Blog Week #1: Kevin Schulte - Expertise Prompt

            “When it comes to residential insurance repair, I consider myself an authority.” I can confidently make this statement because I used to be a general contractor. For years I worked for a construction company that specialized in such repairs. Listed below are examples of how and why I can make this statement.

I brought transferable skills and experience to this position including, being an outside sales cabinetry representative working with new construction builders, residential real estate repairs and sales, and management experience. Even with prior construction experience, the learning curve was steep and severe. The estimation program alone contained more than 10,000 line item options. If I missed a line item on an estimate that was money lost, not only for myself but also for the company. In time, I mastered the minutia and complexities of creating and writing multipage, accurate and profitable estimates.

Outside of the technical aspects of the position, I became an authority in balancing the demands and communications with homeowners, carpenters, painters, subcontractors and insurance adjustors. In short, I was a liaison. Fortunately, my prior sales and management experience taught me how to wear several hats. For example, as a general contractor, I couldn’t speak to a homeowner the same way I spoke to a subcontractor, and I couldn’t speak to an insurance adjuster the same way I did to a carpenter. The reason for this, in part, was because each required a different language. With homeowners, I had to be professional and courteous, with an employee I sometimes had to be stern, and with a contractor, I had to be blunt and descriptive. Through these conversations, not only did I become a construction specialist I also became a communications expert.

     Another often-overlooked skill of being a general contractor is that of visualization. As a general contractor, I became skilled in visualizing a job from start to finish. The key was picturing the repairs in reverse order. Meaning, I worked from the finished product to the first hammer struck. Every repair had to be completed in a specific order. For example, a kitchen backsplash can’t be installed until the countertops are installed, and countertops can’t be installed until cabinets are installed, which can’t be installed until the drywall is installed, which requires finished framing, electrical and insulation. My ability of visualization allowed me to create accurate schedules, which was crucial to bring jobs in on time.

    Being a general contractor was challenging. The position required all the skills listed above and more. I relied heavily on prior experience and being able to adapt quickly to my environment. I also trusted myself that I could thrive in the position and survive the learning curve. The result was that my jobs came in on time and were profitable. These are the reasons why I consider myself a residential insurance repair authority.