact me to get a more detail information on my vehicle, in order to have a more accurate diminished value report. He also included a small guideline on his email, on how to follow up with the insurance. Which for me that I have no previous experience with this matter, was absolutely helpful and a huge blessing. I highly recommend St. Lucie Appraisal Company.

Jim W (Florida)- Very professional and prompt with the diminished value report we requested and helpful when taking to Franklin in person.

Walter B (New Jersey)- Payment was received for the diminished value of our BMW. Thank you for spearheading this effort. Will definitely recommend St. Lucie Appraisal in the future.

Ryan F (Pennsylvania)- This diminished value report is fantastic. This I can at least stand up with in court and present and be “proud” of. As I told you I’m a surgeon, I do orthopedics and we take a lot of xrays … I always try to make my xrays look such that I’d be proud of my work if I had to show them in court. So standing there with what I had before this, the diminished value report from DV Assess …. wasn’t a good feeling. Gonna be interesting, either way. 🙂 Win or lose, I at least feel like I can put up a good fight now.

Victor P (California)- Frank. Finally got my settlement. I got offered $5,000.00. Your diminished value appraisal was $20,512.50 for my Tesla. My daughter the attorney negotiated up to $13,500.00 in July. Mercury played games for a while after but got paid a month ago. Thanks for your help.

Richie S (Nevada)- I got the diminished value settlement today. FYI, only $250 less than your appraisal so I’m extremely happy.

George S (Kentucky)- As St Lucie was the second appraisal company I hired, I’m glad to say that your diminished value report actually worked! XXXXXXXX which heavily advertises on Google, produced a completely unusable report and, of course, refused to refund our money despite a guarantee. Had I gotten burned twice I would probably have given up. Thank you for your honesty and dependable service.

Wilson P (Massachusetts)- Sorry that I didn’t leave a prior review as I wanted to wait for the claim to be settled. Just as you predicted, the insurance company took its time and made a few low settlement offers. By following your advice, they have paid us $4,750.00 which is close enough to your $6K diminished value appraisal amount to be acceptable. Much thanks for all of your time on the telephone and for your excellent appraisal.

Robert R (West Virginia)- I’m happy to report that the diminished value case on my Tesla settled. Thank you for all your assistance in the matter.

Jonathan M (Florida)- After contacting several appraisal company’s, and being highly disappointed with their lack of knowledge and inaccurate methodology used in computing a Diminished Value appraisal and Loss of Use report for my Lamborghini Gallardo, I was referred to St. Lucie Appraisal, and specifically to Frank. He was very professional, always answered phone calls and questions in a timely manner, and delivered well-founded reports. If I ever need a specialist in the future, I will definitely be contacting Frank again. Thank you!

Richard L (Texas)- Frank, Just to keep you up to date. Your diminished value report pushed Liberty Mutual over the edge and they agreed to total out my Tesla. Still working the loss of use claim. Thanks, Richard

Jessica W (New Mexico)- For anyone who is planning to claim diminished value, first hire a competent appraiser then get ready for a long battle with the insurance company. My net gain was $4,000.00 but it wouldn’t have been possible without the report prepared by St. Lucie Appraisal. The umpire said that it made perfect sense and awarded me the full amount.

Victor T Utah)- Very good report. My check was for $2000 less than your appraisal but 10 times more than I was originally offered.

Paul P (New York)- I was able to get them to settle but I had to file a small claims suit. Then I had to threaten to serve the car owner with papers then they contacted me. Thank you.

Paula S (Texas)- Hi Frank, I wanted to just get your opinion as to whether it would be alright to ask this fellow if he would offer us $4,000.00, instead of the $3,263.00. I was frankly shocked that he even offered that after all the negative things I have read on the internet. Please give me your opinion. Even if he turns it down, he can rescind his offer, am I right? I am going to leave you excellent reviews any place I can find on the internet – including Yelp. And I sure thank you for all your help.

Wes H (North Carolina)- We just received our settlement check for the diminution of value on our Porsche. Your appraisal was for $12,545.00 and we agreed to accept $10,000.00. Not worth the time it would probably take to insist on the full amount so just wanted to say “good job” and recommend St. Lucie Appraisal to anyone needing an auto diminished value report.

Chase W (Florida)- Finally received the check from Farmers. My highest recommendation for your excellent appraisal and support services.

Mark S (California)- $12K in right front fender damage. Repaired by Tesla authorized center to flawless condition. $8K diminished value offer from State Farm accepted.

John M (Arizona)- Thank you very much for the appraisal. I was able to use it along with the insurance company field appraiser’s salvage estimate and repair estimate to agree with them that the right thing to do was to declare the vehicle a total loss. I managed to pick up one of the few remaining new ones in the nation last week and am bringing this to closure without having to file a diminished value claim. Thanks again!

