automobile

Diminished Value Nashville

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St. Lucie Appraisal, automobile, personal property, diminished value, appraiser

Each week we report on the most interesting and informative articles concerning auto diminished value claims. Regarding our diminished value appraisal of a Honda Accord EX-L NAV with 34,813 miles that was involved in a front end collision on 10/04/2017 that caused $6,152.13 in damage. The vehicle was not disabled/towed, had structural damage and no air bag deployment. The claimant made a third-party inherent auto diminished value claim for the vehicle’s loss in value. Once a car is repaired after a collision, it is worth less, often much less depending on the severity of the damage. Regardless of how well the repairer did his job, nobody will pay as much for a previously wrecked car as they would for an identical one that was never in an accident. Presenting a diminished value claim and following it through to a satisfactory conclusion is a daunting task for the average person. Obtaining a comprehensive Diminished Value Report is key.

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

We learned from these examples from sales managers at Honda dealers in Tennessee. One dealer would not even take the car in trade. Also, it would be considered a wholesale or “auction” car especially with amount of damage listed on Carfax, even if it was repaired correctly you could still be looking at a loss of 30% or more. And because of the bad Carfax report, the car owner will have a pretty large loss when it comes to the overall trade in value. Frame damage really hurts the overall perception

The opinions of unbiased experts form the basis for the most comprehensive Auto Diminished Value Appraisal available. We obtain six of them which absolutely puts the diminished value figure prepared by The St. Lucie Appraisal Company in the ballpark. This is what the car owner will experience in the real world.

Honda Diminished Value Nashville TennesseeDealers providing opinions regarding diminished value were given information specific to this vehicle including year, make, model, mileage, color, options, any other pertinent equipment, date of loss as well as the nature of the repaired damages and the manner in which the vehicle was repaired. Dealer opinions are based on personal knowledge and access to auction results. Dealers were advised that this vehicle was properly repaired.

We contacted several Honda dealers in Tennessee in order to establish how these repairs and the resultant repair history would impact this vehicle’s Fair Market Value (FMV.) Dealers were provided with an evaluation of the vehicle’s condition both prior and subsequent to repairs.

Description of damage: Non-disabling collision damages to the Front with damage to structural components and no air bag deployment. Repair cost $6,152.13. LKQ (used) and/or aftermarket parts were utilized in the repair/not factored in to the diminished value.

The average of six (6) deductions was 32.50%. This is the percentage of Diminished Value to be taken from the FMV at the time of loss.

We established that the above captioned vehicle had a Fair Market Value (Average Trade-In Value) of approximately $15,500.00 at the time of loss. The Diminished Value was $5,037.50.

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 in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Jackson, Johnson City, Bartlett, Hendersonville, Kingsport, Collierville and throughout Tennessee.Anderson, Bedford, Benton, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Cannon, Carroll, Carter, Cheatham, Chester, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Coffee, Crockett, Cumberland, Davidson, Decatur, DeKalb, Dickson, Dyer, Fayette, Fentress, Franklin, Gibson, Giles, Grainger, Greene, Grundy, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardeman, Hardin, Hawkins, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lake, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Loudon, McMinn, McNairy, Macon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Maury, Meigs, Monroe, Montgomery, Moore, Morgan, Obion, Overton, Perry, Pickett, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Robertson, Rutherford, Scott, Sequatchie, Sevier, Shelby, Smith, Stewart, Sullivan, Sumner, Tipton, Trousdale, Unicoi, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Weakley, White, Williamson and Wilson Counties. auto appraiser near 37013, auto appraiser near 37076, auto appraiser near 37115, auto appraiser near 37211, auto appraiser near 37221

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
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DIMINISHED VALUE MIAMI

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St. Lucie Automobile and Diminished Value Appraiser

Each week we report on the most interesting and informative articles concerning auto diminished value claims. Regarding our diminished value appraisal of a Cadillac XT5 Luxury SUV with 11,114 miles that was involved in a front end collision on 1/10/18 that caused $16,634.59 in damage. The vehicle was disabled/towed and had structural damage and air bag deployment. The claimant made a third-party inherent auto diminished value claim for the vehicle’s loss in value. Once a car is repaired after a collision, it is worth less, often much less depending on the severity of the damage. Regardless of how well the repairer did his job, nobody will pay as much for a previously wrecked car as they would for an identical one that was never in an accident. Presenting a diminished value claim and following it through to a satisfactory conclusion is a daunting task for the average person. Obtaining a comprehensive Diminished Value Report is key.

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

We learned from these examples from sales managers at Cadillac dealers in South Florida. – You would lose between 25% at minimum off the trade-in-value due to it having frame damage. Also anytime a car or truck has reported frame damage you will lose 30% or higher depending on the vehicles value because they have to sell at auction and have to disclose this damage to potential buyers which makes it a hard sale. And typically that when you have a vehicle with frame damage and it was towed from the scene you are looking at taking a big hit

The opinions of unbiased experts form the basis for the most comprehensive Auto Diminished Value Appraisal available. We obtain six of them which absolutely puts the diminished value figure prepared by The St. Lucie Appraisal Company in the ballpark. This is what the car owner will experience in the real world.

A maroon Cadillac SUV. CADILLAC XT5 LUXURY DIMINISHED VALUE CLAIM IN MIAMI, FLORIDA CALL 772-359-4300.Dealers providing opinions regarding diminished value were given information specific to this vehicle including year, make, model, mileage, color, options, any other pertinent equipment, date of loss as well as the nature of the repaired damages and the manner in which the vehicle was repaired. Dealer opinions are based on personal knowledge and access to auction results. Dealers were advised that this vehicle was properly repaired.

We contacted several Cadillac dealers in South Florida in order to establish how these repairs and the resultant repair history would impact this vehicle’s Fair Market Value (FMV.) Dealers were provided with an evaluation of the vehicle’s condition both prior and subsequent to repairs.

FLORIDA ADJUSTERS LICENSE
FLORIDA LICENSEDINDEPENDENT ADJUSTER

Description of damage: Disabling collision damages to the Front with damage to structural components and air bag deployment. Repair cost $16,634.59. LKQ (used) and/or aftermarket parts were not utilized in the repair/not factored in to the diminished value.

The average of six (6) deductions was 31.25%%. This is the percentage of Diminished Value to be taken from the FMV at the time of loss.

