Body Shop Estimator

Body Shop Estimator Opportunity at Team One Chevrolet Buick GMC Truck!

Are you a skilled professional with a passion for delivering exceptional customer service? Ready to take your career to the next level with a family-oriented, positive, and dynamic team? Join us at the top dealership in Mid-Michigan as a Body Shop Estimator and make an impact!

What You’ll Do (full job description listed below):

• Greet customers with a positive attitude, ensuring they feel welcome and informed throughout the repair process.
• Present, explain, and market body and paint repairs, while educating customers on insurance procedures, safety, and repair techniques.
• Prepare accurate estimates that serve as a blueprint for repairs, complying with insurance and State of Michigan guidelines.
• Communicate effectively with the parts department to ensure timely repair schedules.
• Negotiate pricing and ensure profitability for the dealership before repairs begin.
• Keep customers informed from start to finish and ensure high levels of satisfaction.
• Inspect repairs before delivery to ensure the vehicle matches customer expectations.
• Capture fleet accounts and insurance company referrals to boost sales traffic.

What You’ll Bring:

• 2-4 years of experience or equivalent training in collision repair estimating.
• Excellent communication skills to interact with customers, colleagues, and third-party payers.
• Problem-solving ability with keen attention to detail for accuracy in estimates.
• Valid Michigan damage appraisal license and relevant ASE certifications.
• Ability to lift/move up to 50 pounds and work in a variety of environments.

Why Join Us?

• Competitive pay
• Medical, Dental & Vision insurance as well as short & long term disability, life insurance, & more!
• 401K plan with employer match
• Paid time off including vacation(s), sick, & holidays
• Job stability...busy shop with plenty of work
• Employee discounts on vehicles, parts, and service
• Family owned and operated
• Centrally located
• Paid training
• Uniforms provided at no cost cleaning

Ready to shift your career into high gear? Apply today and be part of Mid-Michigan’s top dealership!

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• The estimator will greet each customer in a cheerful and positive manner. Every effort should be made to assure the customer feels comfortable and welcome during the sales and estimate process both in person and on the telephone.
• Presenting, explaining and marketing body and paint repairs are primary responsibilities. The estimator shall educate each customer about the process of getting a vehicle repaired, including insurance procedures, repair techniques, safety, value, and state requirements.
• The estimator determines the existence of a third party payer or insurance carrier and the relationship of that party to the collision center. Many insurance companies endorse Shaheen Chevrolet as a direct repair facility. The estimator insures that the procedures for each third party payer are well known and scrupulously followed.
• The estimator prepares all estimates in an accurate and efficient manner, keeping in mind that the estimate later becomes the blueprint for the repairs. Accuracy and detail cannot be overstressed. Include every task on the estimate whether it is a paid function or not. This estimate must comply with the third party’s guidelines and possibly use required software. It must also meet safety requirements and State of Michigan guidelines. The estimator must also guard against insurance fraud.
• The estimator delivers a list of parts required for the repair to the parts department. Communication with the parts department regarding the status of the customer’s commitment and schedule is essential. If alternative parts are utilized in the estimate, the estimator shall supply the parts department with the phone number and location of the required components.
• The estimator should diligently negotiate an agreed price on every job that ensures the company’s ability to earn a profit. Make certain to negotiate the agreed price prior to initiating the repairs.
• The estimator schedules the customer’s vehicle for repair, assuming the vehicle remains drivable for the customer. Otherwise the estimator keeps the customer well informed regarding the start of repairs when the vehicle is not drivable and is stored at our facility.
• The estimator shall verify that all signatures, work authorizations, powers of attorney, photos, pre-inspection checklists, and estimate uploads have been obtained prior to initiating the repairs.
• The estimator should document all special information (i.e. conversation, etc.) on the job file jacket or in the computer, or both, for the benefit of any other staff member who may handle the file during the repair process. This is especially important for the production department in order to deliver a finished product exactly as described to the customer during the sale process.
• Customer communication from the point of preparing the estimate, ordering parts, scheduling work, continuing repair status, completion, final inspection and pick-up, remains the estimator’s obligation.
• The estimator also prepares, negotiates and obtains prior approval for any supplemental repair estimates that emerge during the repair process. The estimator again insures that all procedures for each third party payer concerning supplement handling are well known and scrupulously followed.
• The estimator reviews final billing for accuracy and submits to the third party payer, primarily using required software. This billing submission must be completed as soon as possible to facilitate prompt payment of the claim.
• The estimator must assure that any amount due from the customer, including deductibles, is collected prior to returning the vehicle to the customer. The estimator remains accountable for collecting third party balances, and particularly for the clarity and completeness of repair documentation. These standards facilitate prompt and complete payment.
• The estimator thoroughly inspects the final repairs to the vehicle prior to delivery to the customer to assure that the finished product is exactly as described to the customer during the sale process.
• The estimator should develop and maintain an ongoing campaign to capture fleet accounts, insurance company referrals, and continually work toward improving sales skill and strategies in order to increase traffic and closing ratio.
• The estimator should develop a follow up system for all estimates not captured and for all completed jobs. Customer dissatisfaction issues should be dealt with swiftly and effectively.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

The estimator is responsible for total shop supervision in the absence of the manager and on a regularly scheduled rotation basis for opening, closing and Saturday shop hours.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Two to four years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

State of Michigan damage appraisal license

Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certifications

Damage Analysis and Estimating Certification for Collision Repair

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and color vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.