Sarah C (Vermont)- I LOVE The St. Lucie Appraisal Company. I have used other appraisers but these guys are the best by far for many reasons. Payment was a breeze! The cost of their report was my initial reason to purchase it. Compared to other appraisals it was very economical. I really liked the way it looked too. The report is superior, arrived very fast and was very useful. I would recommend this appraisal company to anyone!

James J (Illinois)- Thank you, St. Lucie Appraisal, for letting me know about how diminished value “laws” work. I was so misinformed by their insurance adjuster. Thanks to my insistence that your report is so effective that it left no doubt as to my Corvette’s loss in value, they eventually crumbled and paid up. If that wasn’t satisfying, I don’t know what is.

David J (Pennsylvania)- Frank, I wanted to give an update on State Farm’s response to your appraisal… their offer is $7000.00 up from the initial offer of $3000.00. I now have 8 diminished values- your six and two phone “unofficial” appraisals.ALL eight $9000-$12000. I told them that I will settle for $9582…me paying for my own appraisal. We will see. Thank you for your help.

Everett A (New Mexico)- Fabulous news! I have just come from mediation and I am happy, happy, happy! I never thought that this could happen, having been told that obtaining a fair diminished value settlement was next to impossible. None of my automobile or insurance “experts” ever talked to me about diminished value. I doubt if most people have even heard of it. But thanks to you everything is so very improved and, best of all, I have an extra $7600 to compensate me for my car’s loss in value.

Vincent C (California)- The court in California ruled in my favor on my Tesla diminished value case, it was not easy, I spent over 8 hours waiting in court. Thank you for your help and support. I went in by myself, no attorney.

The insurance representative came and his testimony was still the same, they fixed my car, and I cannot ask for diminished value, as it is double dipping. The insurance representative didn’t care about your method and didn’t look at the report when I was in court. I requested the judge to look at your report which supported my case.

Scott C (California)- Used Franklin as well for DV and loss of use on my Tesla. Got a lowball offer from the insurance. Used an attorney and got 2 1/2 times the original offer. Just finalizing the deal now close to a year after the accident.

auto diminished value payment button
Click on the payment button above to pay by Credit Card or Paypal. The fee for an Automobile Diminished Value Report is
$275.00.
You may also make your Credit Card Payment by telephone, call 772-359-4300.

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

Service throughout Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

TOTAL LOSS DISPUTE

This is an Open Education resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company
READ MORE ARTICLES…

SERVICE AREAS


About Us

Established in 1981, The St. Lucie Appraisal Company has over four decades of experience specializing in:

  • Automobile Appraisals
  • Diminished Value Appraisals
  • Total Loss Disputes

We proudly serve clients in all 50 states, offering reliable and professional appraisal services nationwide.

Our Services

  • Vehicle appraisals for insurance underwriting and claims, legal cases, estates, DMV, donations, financing and resale value.
  • Diminished value assessments to calculate loss in value after accidents.
  • Manufactured and Mobile Home appraisals for chattel mortgages, insurance, legal, or other purposes.

Our Service Locations

We serve clients nationwide with convenient service locations in major cities:

  • Florida: Fort Pierce – 1717 Orange Ave, Fort Pierce, FL 34954
  • Coral City – 4722 SE 17th Avenue, Coral City, FL 33904
  • Arizona: Phoenix – 4114 North 28th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016
  • Georgia: Atlanta – 235 Pharr Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
  • Illinois: Chicago – 343 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604
  • Indiana: Indianapolis – 456 Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208
  • Iowa: Des Moines – 405 6th Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309
  • Kansas: Wichita – 1010 N. Ridge Road, Wichita, KS 67212
  • Kentucky: Louisville – 657 South 3rd Street, Louisville, KY 40202
  • Louisiana: New Orleans – 701 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  • Maryland: Baltimore – 511 W. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 70113
  • Alabama: Birmingham – 1623 2nd Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203
  • Minnesota: Minneapolis – 110 West Grant Street, Minneapolis, MN 55403
  • Mississippi: Jackson – 127 South Roach Street, Jackson, MS 39201
  • Missouri: Joplin – 628 South Main Street, Joplin, MO 64801
  • Nevada: Las Vegas – 3875 Cambridge Street, Las Vegas, NV 89119
  • New York: New York City – 66 West 38th Street, New York, NY 10018
  • New Mexico: Albuquerque – 6801 Los Volcanes Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87121
  • North Carolina: Charlotte – 215 N. Pine Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
  • Ohio: Middletown – 6730 Roosevelt Avenue, Middletown, OH 45005
  • Arkansas: Little Rock – 320 South University Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72205
  • Oklahoma: Oklahoma City – 101 Park Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
  • Pennsylvania: Philadelphia – 100 North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
  • Oregon: Portland – 534 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97204
  • South Carolina: North Charleston – 4000 S. Faber Place Drive, North Charleston, SC 29405
  • Tennessee: Nashville – 95 White Bridge Pike, Nashville, TN 37205
  • Texas: Houston – 1001 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX 77002
  • Virginia: Virginia Beach – 33 Princess Anne Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23456
  • Washington: Seattle – 444 NE Ravens Blvd., Seattle, WA 98115
  • California: San Francisco – 100 Pine Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
  • Los Angeles – 750 West 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017
  • Colorado: Denver – 1555 Blake Street, Denver, CO 80202
  • Massachusetts: Boston – 136 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114
  • New Jersey: Newark – 999 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102
  • Rhode Island: Providence – 130 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903
  • Connecticut: Hartford – 211 Trumbull Street, Hartford, CT 06103

