When Détecto goes the extra mile for a claims adjuster!

$100,000 claim: Détecto uncovers a major overestimate

A $100,000 claim may seem justified when a pool contractor says the entire pool needs to be rebuilt. In some cases, the gap between the quotes received and the technical reality can be substantial.

Without an independent assessment, it becomes difficult to distinguish actual damage from a major overestimate. Here is a concrete case in which our our team’s expert analysis helped set the record straight.

Last year, a woman’s in-ground pool sustained localized damage. Détecto visited the site to determine the cause and prepared an estimate of approximately $35,000 for the work related to the damage pool.

The homeowner then asked her pool contractor for a quote to repair the pool. The company took the opportunity to inflate its estimate and came back with a quote of more than $100,000, claiming that the entire pool had to be rebuilt.

The claims adjuster was discouraged and came back to Detecto to better understand. Our engineer was called upon and carried out a second site visit to conclude that only a portion of the pool had been affected by a disaster and that the original budget was still relevant. The pool technician certainly did not want to admit his fault, so he resisted all the arguments of the claims adjuster and maintained his pharaonic assessment.

Détecto then made the exceptional decision to ask another pool contractor for a second quote. Unfortunately, because the market is very small, the two contractors knew each other and consulted one another before submitting a similar estimate.

So our engineer picked up the phone to talk to the pool designer and get him to admit that only part of the pool was affected by a disaster and that the rest was perhaps a bit uneven but that it dated from the construction.

Based on this conversation, Detecto asked the pool designer to review his bid to properly separate the work related to the disaster from those that were intended to be improved. The claims adjuster was able to settle the case for $35,000 instead of $100,000.

An expert mandate that helped avoid more than $65,000 in unjustified costs.

At Détecto, our expertise in pool inspection has been built over the past 30 years. With more than 15,000 pools inspected, our team brings a sharp eye and an accurate assessment of your pool’s true condition.

Our neutrality is what truly sets us apart. We do not sell pools or equipment, which allows us to provide objective evaluations and tailored recommendations — with no conflict of interest.

Whatever your situation, do not hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to help you better understand your pool and make informed decisions.