We established that the above captioned vehicle had a Fair Market Value (Average Trade-In Value) of approximately $35,000.00 at the time of loss. The Diminished Value was $10,937.50.
Car owner receives record $60,000 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 in Altamonte Springs, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Bradenton, Cape Coral, Clearwater, Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Davie, Daytona Beach, Delray Beach, Deltona, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Pierce, Gainesville, Hialeah, Hollywood, Homestead, Jacksonville, Jupiter, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Largo, Lauderhill, Margate, Melbourne, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Gardens, Miramar, North Port, Ocala, Orlando, Palm Bay, Pembroke Pines, Pensacola, Plantation, Pompano Beach, Port Orange, Port St. Lucie, St. Petersburg, Sanford, Stuart, Sunrise, Tallahassee, Tamarac, Tampa, Vero Beach, Wellington, Weston and throughout Florida.Alachua, Baker, Bay ,Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, De Soto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton and Washington Counties. auto appraiser near 33012, auto appraiser near 33015, auto appraiser near 33157, auto appraiser near 33186

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
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Determining the Amount of DV

by
St. Lucie Automobile and Diminished Value Appraiser

There are three types of diminished value claims: inherent, repair-related, and insurance-related. The general consensus among insurance companies, vehicle owners, car dealers and automobile appraisers considers inherent diminished value to be value lost due to stigma, repair-related diminished value to be value lost due to repairs not returning a vehicle to pre-accident condition, and insurance diminished value to be value lost due to the use of lesser parts. The most significant issues relate to the evidentiary standard required for proving a claim in inherent diminished value and to quantifying that loss in value. How does an appraiser go about determining the amount of auto 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

In order for you to prove inherent diminished value it would be insufficient to express an opinion that the vehicle is worth less by employing a formula, algorithm or simply the uncorroborated opinion of an appraiser who considers himself an expert. Without reliable evidence, an individual appraiser’s experience is insufficient to prove inherent diminished value on a balance of probabilities. The burden remains with the car owner to quantify their claim of inherent diminished value with actual evidence.

DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF DIMINISHED VALUE

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company generates diminished value appraisals crafted from the unbiased opinions of numerous authorities on the buying, selling and auctioning of cars – the sales managers at new car dealerships. In fact, we are the only independent appraisal company in the United States that can reference literally thousands of such opinions. Proving the existence and amount of automobile diminished value is critical both in claim negotiations and legal proceedings should matters escalate to that stage. Insurance adjusters and their supervisors are not impressed by formula-based appraisals and give them scant respect when negotiating settlements. If a car owner seeking compensation for diminished value doesn’t submit an appraisal that convinces insurers that they would lose in court, you are likely to lose a great deal in terms of not only time and money but also emotional duress. Nobody likes being treated unfairly.

A pro-active approach works best. Obtain a credible automobile diminished value appraisal from an appraiser who holds a state-issued license. An automobile adjuster and appraiser license from any state is a nationally accepted credential. Make certain that the appraiser is agreeable to discussing his appraisal with insurance representatives. Document everything by insisting that all correspondences with the insurer be in writing. Escalate the claim up the chain of command. Supervisors have the authority to increase settlement offers and will likely consult with their legal team about the chances of a successful defense. If their lawyers tell them that the evidence is compelling, your chance of obtaining equitable treatment increases considerably. If you are still faced with arbitrary and capricious responses, make an unfair claim practices complaint to your state insurance department. Finally, should all else fail, you may have to sue them.

It is our goal to eliminate as much hassle as possible from your automobile diminished value claim experience by preparing appraisals that are fair and which accurately reflect the reality of the used car market. It is undeniable that your car has lost value after being wrecked and repaired. Determining just how much is our job and we do it better than anyone else.

Car owner receives record $60,000 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, AUTOLOSSOFUSE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company.


READ MORE ARTICLES…

Defining Diminished Value

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St. Lucie Appraisal, automobile, personal property, diminished value, appraiser

What is diminished value? This newly coined term is most often applied to the reduction in value of a car or truck after collision damages have been repaired. Regardless of how well the repairs were done, used car buyers would rather purchase an automobile with no accident history, thereby making the previously repaired vehicle worth less than its counterpart.

Read more

DIMINISHED VALUE EXPERT

by
St. Lucie Automobile and Diminished Value Appraiser

Diminished Value is the difference in the value of your car directly before and directly after collision repairs have been completed. After being repaired, your car has a bad Carfax or other vehicle history report. Used-car buyers prefer to purchase cars that were never previously damaged so your car, by comparison, is less appealing; hence, it is worth less. If there was frame, unibody or air bag deployment it is worth a lot less. You can make a third-party diminished value claim against the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident. The first step is to obtain an automobile diminished value appraisal from a diminished value expert. The St. Lucie Appraisal Company services all 50 states by providing diminished value reports and expert witness testimony for owners of damaged vehicles. Call a diminished value expert at 772-359-4300 or email us at contact@autodiminishedvalue.com if you have questions or need more information.

WHY WAS YOUR DIMINISHED VALUE CLAIM DENIED?

What makes a person or company an expert at something? We can answer that question in one word – results. A positive outcome for our clients is proof enough that our methodology for arriving at diminished value works better than those of our competitors. The St. Lucie Appraisal Company may be a small fish in the large pond of big-bucks-advertising diminished value appraisal companies but more insurance adjusters recommend us as a diminished value expert to their friends and families than anyone else. We consider it a compliment when former adversaries in diminished value matters, adjusters from State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and other insurers compliment our work.

DIMINISHED VALUE EXPERTS IN ALL 50 STATES

With regard to hiring an appraiser for a personal inspection your car, everyone should be aware that a physical inspection of the repaired car is completely unnecessary and only serves to line the appraiser’s pocket as you will be charged more for their service. The car is fixed. There’s nothing to see. In the case of REPAIR-RELATED diminished value, which is a loss of value because of shoddy repairs, a physical inspection is, indeed, necessary. Your claim, and 99% of all diminished value claims, is known as INHERENT DIMINISHED VALUE. It simply means that the car is worth less because it now has a repair history or bad Carfax. Our research is done based on a properly-repaired vehicle.

The Diminished Value experts at The St. Lucie Appraisal Company work hard for you by taking the time to obtain six verifiable diminished value opinions from new car dealers to confirm our estimations. No shortcuts like formulas, algorithms or online ad comparisons. These unbiased quotes have served as proof to magistrates and mediators alike. When insurance adjusters are presented with one of our appraisals, it is a signal that you are serious about collecting the full amount that your vehicle has lost due to the negligence of their policyholder. As your diminished value expert, we are prepared to represent your interests throughout the claims process. Virtually all of our competitors have had complaints lodged against them in sites like The Better Business Bureau, Yelp and Ripoff Report. You may feel free to search those sites as well as others like Angie’s List and you’ll never find a bad review of our company.