ST LUCIE APPRAISAL SERVICE AREAS MAP

HOW TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL DIMINISHED VALUE CLAIM

St. Lucie Automobile and Diminished Value Appraiser

There is a gold standard when it comes to automobile diminished value appraisers and it is known as AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM, a service of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company available in all 50 states. If you ask any insurance adjuster or any of our competitors and you are liable to hear it from them as well. Insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, USAA, Safeco, Progressive, Liberty Mutual and most of the rest have seen our diminished value appraisals. And we have looked at appraisals prepared by just about every independent appraiser – but most of them have ever seen one of ours. Why not? Our appraisals don’t get tossed out for demonstrating a “lack of proof” of diminished value. Theirs do, and when we are called upon for a second opinion, we get to see many of their sad excuses for appraisals.
WE DON’T USE FORMULAS, ALGORITHMS, AD COMPARISONS OR OTHER SHORT CUTS
SIX UNBIASED DEALER QUOTES IN EVERY APPRAISAL TO VALIDATE OUR RESEARCH
TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS ALWAYS FREE-OF-CHARGE

What goes without saying is that the insurance adjuster assigned to your case will make a ridiculously low initial settlement offer, regardless of how comprehensive an appraisal you’ve provided. It is when you start to push them, however – when the claim gets escalated to a supervisor or an unfair claim practices complaint is made to an insurance department that things get interesting. That’s when your appraisal gets sent upstairs to their defense attorneys for review. What, exactly are the lawyers looking for?

When an insurance company defense attorney looks over a diminished value appraisal that was prepared in less than ten minutes using a formula or what many appraisers have taken to calling “algorithms,” they see a document that will look as foreign to a magistrate or mediator as Sanskrit. Diminished value appraisals using automobile auction results aren’t valid as evidence because they represent a completely different market. The online ad comparison method is invalid as well. Two identical cars, listed for the same asking price, can be found,but one of which has an accident history. What is to prevent the seller of the previously-repaird car to ask an unrealistically-high price? You need absolute proof that your car or truck has lost value.

AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM provides what insurance defense attorneys fear most – irrefutable evidence of diminished value, based on the unbiased opinions of six managers at new car dealerships – the people who, day in and day out, purchase and take these bad Carfax cars in trades. Recognizing a valid methodology that any judge can easily understand, insurance company lawyers attorneys are far more likely to advise their adjusters to settle.

Obtaining this detailed information is time consuming but its time well-spent because to be the gold standard in automobile diminished value appraisals, it’s what you’ve got to do. You’ve got to put in the time.
CAR OWNER RECEIVES RECORD $60,000.00 AUTO DIMINISHED VALUE SETTLEMENT

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

auto diminished value payment button
Click on the payment button above to pay by Credit Card or Paypal. The fee for an Automobile Diminished Value Report is
$275.00.
You may also make your Credit Card Payment by telephone, call 772-359-4300.

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

Service throughout Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi , Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

TOTAL LOSS DISPUTE
This is an Open Education resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company
READ MORE ARTICLES…

AUTOMOBILE CLAIMS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Auto Diminished Value Claims

People also ask:

How do you fight a diminished value insurance claim?

Insurance companies excel at paying out as little as possible in claims. You need an expert that can keep fighting for you, even after the appraisal has been completed.

What can I do if an insurance company won’t pay for diminished value?

There are extreme measures such as litigation, but far easier paths are sometimes available. If there was no valid basis upon which an insurer denies your claim, complaints can be made to State Insurance Departments for Unfair Claim Practices. Escalating claims to supervisors at company home offices can also be effective measures one can take.

