A survey of 340 women restoration contractors conducted by the Restoration Industry Association found that 67 percent reported experiencing credibility challenges when negotiating with insurance adjusters — situations where their technical expertise or scope-of-work recommendations were questioned in ways they believed would not have occurred with a male contractor.
The survey, conducted in partnership with the NAWIC Restoration Specialty Chapter, documented specific patterns: adjusters asking to speak with a supervisor or owner when the woman they were speaking with was the owner; adjusters requesting additional documentation for line items that are standard in the industry; and adjusters suggesting that scope reductions were "for the homeowner's benefit" in ways that respondents characterized as condescending.
However, the survey also identified effective countermeasures. Women who cited specific IICRC standards in their estimates reported 34 percent fewer scope disputes than those who did not. Women who included moisture mapping documentation with their initial estimates reported 41 percent fewer requests for additional documentation.
"The data shows that the credibility barrier is real, but it's not insurmountable," said RIA Executive Director Chuck Violand. "The women who are most successful have developed documentation and communication practices that make their expertise undeniable."