That makes The St. Lucie Appraisal Company more than a diminished value expert. It makes us the company you want to do business with.

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, 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, AUTOLOSSOFUSE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company.


READ MORE ARTICLES…

ARKANSAS ANTIQUE CAR APPRAISER

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LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – In Arkansas, we have appraised almost every type of antique, classic and custom car. In addition, exotic cars such as Ferrari, Bentley and Tesla are here in abundance. When it comes time to appraise the value of your automobile, RV, motorcycle or heavy equipment for insurance, financing or a charitable donation to a non-profit for a tax-deduction, The St. Lucie Appraisal Company is the company you want to call. Our experience appraising all types of motor vehicles provides car owners with the advantage of hiring someone who knows just how valuable old, well-kept cars can be. In addition, we keep an extensive library of past automotive sales that other appraisers can not match. We are an Arkansas antique car appraiser you can count on.

Many companies providing financing or insurance for autos, trucks and heavy equipment have strict requirements regarding the appraisal of vehicles. A bank or credit union lending money toward the purchase of an antique car, dump truck or over the road tractor will ask for an inspection by a licensed appraiser before committing funds toward the purchase. Likewise, insurance underwriters look for documentation before providing coverage. Bankruptcies and loan defaults among owner-operators of trucks and construction equipment make lenders and insurers extremely selective about who they do business with. The St. Lucie Appraisal Company is a company that banks and insurers choose to provide valuation services.

Selecting a company to perform a car or truck appraisal is typically the job of the prospective buyer or policyholder. As absurd as it sounds, the typical commercial lender or insurance broker is clueless when it comes to finding a licensed independent appraiser. Often the vehicle owner is asked to locate an independent appraiser because banking and insurance managers don’t possess Rolodexes any more. When lenders or brokers do hire us, it is often as a result of a Google search. What the vehicle owner should know, however, is that once the appraisal is given to the bank or insurer, representatives from those institutions will then perform their due diligence and query the appraiser as to how he obtained his valuation figures.

After making certain that the independent appraiser is properly licensed, investigate for yourself their expertise and any reviews from past clients. When their appraisal is placed under the microscope of the insurer or lender, if their answers don’t meet the bank’s or insurance company’s criteria, you have wasted your money on a worthless document.

Call The St. Lucie Appraisal Company when only the best and most knowledgeable appraiser will do. Our service area includes Arkansas as well as all 50 states Our appraisals are sought after for insurance, financing, donations for tax-deductions, bankruptcies, divorces, insurance claim disputes, purchase & sales and estate dissolutions.

REQUEST AN AUTOMOBILE VALUATION APPRAISAL – $275.00 for most cars.





Please eMail photographs and other vehicle information to Email: contact@stlucieappraisal.net

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Service in Little Rock, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Springdale, Jonesboro, North Little Rock, Conway, Rogers, Pine Bluff, Bentonville, Hot Springs, Benton, Sherwood, Texarkana and throughout Arkansas.

Auto Diminished Value Case in Small Claims Court

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Auto Diminished Value Claims

NOTE: This article is intended as a guide and not as a form of legal advice.

Among the various and many articles that have been written about automobile diminished value, there are but a scant few that describe what happens when an irate claimant decides to become a plaintiff and escalates his claim into small claims court. Of course, there are many diminished value losses that exceed the $5,000.00 to $10,000.00 limit – each state has different thresholds – of this venue but for this article we will examine diminished value in small claims court. Small Claims Court is a special court where individuals, representing themselves, resolve disputes quickly and inexpensively in an informal setting. The person who sues is the plaintiff; the person who is sued is the defendant. In small claims court, you may ask a lawyer for advice before you go to court, but you cannot have a lawyer in court. Again, different state laws apply.

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company had occasion to prepare an automobile diminished value report for a client, but not before he had made a few mistakes. The gentleman owned a Honda Pilot which was damaged by a negligent driver who was insured with Safeco Insurance. After having his 3,900 mile vehicle repaired for $1,446.13, not a great deal of damage, he filed an automobile diminished value claim against Safeco. He presented as evidence of diminution, a document from his Honda dealer which stated that his vehicle, due to its now having a bad Carfax, was worth $4,000.00 less.

DIMINISHED VALUE IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT
DIMINISHED VALUE IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT 772-359-4300

Insurance companies in general have become sophisticated in recognizing what types of claimants they are dealing with when it comes to diminished value. This claimant did not seek out an independent appraiser, rather, he decided to forgo the cost and present his case armed with a letter from his Honda dealer. Safeco, in turn, likely categorized him as someone who would not cause them any trouble; as might someone who would spring for the cost of an independent appraisal. Insurers take the same approach when claimants present them with the low-cost types of diminished value appraisals found on the internet. Safeco denied his diminished value claim, offering him absolutely nothing, not even a token few hundred dollars as many insurers typically do.

That’s when our client contacted us to prepare an automobile diminished value report. Our appraisal, which was done on the basis of six quotes obtained from area Honda dealers to confirm our opinion, came to $2,000.00. With the appraisal in hand, he then contacted his attorney who filed a small claims action against the defendant vehicle owner in civil court. We were again contracted to appear as an expert witness to defend our findings.

When Bringing a Diminished Value Lawsuit to Small Claims Court, Be Prepared to Win

Safeco brought it’s own defense team that included an expert witness. Their expert witness did not produce an appraisal based on dealer quotes – their contention was, repairs having been done to industry standards, that diminished value did not exist.

We were questioned by both the plaintiff’s and defendant’s attorneys before the judge rendered his decision. Objections of hearsay are common and you or your counsel must be prepared to meet that if you are to get the full benefit of the report. One of the questions asked by Safeco’s attorney was whether our diminished value report was biased. The answer was no and it was a truthful answer. When The St. Lucie Appraisal Company prepares an automobile diminished value report, we present the facts to the dealers queried exactly as they are. The year, make, model, options condition and color of the subject vehicle as well as the specific damages that were repaired. All of the dealers queried are informed that the subject vehicle is not available for purchase or trade, therefore none of the dealers queried had any vested interest in the subject vehicle. The results of our inquiries speak for themselves. We neither add nor subtract any opinions of our own, nor do we attempt to skew results in favor of our clients.

Our appraisal fee is $275.00 and the cost to hire us as an expert witness is $675.00. Our client’s’s attorney fees were in the neighborhood of $1,000.00. However, he was so put off by the cavalier treatment he received from Safeco, he decided to risk spending the additional monies in order to extract a fair settlement from the insurer.