Are auto diminished value claims worth it?

It depends. You’ll need two things in order to be successful – a good appraisal and persistence. Follow your appraiser’s directions for best results. There are many formulas and algorithms out there that limit payouts for auto diminished value. In the real world, a minor to moderate repair will devalue a vehicle from 10% to 15%, even in this strong automotive market. Repairs that included either structural damage or air bag deployment can shave half off of your car’s value. Formulas and algorithms have built-in code that places ceilings on diminished value amounts. This is the real world where a car owner will need to deal with reality, not artificial intelligence.

Which is the best auto diminished value appraiser?

Choose an independent automobile appraisal company that does actual research. Proper research involves speaking to professionals in the business of buying and selling cars to determine diminished value – not simply plugging modifiers into algorithms. Artificial Intelligence isn’t useful when it is contradicted by facts.

Is there an advantage to using an independent auto appraiser?

Independent auto appraisers have been around the block. In addition to preparing appraisals, the good ones advise their clients right down the line for as long as it takes. Insurance claims are a rough road to travel alone but there are those who attempt to represent themselves, provide their own evidence and sometimes, they attain some level of success. It is time-consuming.

Which is the best antique auto appraiser?

An antique, classic and custom car appraiser should have experience with, not only the subject vehicles, but market trends that can greatly affect car values.

How does an auto appraiser value a car?

There are guidebooks, auto auction results and online ads that guide the independent appraiser in the search for legitimate comparable cars. Knowing how restorations and modifications affect prices is as important as knowing the cost of repairing body and mechanical deficiencies.

How do you fight a total loss claim?

It is unfortunate that most insurers simply reject legitimate evidence provided by car owners but they do. Their preferences are to do things “by the book” as in You hire an appraiser; we’ll hire an appraiser and they can address the dispute and attempt to reach a fair settlement amount.

Which is the best total loss appraiser?

It is easy to ask for numbers when interviewing independent appraisers to assist with your claim. Whether the total loss appraiser has been successful in obtaining higher settlements is the best evidence.

How do you know if your auto appraiser is good?

There’s one thing that can make sure that you have chosen a competent, reliable auto appraiser and that’s reading reviews – all you can find.

How much does it cost for an auto appraisal?

Industry wide,, an average fee ranges from $300-$500. Hire a state-licensed professional. Credentials are important and for that alone it is worth paying a few dollars more. There are many independent appraisers that advertise themselves as “certified appraisers”. Translation: They pay yearly dues for to private organizations for this designation.

Which independent auto appraiser is best for claims?

Many independent appraisal firms work for insurance companies as well as for car owners such as yourself. If you can, choose a company that works strictly with consumers for a better guarantee of where their loyalties lie.

Which independent auto appraisal company has the least complaints?

Reviews are important. Read them thoroughly to get a clear overall picture of what to expect.

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

auto diminished value payment buttonClick on the payment button above to pay by Credit Card or Paypal. The fee for an Automobile Diminished Value Report is
$275.00.
You may also make your Credit Card Payment by telephone, call 772-359-4300.

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

Service throughout Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi , Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

TOTAL LOSS DISPUTE

This is an Open Education resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company
READ MORE ARTICLES…

WIN YOUR DIMINISHED VALUE CASE

St. Lucie Automobile and Diminished Value Appraiser

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company’s remarkable success in the field of Auto Diminished Value claims and Total Loss Disputes has reminded us that justice can triumph over shameless corruption despite seemingly impossible odds. Through diligent work and a sound methodology, our appraisals afford consumers with the tools necessary to combat the traps and the minefields that insurance companies have set in place. Discrediting each and every insurance company tactic is essential. Perfection in both reporting and follow-up advocacy are mandatory requirements – the key ingredients to achieving ultimate success.

Insurers are deliberately indifferent to the systemic under payment and denial of Diminished Value claims. They dress it up and try to disguise it but we have exposed it. These claim denials and lowball offers are not isolated occurrences. Almost every insurer has conspired to make materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statements. Their faculties for critical thinking have been so impaired by years of purposely misinterpreting facts that even when the truth is staring them in the face, many of them fail to see it. By their cavalier handling of legitimate Auto Diminished Value and Total Loss claims, insurance companies have destroyed their credibility against any real world standard of fairness, probity or integrity. They can test the evidence and find out which has the best foundations for which to draw conclusions, yet, the industry as a whole has failed to do so.

Click here to learn from the experiences of others. After reading what those involved in Auto Diminished Value claims and Total Loss Disputes have undergone, you will gain a level of enlightenment necessary to confidently move forward with your claim.