In the end, the magistrate agreed with our appraisal and also with the fact that compensation for diminished value was due even though the claimant had no intention of selling his vehicle. In addition to awarding the claimant $2,000.00 in diminished value, the judge ruled that Safeco should also pay all of the claimant’s appraisal, expert witness and legal fees. It was a bad day for the insurance company seeing as they were also on the hook for payment of their own defense costs, but it took the fervor of the claimant – his David vs. Goliath mentality – to put all of that in motion.

Our client’s attorney could not seek any punitive damages even though evidence of unfair claim practices existed. Perhaps in the future, when more Davids summon the courage to challenge Goliaths, all 50 states will adopt uniform laws that require fair and equitable treatment by insurers in automobile diminished value cases. Penalties for ignoring an obvious fact – that automobile diminished value does exist – may someday be imposed upon predatory insurance companies. On this day it was sweet vindication for our client and, hopefully, a warning for insurers to start walking a straighter line when presented with claims involving automobile diminished value.

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.

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…

ARTICLE: HOW AND WHEN TO APPLY FOR A DIMINISHED VALUE CLAIM

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St. Lucie Appraisal, automobile, personal property, diminished value, appraiser

illinois diminished value https://illinoisdiminishedvalue.comWe recently had the pleasure of weighing in on a topic of great importance to anyone who owns a late-model car – the loss in value of your vehicle after accident repairs have been completed. It is known as auto diminished value and is the insurance industry’s most closely-guarded secret. Chicago Tribune Reporter Cathy Cunningham called with questions on the subject to which we were more than happy to respond. Read the abridged article below and feel free to call us should you, a family member or a friend find yourselves in what can turn out to be a difficult situation.

November 20, 2017
By Cathy Cunningham

Dear Help Squad,
I would like to file a diminished value claim in Illinois. 
My wife was involved in a car accident and it was not her fault. 
Could you tell me what I should do if I want to file it myself without hiring a lawyer?
Thank you,
Vladica

Since writing a column on the topic in early 2016, I’ve learned that diminished value is a frequently searched issue. So Vladica’s request for assistance offered the perfect opportunity to provide a deeper dive into the subject. For this I turned to an industry expert, Franklin Colletta, owner of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company in Fort Pierce, Florida, an auto appraisal business that specializes in assisting consumers with diminished value claims and services customers across the U.S.

Let’s begin with a basic definition. Just what is diminished value?

“Diminished value is the difference in the value of your car directly before and directly after collision repairs have been completed,” Colletta explains. He points out that once a car has been in an accident and repaired, it has a negative vehicle history report (such as through Carfax) associated with it. “Because car buyers almost always prefer to purchase cars that haven’t been in accidents, a vehicle with an accompanying damage history becomes less valuable.”

“If there was frame damage or air bag deployment [as a result of the accident] the car is worth a lot less,” he adds.

In Illinois, as well as in all 50 states, consumers can only file for diminished value as a third-party claim, meaning these claims must be filed against the insurance company of the person responsible for the damage. They cannot be filed with one’s own insurance provider (aka a first-party claim).

“This is important to know,” said Colletta, “because many insurance companies will try to say that Illinois case law prohibits diminished value claims. While that may be true for first-party claims, there is no case law that addresses third-party claims. Diminished value claims are covered under the property damage portion of the at-fault driver’s automobile insurance policy.”

Colletta emphasized it is not necessary to hire a lawyer to file a diminished value claim.

The claimant will then receive a response. This will either be payment in full, an attempt to negotiate a lower payout or a denial. When denied, the reason given is typically one of the following: the documentation is deemed faulty, other “evidence” is offered to suggest the loss is much lower, the insurance company hires its own “independent appraiser” to determine there is no loss, or, in some cases, the claim is unfairly denied because the damage has been properly repaired.

When I asked if there was a minimum threshold for filing a diminished value claim, Colletta explained all vehicles damaged as a result of someone else’s negligence are eligible.

Copyright © 2017, Chicago Tribune

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.

Services available in Arlington Heights, Aurora, Bloomington, Bolingbrook, Champaign, Chicago, Cicero, Decatur, Des Plaines, Elgin, Evanston, Joliet, Naperville, Palatine, Peoria, Rockford, Schaumburg, Skokie, Springfield, Waukegan and throughout Illinois

Adams, Alexander, Bond, Boone, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, Cook, Crawford, Cumberland, DeKalb, DeWitt, Douglas, DuPage, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, La Salle, Lake, Lawrence, Lee, Livingston, Logan, McDonough, McHenry, McLean, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Massac, Menard, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Pope, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Richland, Rock Island, Saline, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, St.Clair, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Union, Vermilion, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne, White, Whiteside, Will, Williamson, Winnebago and Woodford Counties

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
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Antique, Classic and Custom Automobile Appraiser in all 50 States

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Auto Diminished Value Claims

In every one of these United States, we have appraised almost every type of antique, classic and custom car. In addition, exotic cars such as Ferrari, Bentley and Tesla are here in abundance. When it comes time to appraise the value of your automobile, RV, motorcycle or heavy equipment for insurance, financing, diminished value or a charitable donation to a non-profit for a tax-deduction, The St. Lucie Appraisal Company is the company you want to call. Our experience appraising all types of motor vehicles provides vehicle and equipment owners with the advantage of hiring someone who knows just how valuable old, well-kept cars and trucks can be. In addition, we keep an extensive library of past automotive sales that other appraisers can not match. We are an antique car appraiser you can count on.

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

Many companies providing financing or insurance for autos, trucks and heavy equipment have strict requirements regarding the appraisal of vehicles. A bank or credit union lending money toward the purchase of an antique car, dump truck or over the road tractor will ask for an appraisal by a licensed appraiser or adjuster before committing funds toward the purchase. Likewise, insurance underwriters look for documentation before providing coverage. Bankruptcies and loan defaults among owner-operators of trucks and construction equipment make lenders and insurers extremely selective about who they do business with. The St. Lucie Appraisal Company is a company that banks and insurers choose to provide valuation services that they can depend on.

Hire an Expert Antique, Classic and Custom Automobile Appraiser

Selecting a company to perform a car or truck appraisal is typically the job of the prospective buyer or policyholder. Often the vehicle owner is asked to locate an independent appraiser. When lenders or brokers do hire us, it is often as a result of a Google search or positive review on a site such as Yelp, YP.com, Google Maps, etc..

After making certain that the independent appraiser is properly licensed, investigate for yourself their expertise and any reviews from past clients. When their appraisal is placed under the microscope of the insurer or lender, if their answers don’t meet the bank’s or insurance company’s criteria, you have wasted your money on a worthless document.

Call The St. Lucie Appraisal Company when only the best and most knowledgeable appraiser will do. Our service area includes all 50 states Our appraisals are sought after for insurance, financing, donations for tax-deductions, diminished value, bankruptcies, divorces, insurance claim disputes, purchase & sales and estate dissolutions.

REQUEST AN AUTOMOBILE VALUATION APPRAISAL – $275.00 for most cars.




Please email photographs and other vehicle information to email: contact@stlucieappraisal.net

Service in 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 and Wisconsin.

TOTAL LOSS DISPUTE

AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company

This is an Open Education resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.

LOSS OF USE CLAIMS IN LUXURY CARS

by
Auto Diminished Value Claims

How to Claim Loss of Use

Owners of high end cars such as the Porsche Panamera pictured, a Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Tesla or SUVs such as the Cadillac Escalade are just as prone to accidents as the rest of us. Luxury vehicles like these also tend to spend more time in body shops when undergoing collision repairs. Down times of 60 days or more aren’t uncommon because virtually all expensive cars are built with more sophisticated electronics, custom paint, have more extensive trim and require more expertise and attention to detail in order to restore them to their pre-accident condition. Insurance companies are required to pay for these expensive repairs but unfortunately, many of them do not feel that their obligation extends to the substitute rental cars provided to the owners of these vehicles. Loss of Use claims in luxury cars can wind up costing almost as much as the diminished values or the repairs themselves but it is here that insurers often feel that they can shortchange their policyholders and claimants by providing lesser replacement vehicles in order to hold down costs. The St. Lucie Appraisal Company provides Loss of Use reports in all 50 states.

Loss of Use is the inability to use an automobile due to damage caused by the negligence or other wrongdoing of another. It can also be defined as the damage a person suffers from the inconvenience of not having their car after it has been in an accident. The owner of the vehicle has a right to be compensated for Loss of Use.

Where property has a reasonable value, its owner is entitled to recover damages equivalent to the reasonable value of such use during the period he or she has been deprived thereof. Loosely translated, it is unreasonable to require a policyholder or claimant to rent a car worth substantially less, or one that cannot provide the same function than the car being repaired.

Insurers are advised to follow requirements and guidelines with regard to providing substantially similar replacement vehicles to eligible policyholders and claimants. Failure to act accordingly is cause for the vehicle owner to cite appropriate unfair claim settlement practice laws in a complaint, even if the state has no statutory restrictions on settlement verbiage.

Finally, most luxury car owners aren’t aware of the fact that a replacement vehicle need not be rented at all in order to make a Loss of Use claim.




After making your $225.00 payment, please email the dates that you were without the use of your motor vehicle to contact@stlucieappraisal.net

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, AUTOLOSSOFUSE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company.


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Diminished Value Inspection

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St. Lucie Appraisal, automobile, personal property, diminished value, appraiser

You want to hire The St. Lucie Appraisal Company to prepare a diminished value appraisal for your repaired vehicle. The reason? Because it’s widely known that our company is one of a handful of independent appraisers in the country that takes the time and trouble to obtain six unbiased, verifiable dealer quotes to prove the amount of value your car has lost. The bad Carfax or other vehicle history report shows that your automobile or truck has been repaired. It may even show that it sustained frame damage or had the air bags deploy. This is known as “Inherent Diminished Value,” a stigma loss for which you will receive compensation. Being that your vehicle has been properly repaired, there is no reason for the diminished value appraiser to make a physical inspection. After all, you aren’t claiming a loss in value for any repair-related issue. A bad Carfax = Diminished Value, it’s as simple as that. So why has the insurance company insisted on your arranging for a diminished value inspection?

Our company has prepared hundreds of automobile diminished value appraisals in all 50 states. As noted in the above paragraph, The St. Lucie Appraisal Company is the only independent appraisal firm willing to call dealers until we obtain six opinions of how much less your car is worth. It’s hard work but worth it because our reports can’t be questioned; they have been proven in court to be evidence of diminished value. Other methods such as the use of formulas, algorithms and auction results, are not definitive confirmation.

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

It is unusual for an insurance company to require a physical inspection in an inherent diminished value claim. State Farm Insurance Company is, or was, requiring claimants in California making inherent diminished value claims to have their repaired cars inspected by appraisers. Why? Three reasons come to mind. First, by compelling car owners to use local appraisers, they prevent claimants from obtaining expert appraisals that come from companies like St. Lucie Appraisal. If local independent appraisers use faulty methods that don’t conclusively prove diminished value, State Farm is seemingly off the hook. Second, claimants who live in rural areas may not find any local independent appraisal companies that handle diminished value. Having to drive hundreds of miles for an appraisal acts as an effective deterrent. Third, independent appraisers that perform physical inspections for diminished value appraisals charge prohibitive fees.

If a vehicle owner is caught in a situation like this, keep in mind that the insurance company has put itself in a bad position, one in which claimants can take full advantage. By denying a claimant the right to hire St. Lucie Appraisal or other expert independent appraiser, the insurer has put itself in a box. If they refuse to pay the claim for lack of evidence of diminished value due to poor methodology, the car owner can and should appeal their decision. In legal terms it is known as “ineffective counsel” but in this case the claimant was constrained from obtaining the best representation available.

We are proud of the job we do and hope to gain your business. However, if you find yourself caught in this position, inform the insurance company that you prefer to hire St. Lucie Appraisal, then proceed according to the guidelines they have dictated. At least you now know that you are on solid ground when it comes time to appeal an unfair decision by the insurance company.

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, 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.
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Auto Diminished Value in Small Claims Court

by
St. Lucie Automobile and Diminished Value Appraiser

NOTE: This article is intended as a guide and not as a form of legal advice.

Among the various and many articles that have been written about automobile diminished value, there are but a scant few that describe what happens when an irate claimant decides to become a plaintiff and escalates his claim into small claims court. Of course, there are many diminished value losses that exceed the $5,000.00 to $10,000.00 limit – each state has different thresholds – of this venue but for this article we will examine diminished value in small claims court. Small Claims Court is a special court where individuals, representing themselves, resolve disputes quickly and inexpensively in an informal setting. The person who sues is the plaintiff; the person who is sued is the defendant. In small claims court, you may ask a lawyer for advice before you go to court, but you cannot have a lawyer in court. Again, different state laws apply.