WE DON’T USE FORMULAS, ALGORITHMS, AD COMPARISONS OR OTHER SHORT CUTS
SIX UNBIASED DEALER QUOTES IN EVERY APPRAISAL TO VALIDATE OUR RESEARCH
TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS ALWAYS FREE-OF-CHARGE

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS

SEARCH OUR DATABASE OF AUTO DIMINISHED VALUE REPORTS

Before making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com

auto diminished value payment button
Click on the payment button above to pay by Credit Card or Paypal. The fee for an Automobile Diminished Value Report is
$275.00.
You may also make your Credit Card Payment by telephone, call 772-359-4300. Tesla and other exotic car owners please call for rates.

Service throughout Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

TOTAL LOSS DISPUTE

This is an Open Education resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company
READ MORE ARTICLES…

AUTOMOBILE AND DIMINISHED VALUE APPRAISER ON ANGI

Auto Diminished Value Claims

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

Angi isn’t the first place you would think to look for an automobile, personal property and diminished value appraiser like The St. Lucie Appraisal Company. Yet many of our customers report that they found us on the popular review site and that they liked what they saw. In our business, there are all sorts of unscrupulous companies so it is quite an accolade to be considered both honest and proficient at what we do.

With regard to automobile, truck and heavy equipment appraisals, our services are sought after for insurance, financing and bankruptcies. Establishing accurate values on all types of motor vehicles is crucial toward receiving fair treatment from courts, obtaining adequate loans for equipment purchases and making sure they are properly insured against all types of losses.

When it comes to automobile diminished value, which is the value that a car loses after undergoing collision repairs, The St. Lucie Appraisal Company’s reports are second to none. Almost every one of our competitors – many of whom offer “free” diminished value appraisals – have generated complaints in various review sites. Not the case with our company. We have yet to read a negative review of our services either on Angi or anywhere else. In fact, in honor of receiving our 15th Angi review, we’ve decided to reprint each and every one of them. Our sincere thanks to those of you who took the time to recognize the effort we put forth on your behalf.

St. Lucie Automobile, Personal Property and Diminished Value Appraisers is a proud member of Angi