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

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company had occasion to prepare an automobile diminished value report for a client, but not before he had made a few mistakes. The gentleman owned a Honda Pilot which was damaged by a negligent driver who was insured with Safeco Insurance. After having his 3,900 mile vehicle repaired for $1,446.13, not a great deal of damage, he filed an automobile diminished value claim against Safeco. He presented as evidence of diminution, a document from his Honda dealer which stated that his vehicle, due to its now having a bad Carfax, was worth $4,000.00 less.

DIMINISHED VALUE IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT
DIMINISHED VALUE IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT 772-359-4300

Insurance companies in general have become sophisticated in recognizing what types of claimants they are dealing with when it comes to diminished value. This claimant did not seek out an independent appraiser, rather, he decided to forgo the cost and present his case armed with a letter from his Honda dealer. Safeco, in turn, likely categorized him as someone who would not cause them any trouble; as might someone who would spring for the cost of an independent appraisal. Insurers take the same approach when claimants present them with the low-cost types of diminished value appraisals found on the internet. Safeco denied his diminished value claim, offering him absolutely nothing, not even a token few hundred dollars as many insurers typically do.

That’s when our client contacted us to prepare an automobile diminished value report. Our appraisal, supported by six quotes obtained from area Honda dealers, came to $2,000.00. With the appraisal in hand, he then contacted his attorney who filed a small claims action against the defendant vehicle owner in civil court. We were again contracted to appear as an expert witness to defend our findings.

When Bringing a Diminished Value Lawsuit to Small Claims Court, Be Prepared to Win

Safeco brought it’s own defense team that included an expert witness. Their expert witness did not produce a credible appraisal. Their contention was, repairs having been done to industry standards, that diminished value did not exist.

We were questioned by both the plaintiff’s and defendant’s attorneys before the judge rendered his decision. One of the questions asked by Safeco’s attorney was whether our diminished value report was biased. The answer was no and it was a truthful answer. When The St. Lucie Appraisal Company prepares an automobile diminished value report, we present the facts to the dealers queried exactly as they are. The year, make, model, options condition and color of the subject vehicle as well as the specific damages that were repaired. All of the dealers queried are informed that the subject vehicle is not available for purchase or trade, therefore none of the dealers queried had any vested interest in the subject vehicle. The results of our inquiries speak for themselves. We neither add nor subtract any opinions of our own, nor do we attempt to skew results in favor of our clients. We estimate the amount of diminished value then validate it by further research with six dealers.

Our appraisal fee is $275.00 and the cost to hire us as an expert witness is $675.00. Our client’s’s attorney fees were in the neighborhood of $1,000.00. However, he was so put off by the cavalier treatment he received from Safeco, he decided to risk spending the additional monies in order to extract a fair settlement from the insurer.

In the end, the magistrate agreed with our appraisal and also with the fact that compensation for diminished value was due even though the claimant had no intention of selling his vehicle. In addition to awarding the claimant $2,000.00 in diminished value, the judge ruled that Safeco should also pay all of the claimant’s appraisal, expert witness and legal fees. It was a bad day for the insurance company seeing as they were also on the hook for payment of their own defense costs, but it took the fervor of the claimant – his David vs. Goliath mentality – to put all of that in motion.

Our client’s attorney could not seek any punitive damages even though evidence of unfair claim practices existed. Perhaps in the future, when more Davids summon the courage to challenge the Goliaths, all 50 states will adopt uniform laws that require fair and equitable treatment by insurers in automobile diminished value cases. Penalties for ignoring an obvious fact – that automobile diminished value does exist – may someday be imposed upon predatory insurance companies. On this day it was sweet vindication for our client and, hopefully, a warning for insurers to start walking a straighter line when presented with claims involving automobile diminished value.

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

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, AUTOLOSSOFUSE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company.


READ MORE ARTICLES…

UNFAIR CLAIM PRACTICES IN AUTOMOBILE DIMINISHED VALUE CASES

by
St. Lucie Automobile and Diminished Value Appraiser

A State Insurance Department that does not communicate transparently and thoroughly with its residents, in this case, to motor vehicle owners, doesn’t represent them effectively. As an agency that operates using taxpayer dollars, it’s important that they keep people like you and I informed on automobile diminished value and how it affects all of us. Each month, Insurance Departments in all 50 states publish newsletters that inform us of news and developments that could affect our lives but none of these bulletins have touched on automobile diminished value, the insurance industry’s most closely guarded secret. This article discusses unfair claim practices complaints involving diminished value. A consumer has the absolute right to make an automobile diminished value complaint.

As most of us know, one of the State Insurance Department’s main priorities are to rid their states of fraud, waste, and abuse. They do that in a variety of ways, but typically through the Division of Insurance Fraud, the Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations, and the Office of Fiscal Integrity. These offices work to catch perpetrators who commit acts of insurance fraud, criminals who intentionally set fires to collect insurance money or to cover up a larger crime, and those who cheat or steal state dollars. But what about insurance companies who regularly perpetrate fraud upon the citizens of our country on a daily basis? Isn’t it also the job of our Insurance Departments to protect us against these abuses?

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

Consumers in every state have made complaints against insurers for unfair claim practices in claims regarding automobile diminished value. Most states prohibit diminished value claims in first-party incidents but when the accident was the fault of another driver, making claims for third-party diminished value are allowed.

It is abundantly clear to everyone by now that vehicles repaired after wrecks are worth less than previously undamaged cars of the same type. In instances where structural damages were repaired, when air bags deployed or when cars were disabled and had to be towed, the loss in value is greater.

For many years, insurance companies tried to convince claimants that their cars, if repaired back to factory specifications, did not suffer any loss in value. This has since been shown to be false. Now the insurance industry has begun focusing on how best to limit the amount they are required to pay for diminished value.

AUTOMOBILE DIMINISHED VALUE AND YOUR STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company prepares automobile diminished value reports in all 50 states. Our methodology is unique within the industry as we are the only appraisers that actually take the time to contact the sales managers at recognized new car dealerships to obtain their opinions. We get six of them in order to present the fairest possible picture. After being informed of the year, make, model, options, etc. and the damages that were repaired, these experts are in the best position to assess how much less these formerly wrecked cars are worth. Potential used car buyers, upon learning of a car’s repair history will obviously expect to pay less for the vehicle if they decide to consider buying it at all.

Looking at the thousands of automobile diminished value reports prepared by our firm, of the many more thousands of dealer opinions contained therein, less than 1% of the sales managers have declared that they would not take a deduction on a car with a repair history. This small minority, however, involved hot-selling models that suffered only very slight damage in the hundreds of dollars. Of the remaining 99% each and every one of those sales managers expressed that the previously wrecked cars were worth from 10% to 50% less depending on all factors involved.

The typical first response from an insurance company to an automobile diminished value claim – even one in which it has been clearly demonstrated that a car has lost as much as $25,000.00 in value is to offer no more than a few hundred dollars. And a typical consumer reaction may be to make an Unfair Claim Practices complaint to their State Insurance Department. Upon doing so they will learn that the Insurance Department will offer no remedy other than pass the complaint on to the very same insurer. When State Insurance Departments allow bad behavior go unpunished or unchecked, the companies they are charged with regulating take advantage.

Insurance companies are being hauled into court and have lost some disappointing decisions. In California, for instance, where Civil Trial Jury instructions used to state that claimants could be reimbursed for repairs or diminished value but not both, revised instructions alert jurors that claimants may, in fact, be entitled to both. In Washington, USAA Insurance Company is hoping that the settlement of a class-action suit be approved whereby the insurer admits no guilt but agrees to pay $500.00 each to thousands of people whose cars suffered diminished value. That sum represents a drop in the bucket compared to what those claimants are entitled to.

Auto owners being forced into litigation in order to receive fair compensation in insurance settlements is a situation that must be stopped. It places an undue hardship on the consumer and drives up both expenses and courtroom time in already overloaded judicial systems. State Insurance Departments must exercise their power to begin intervening and, perhaps, arbitrating in third-party automobile diminished value complaints. We will never have protection from abuses by an industry that is not subject to oversight.

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

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

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

TOTAL LOSS DISPUTE

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

Licensed and Certified Auto Appraiser

by
Auto Diminished Value Claims

There are licensing requirements for automobile appraisers. A properly licensed appraiser is automatically certified as an expert in this field. In order to obtain an adjusters or appraisers license, one must pass background checks and demonstrate both integrity and expertise in order to remain in good standing.

You will also find a number of associations that advertise themselves as certified automobile appraisal entities. These are actually just private companies that provide certifications for a fee. Most states require that an auto appraiser be licensed, successfully complete a course in auto appraisal, pass a state board exam and attend Continuing Education classes yearly for appraising automobiles. Should a state-licensed automobile appraiser be found guilty of a serious infraction, he or she could be subject to having their licenses suspended or revoked. No such penalties exist with the private companies that certify appraisers. Automobile appraisers can work on behalf of insurance companies as well as for individual vehicle owners. The types of appraisals they perform can range from damage estimating, to valuation appraisals and diminished value reports. When hiring an automobile appraiser, make certain that they have the proper credentials. A state-issued adjusters or appraisers license is the best confirmation that the automobile appraiser is qualified and that their reports will be accepted by insurers, magistrates and mediators.

Some of the entities that advertise that they are certified appraisers are listed below. When hiring an appraiser or adjuster who is certified by one of these companies, be sure to cross check with their home state insurance department to determine whether they are properly licensed.

  • The American Society of Certified Auto Appraisers
  • Bureau of Certified Auto Appraisers
  • Auto Appraisal Group
  • The Appraisal Foundation
  • Certified Automobile Appraisal LLC
  • I-Van, International Vehicle Appraisers Network
  • International Automotive Appraisers Association

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

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.
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THE INDEPENDENT APPRAISER’S ROLE IN AUTOMOBILE DIMINISHED VALUE CLAIMS

by
St. Lucie Automobile and Diminished Value Appraiser

The independent appraiser should not be part of the claim in which the automobile diminished value is in question, but is usually brought in from the outside to preserve impartiality. The St. Lucie Appraisal Company’s purpose and function is definite and simple. We must determine the existence and amount of diminished value in order to make the claimant whole. In doing so, our focus is always the fair and equitable treatment of both our client and the insurance company involved.

In a sense, the diminished value claim is an intellectual problem for both the insurance company and the claimant. The St. Lucie Appraisal Company stands as a surrogate for the claimant, as well as being the competition for the insurance company. That is, the independent appraiser finds the relevant information and, if he is playing fairly, presents his Diminished Value Report to the claimant along with a demand letter. The independent appraiser needs to emphasize the significance of each bit of information. Experience and intelligence mesh, making the independent appraiser a person who finds solutions to problems and dilemmas that seem to have no solution. He makes the connections that reveal the solution, as well as revealing the truth about the situation at large. He is a necessary figure in the access he has to people – the sales managers at recognized new car dealerships. He should be a specialist in disseminating information accurately in order to arrive at fair diminished value figures. Insurance companies must respect both the effort and the subsequent results.

THE INDEPENDENT APPRAISER IN AUTOMOBILE DIMINISHED VALUE CLAIMS

Even while testing our clients resolve to insist on fair treatment and trying to outlast them, insurance companies have given The St. Lucie Appraisal Company’s Diminished Value Reports a trust they rarely give those of other independent appraisers. Our reports compel them to face and to acknowledge when they are perpetrating unfair claim practices. But there is no doubt that the claimant must be persistent in following up on any suggestions the independent appraiser may make.

Though automobile diminished value claims are not an uplifting topic for an insurance company, an Automobile Diminished Value Report prepared by The St. Lucie Appraisal Company influences them to recognize and admit both the harmful and time-consuming sides of claim mishandling, hopefully leading them from a dangerous and costly ignorance.

Answers and solutions can be found by people who are dedicated to the search for truth and who know where and how to look for the information that can lead to those solutions and answers. Insurance companies should, at the very least, use their capabilities of observation and logic to develop alternatives to their delay, denial and misinformation tactics. Low-ball settlement offers are contrary to good business despite how insurers view third-party diminished value claims because they project an appearance of bad faith industry wide.

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 and Personal Property Appraiser in all 50 States

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Auto Diminished Value Claims

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company – For Automobile and Personal Property Appraisals in all 50 States

John Lyndgate, who coined the phrase “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time” never had the privilege of hiring The St. Lucie Appraisal Company. Our firm prepares automobile, truck, mobile home, personal property and diminished value appraisals in all 50 states. These include valuation appraisals for art, collectibles, musical instruments and all types of motor vehicles. We also prepare diminished value appraisals for cars and trucks that have lost value after undergoing collision repairs. As a result of our great service, many of our customers have left glowing reviews of St. Lucie Appraisal on Angie’s List, Yelp, YP.com, Superpages and other sites. But what would surprise Mr. Lyndgate is the fact that he wouldn’t find one negative review of our company. Not one.