Review Date:February 11, 2015
Member: Chris C
Category: Auto Appraisals
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: June 17, 2014
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $225.00
Description Of Work: Requested a diminished value evaluation because our vehicle was damaged within the first month of purchase. It was a brand new truck.
Member Comments: Very professional, all the reviews online were positive. I called and performed an interview and decided to give the company a try. I was not disappointed. All the reviews were accurate.
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes
Review Date:October 23, 2014
Member: Cindi S
Category: Appraisals – Antiques/Jewelry/Items
Services Performed: No
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: October 20, 2014
Hire Again: Yes
Description Of Work: Looking for a place to appraise my mothers furniture.
Member Comments: They were in the range for appraisers, but just too expensive for me called me back promptly and were friendly though.
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes
Review Date:October 18, 2014
Member: Ryan B
Category: Appraisals – Antiques/Jewelry/Items
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: September 29, 2014
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $225.00
Description Of Work: Appraisal diminished value.
Member Comments: Awesome! Very professional & fast.
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes
Review Date:October 04, 2014
Member: Rev. Robert J
Category: Appraisals – Antiques/Jewelry/Items
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: September 22, 2014
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $325.00
Description Of Work: Appraisal
Member Comments: The service was very hassle free and professional.
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes
Review Date:September 07, 2014
Member: Joan C
Company Name: The St Lucie Appraisal Co
Category: Appraisals – Automobile Diminished Value
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: June 01, 2014
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $475.00
Description Of Work: Loss of use appraisal, diminished value appraisal
Member Comments: Excellent communication from start to end. He had an excellent grasp and knowledge of these types of appraisals. He provided an accurate and comprehensive report which was useful in negotiations with my insurance company.
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes
Review Date: August 28, 2014
Member: Phillip D
150 CR 64
DEATSVILLE, AL 36022
Category: Auto Appraisals
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: August 12, 2014
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $175.00
Description Of Work: Auto appraisal.
Member Comments: Frank was very responsive and performed a comprehensive appraisal on my classic auto.
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes
Review Date: August 27, 2014
Member: Robert R
Category: Appraisals – Automobile Diminished Value
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: July 17, 2014
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $300.00
Description Of Work: Diminished value appraisal in a Tesla.
Member Comments: Very professional; quick appraisal.
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes
Review Date: June 10, 2014
Member: Kip M
Category: Auto Appraisals
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: May 13, 2014
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $125.00
Description Of Work:
Vehicle appraisal for my attorney; was very impressed with the details and quick turnaround time.
Member Comments: I needed a last minute vehicle appraised and contacted Frank from his web site online. He adjusted his personal schedule to fit my needs and within 24 hours my appraisal was completed and emailed to me. His rate was less than half of my first estimate.
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes
Review Date: June 06, 2014
Member: Mike and Megan B
Categories: Antiques Appraisals – Antiques/Jewelry/Items
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: March 01, 2014
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $375.00
Description Of Work: Appraisal on antique furniture for insurance purposes.
Member Comments: I mailed photos of eleven pieces of French antiques purchased in Europe. From the photos, they gave me estimates on the value of each piece. It was done in a timely matter, and a written estimate, in detail, was mailed to me.
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes
Review Date: May 14, 2014
Member: NATE C
345 OLD WOOD DR
COLUMBIA, SC 29212
Category: Appraisals – Automobile Diminished Value
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: April 01, 2014
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $225.00
Description Of Work: Diminished value car appraisal.
Member Comments: Went beyond call of duty at no extra charge.
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes
Review Date: May 14, 2014
Member: Dr. Danny C
924 Ashford Way
FORT MILL, SC 29708
Category: Appraisals – Collectibles
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: December 01, 2013
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $700.00
Description Of Work: 2 appraisals : 1.) baseball card collection
2.) cat book collection
Member Comments: Excellent!
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes
Review Date: May 05, 2014
Member: Jennifer S
121 Portside Ave
Cape Canaveral, FL 32904
Category: Automobile Appraisal
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: May 05, 2014
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $125.00
Description Of Work: Gave me an appraisal 4000 dollars more than allstate originally quoted.
Member Comments: Mr Colletta was hired by me after my car was totaled and Allstate offered me less then my car was worth, and I needed a second opinion. He is very kind, professional, and helpful, and i would recommend him to anyone!
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes
Review Date: May 05, 2014
Member: Jennifer S
121 Portside Ave
Cape Canaveral, FL 32904
Category: Automobile Appraisal
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: May 05, 2014
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $125.00
Description Of Work: Gave me an appraisal 4000 dollars more than Allstate originally quoted.
Member Comments: Mr Colletta was hired by me after my car was totaled and Allstate offered me less then my car was worth, and i needed a second opinion. He is very kind, professional, and helpful, and i would recommend him to anyone!
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes
Company Response: Insurance companies aren’t known for their generosity when it comes to paying claims. Allstate put Jennifer a tough spot. Glad we were able to help her obtain a fair settlement.
Review Date: May 05, 2014
Member: Richard G
1456 SW Del Rio Blvd
PORT SAINT LUCIE, FL 34953
Category: Automobile Appraisal
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: January 10, 2013
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $225.00
Description Of Work: Provided survey of value of collective car for insurance purposes.
Member Comments: Arrived on time & provide paperwork in a timely manner.
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes
Review Date: March 22, 2014
Member: JOHN M
275 Waverly Drive
Pasadena, CA 91105
Category: Automobile Diminished Value Appraisal
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: March 21, 2014
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $300.00
Description Of Work: Vehicle loss of value report for a Tesla S.
Member Comments: Report was ready in just a few days. Let’s hope it brings a settlement from the insurer.
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes
Review Date: February 19, 2014
Member: Donald S
New Mexico, 85364
Category: Automobile Diminished Value Appraisal
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: February 19, 2014
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $225.00
Description Of Work: The St. Lucie Appraisal Co. provided me with an estimate of the diminished value of my brand new 2014 Subaru Outback (damaged on 12/05/2013 with the 90 day temporary registration sticker still on the back window), post repair to industry standards, after it was sideswiped along the entire left side while parked in front of my home.
Member Comments: I could not be more pleased by my experience with this business than I am. After submitting all the particulars needed for the appraisal, turnaround time was unbelievably fast—just about 24 hours. Communication with the firm was personal, responsive and just excellent. The report was well formatted. The price was more than reasonable—I would have paid more, considering what I got. The analytical approach and methodology used in preparing the report I believe to be sound as it is based on the actual combined and averaged opinions of 6 Subaru Used Car Managers from my region of the country (Southwest). These individuals are professionals, specialists in making these determinations, who do so on a daily basis, and do so successfully under actual real life market conditions. Therefore, this yields a report that is highly credible and has substantial evidential weight should the matter eventually need to be adjudicated.
The St. Lucie Appraisal Co. has my unqualified endorsement with regard to the area of diminished value auto claims, and I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone needing help in this area
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes
Review Date: January 23, 2014
Member: Janice C
4105 Smokey Pines Ct.
Fort pierce, FL 34951
Category: Automobile Appraisal
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: January 14, 2014
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $175.00
Description Of Work: Appraised 57 Chevy Corvette
Member Comments: Frank was very thorough and spent a great deal of time going over records and receipts for the vehicle. HE inspected the car took several pictures and supplied a accurate estimate of the cars worth. he also suggested different avenues to sell the car.
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes

Review Date: December 13, 2013

Member: Justin A
222 SW Thornhill Dr.
Port St Lucie, FL 34984
Category: Automobile Diminished Value Appraisal
Services Performed: No
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: December 13, 2013
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $225.00
Description Of Work: Diminished Value appraisal
Member Comments: Frank was honest, attentive, and full of knowledge in his trade. If I need an appraisal I will contact Frank.
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes

 

Review Date: February 07, 2013

Member: Charlton S
85 River’s Edge Drive
Portland, ME 04102
Category: Appraisals – Antiques/Jewelry/Items
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: February 06, 2013
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $325.00
Description Of Work: Franklin Colletta appraised the entire contents of our home in anticipation of our selling the home fully furnished.
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes

Review Date:May 05, 2012

Member: Chris C
7845 Sabal Lake Dr
PORT SAINT LUCIE, FL 34986
Category: Automobile Diminished Value Appraisal
Services Performed: Yes
* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.
Work Completed Date: March 01, 2012
Hire Again: Yes
Approximate Cost: $225.00
Description Of Work: Appraisal of car damage for diminished value claim.
Member Comments: Frank Colletta was professional, prompt and responsive to e mail and questions.
Share on Band of Neighbors: Yes

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company
P.O. Box 2700
Fort Pierce, FL 34954
Phone: (772) 359-4300
Email: contact@stlucieappraisal.net

Service throughout Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company, Automobile Appraisers in all 50 States 772-359-4300 contact@stlucieappraisal.net

A Manufactured Home or Mobile Home Appraiser may be called upon to place a value on a unit for financing, insurance, estate dissolution, Medicaid compliance, Section 8 housing, charitable donations, landlord-tenant disputes, bankruptcy, divorce and redevelopments at mobile home parks; also known as trailer parks. Older units, in particular, have experienced an upswing in desirability. improved construction techniques have increased lifespans of mobile and manufactured homes. The mobile and manufactured housing industry uses the NADA formula to calculate how much a mobile home is worth. However, many mobile homes have refurbishments that can increase the resale value of the home. Also, condition, location, amenities, whether lot is owned or rented, etc. are also key factors the appraiser must consider.

CALL 772-359-4300 TO REQUEST A MOBILE OR MANUFACTURED HOME APPRAISAL

Service throughout Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company
Service in all 50 States
Phone: (772) 359-4300
Email: contact@stlucieappraisal.net

Diminished Value Methodology

St. Lucie Automobile and Diminished Value Appraiser

How is diminished Value calculated? The St. Lucie Appraisal Company’s service AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM is just one of many independent appraisers that provide automobile diminished value reports for consumers. Each company has its own method of calculating the amount of value a car has lost after undergoing collision repairs. This article will examine each method and furnish explanations on each of them. It is our opinion, of course, that our methodology for calculation a vehicle’s diminished value after accident repairs is far superior to others being used. After reading the information that we have provided, you can make an informed decision about how to proceed with your automobile diminished value claim. How is diminished value calculated?

OUR METHODOLOGY

Our automobile diminished value reports are ultimately designed to be read and decided upon by a magistrate or mediator. In the past, our reports have proved conclusive in winning cases for our customers because they were based on real-world data.

There are six commonly-used methods by which diminished value is calculated.

1) A letter from a dealership declaring that the vehicle has lost value as a result of undergoing collision repairs. A typical insurance company response: “A dealership is not a disinterested third party and has a financial interest in the acquisition price of a trade in vehicle. Their business model is to buy low and sell high. An offer of trade is simply the starting point of a negotiation and does not, in and of itself, establish any specific loss in value. It is our position that the documentation presented by you does not provide any underlying market data in support of the post-accident value of your vehicle.” This approach generally costs you nothing. em>

2) Figures made up out of thin air, usually buttressed by an appraiser’s assertion that they are based on his or her years of experience in the field either buying, selling or rebuilding cars. The cost for this type of report should be negligible.

3) By using formulas or algorithms such as Rule 17-C which assigns modifiers (points) to things such as whether frame/unibody damage or air bag deployment occurred or whether adjacent panels needed to be painted. These types of reports are subjective, simplistic and abstract. In our experience, judges who have attempted to decipher this type of appraisal understood them even less after having them explained by insurance company attorneys than when they first read them. There is a wide range of fees being charged by independent appraisers, from around $250.00 to more than $800.00. The upper end of the scale usually includes the appraiser’s physical inspection of the vehicle. In cases of inherent diminished value, where a car is worth less simply because it now has a bad Carfax, an inspection of the repaired car serves no purpose.

4) The use of automobile auction results. The data will show a number of similar vehicles that were sold at auction, some that were never damaged and others with bad Carfaxes. You can see that the bad Carfax vehicles sold for less but the auction printouts don’t show the mileage, options, colors, etc. of each vehicle nor do they list the extent of the damages that were repaired. Plus, this is not the market you are in.

5) Improper use of Carfax.com retail ads. An appraisal showing random screen shots of similar cars for sale, some of which were previously repaired, to make comparisons. Typically, very little information about the cars such as mileage, condition, how much was paid for the car and, most importantly, a description of the repairs that were done is provided. This method also invites “cherry-picking” of higher and lower-priced cars. Most importantly, asking prices aren’t a true measuring stick because nothing prevents dealers for asking unreasonably high prices for previously repaired vehicles.

6) A diminished value report that is prepared by The St. Lucie Appraisal Company takes into consideration all of the specifics of your car as well as the exact amount and nature of the damages that were repaired. It is as comprehensive a diminished value report as you can find. Our report contains our own data-based opinion. Then we confirm our findings by querying six sales managers at recognized dealerships in your area. Each dealership, their contact information and the name of the manager is all contained within our appraisal. The last paragraph of our report addresses insurance company concerns regarding the use of dealer quotes. It reads: “All of the dealers queried were informed that the subject vehicle was not available for purchase or trade, therefore none of the dealers queried had any vested interest in the subject vehicle.” This method represents unbiased, irrefutable proof of the occurrence and amount of diminished value. Our fee for a diminished value appraisal is $275.00 for most cars. Diminished value appraisals for exotics such as Ferrari, Tesla and Bentleys cost $350.00. Unless there is a problem, we rarely hear back from our customers – a sign that they are receiving fair settlements from insurers.

Car owners count on their service providers to follow up promptly when questions or other issues arise. It is difficult to know which independent appraisers can be relied upon as expert witnesses or simply for advice as the claim progresses. Our concern is for those who have placed their trust in us – our customers. While we feel that our methodology is the best in the business, our customer service is even better.

CAR OWNER RECEIVES RECORD $60,000.00 AUTO DIMINISHED VALUE SETTLEMENT

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

auto diminished value payment buttonClick on the payment button above to pay by Credit Card or Paypal. The fee for an Automobile Diminished Value Report is
$275.00.
You may also make your Credit Card Payment by telephone, call 772-359-4300.

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

Service throughout Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi , Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

TOTAL LOSS DISPUTE

This is an Open Education Resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company.
READ MORE ARTICLES…

Vehicle Valuation Report for Title, Registration – Auto, Truck, RV, Motorcycle and Heavy Equipment

Auto Diminished Value Claims

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company prepares valuation and diminished value appraisals for all types of cars, trucks, RVs, motorcycles and heavy equipment in all 50 states. In each county of every state, motor vehicles being titled and registered for tags and license plates are assessed a tax based on the vehicle’s fair market value. If your car was ever involved in a collision, especially one involving severe damage that included structural (frame) damage or air bag deployment, you are paying up to double the amount you pay for motor vehicle title and registration taxes. For example, if you own a late-model Audi, Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, INFINITI, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Lotus, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Rolls-Royce or Tesla which the state values at $50,000, your motor vehicle tax is approximately $3,500.00. However, the same car showing a bad Carfax, Autocheck or other repair history report may have an actual value of up to 50% less. The resultant tax saving would be $1,750.00. If your motor vehicle is worth more, your savings increase exponentially. RVs such as Prevost, Newmar or Featherlite and heavy trucks such as Mack, Kenworth, Peterbilt or Volvo that have been repaired after collisions aren’t worth nearly as much as those that were never wrecked. The motor vehicle tax saving on a half-million-dollar vehicle could be in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Our valuation reports are also sought after for total loss disputes, financing, insurance underwriting, estate dissolution, divorce, bankruptcy and charitable donations.

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

Call The St. Lucie Appraisal Company at 772-359-4300 to inquire about obtaining a vehicle valuation appraisal when you obtain a title for a high-end vehicle or next time you renew your registration.




The cost to obtain a vehicle valuation appraisal is $275.00. Use the payment button above and email vehicle information to contact@stlucieappraisal.net. You will receive a signed vehicle valuation appraisal from a licensed motor vehicle appraiser via email in one week.

Service throughout Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi , Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

TOTAL LOSS DISPUTE
This is an Open Education resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.
AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company