In business, good customer relations stems from being honest and and making the best effort possible to do a good job. Returning calls, sending duplicate copies of our reports, putting in more hours than we bill for are just some of the things that lead to customer satisfaction. Whether you need an appraisal for financing, insurance, estate dissolution, bankruptcy, divorce or diminished value, count on The St. Lucie Appraisal Company to work hard for you. We understand your needs and always do our best to accommodate each and every customer.

Reputable businesses are proud of what their past customers have to say and websites such as Angie’s List and Yelp have shown how a positive track record can be a powerful marketing tool, even for relatively small businesses. We are thankful for those who took the time to make note of our good service and hope that this track record of no bad reviews continues forever. Proving John Lyndgate wrong is what we’re all about.

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company
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

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…

Mercedes-Benz Diminished Value Claim in Allentown, Pennsylvania

by
St. Lucie Automobile and Diminished Value Appraiser

Each week we report on the most interesting and informative articles concerning auto diminished value claims. Regarding our diminished value appraisal of a Mercedes-Benz GLC300 AWD SUV with 31,960 miles that was involved in a Rear-End Collision that caused $2,221.44 in damage. The car was not disabled/towed and had no structural damage and no air bag deployment. The claimant hired an independent auto appraiser and made a third-party inherent auto diminished value claim for the vehicle’s loss in value. Once a car is repaired after a collision, it is worth less, often much less depending on the severity of the damage. Regardless of how well the repairer did his job, nobody will pay as much for a previously wrecked car as they would for an identical one that was never in an accident. Presenting a diminished value claim and following it through to a satisfactory conclusion is a daunting task for the average person. Obtaining a comprehensive Diminished Value Report is key.

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

We learned from these examples from sales managers at Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Pennsylvania. A sales manager told us that 10%-20 % is the typical loss of value when you have a car of this age being somewhat a newer vehicle with small amount of damage. Another sales manager said anytime you have a bad Carfax that shows minor damage on a Carfax report they have to give less than they would with a car with no damage – about a 10-15 % reduction and also that 10-15% is a typical deduction when you try and trade in at a larger dealer

The opinions of unbiased experts form the basis for the most comprehensive Auto Diminished Value Appraisal available. We obtain six of them which absolutely puts the diminished value figure prepared by The St. Lucie Appraisal Company in the ballpark. This is what the car owner will experience in the real world.

Dealers providing opinions regarding diminished value were given information specific to this vehicle including year, make, model, mileage, color, options, any other pertinent equipment, date of loss as well as the nature of the repaired damages and the manner in which the vehicle was repaired. Dealer opinions are based on personal knowledge and access to auction results. Dealers were advised that this vehicle was properly repaired.

We contacted several Mercedes-Benz dealers in Pennsylvania to establish how these repairs and the resultant repair history would impact this vehicle’s Fair Market Value (FMV.) Dealers were provided with an evaluation of the vehicle’s condition both prior and subsequent to repairs.

Diminished Value Claim in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Description of damage: Disabling collision damages to the Rear not including damage to structural components and no air bag deployment. Repair cost $2,221.44. LKQ (used) and/or aftermarket parts were not utilized in the repair/not factored in to the diminished value.

The average of six (6) deductions was 13.33%. This is the percentage of Diminished Value to be taken from the FMV at the time of loss.

We established that the above captioned vehicle had a Fair Market Value (Average Trade-In Value) of approximately $32,500.00 at the time of loss. The Diminished Value was $4,332.25

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 in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading, Upper Darby Township, Scranton, Bethlehem, Bensalem, Lancaster, Lower Merion, Abington Township, Bristol, Millcreek, Harrisburg, Altoona, York, Stroudsburg, Wilkes-Barre and throughout Pennsylvania

Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Venango, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, Wyoming and York Counties. auto appraiser near 18052, auto appraiser near 18102, auto appraiser near 18103, auto appraiser near 18104, auto appraiser near Allentown,

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.

AUTOMOBILE AND DIMINISHED VALUE APPRAISER ON ANGI

by
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

Diminished Value Methodology

by
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…

NEBRASKA ANTIQUE CAR APPRAISER

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OMAHA, Nebraska – In Nebraska, we have appraised almost every type of antique, classic and custom car. In addition, exotic cars such as Ferrari, Bentley and Tesla are here in abundance. When it comes time to appraise the value of your automobile, RV, motorcycle or heavy equipment for insurance, financing, diminished value or a charitable donation to a non-profit for a tax-deduction, The St. Lucie Appraisal Company is the company you want to call. Our experience appraising all types of motor vehicles provides car owners with the advantage of hiring someone who knows just how valuable old, well-kept cars can be. In addition, we keep an extensive library of past automotive sales that other appraisers can not match. We are a Nebraska antique car appraiser you can count on.

Many companies providing financing or insurance for autos, trucks and heavy equipment have strict requirements regarding the appraisal of vehicles. A bank or credit union lending money toward the purchase of an antique car, dump truck or over the road tractor will ask for an inspection by a licensed appraiser before committing funds toward the purchase. Likewise, insurance underwriters look for documentation before providing coverage. Bankruptcies and loan defaults among owner-operators of trucks and construction equipment make lenders and insurers extremely selective about who they do business with. The St. Lucie Appraisal Company is a company that banks and insurers choose to provide valuation services.

Selecting a company to perform a car or truck appraisal is typically the job of the prospective buyer or policyholder. As absurd as it sounds, the typical commercial lender or insurance broker is clueless when it comes to finding a licensed independent appraiser. Often the vehicle owner is asked to locate an independent appraiser because banking and insurance managers don’t possess Rolodexes any more. When lenders or brokers do hire us, it is often as a result of a Google search. What the vehicle owner should know, however, is that once the appraisal is given to the bank or insurer, representatives from those institutions will then perform their due diligence and query the appraiser as to how he obtained his valuation figures.

After making certain that the independent appraiser is properly licensed, investigate for yourself their expertise and any reviews from past clients. When their appraisal is placed under the microscope of the insurer or lender, if their answers don’t meet the bank’s or insurance company’s criteria, you have wasted your money on a worthless document.

Call The St. Lucie Appraisal Company when only the best and most knowledgeable appraiser will do. Our service area includes Nebraska as well as all 50 states Our appraisals are sought after for insurance, financing, donations for tax-deductions, diminished value, bankruptcies, divorces, insurance claim disputes, purchase & sales and estate dissolutions.

REQUEST AN AUTOMOBILE VALUATION APPRAISAL – $275.00 for most cars.





Please eMail photographs and other vehicle information to Email: contact@stlucieappraisal.net

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY