Part 2: 2025 Wind & Hail Season Survival Guide for Independent Adjusters

Part 2 How I’m Preparing While Waiting on the Deployment Call: Wind & Hail Adjuster

Adjuster: Mike Thompson

Continued..

4. My Field-Ready Equipment Loadout (Updated for 2025)

When I was new to adjusting, I overpacked everything tools I never used, gear that was outdated, and way too many clothes. Now, after dozens of deployments, I’ve trimmed the fat and built the ultimate CAT-ready loadout. Everything I pack has a purpose, and I test it all before storm season kicks off.

Here’s what I’m rolling with for the 2025 wind/hail season:

Ladders

• Little Giant 22 ft. multi-position ladder my workhorse.

• Adjustable 16 ft. telescoping ladder for tight spaces and fences.

• Ladder stabilizers (must-have when working solo, especially on metal gutters).

  
  

Footwear

• Cougar Paws for shingled roofs.

• Steel-toe boots for navigating debris fields or tree-damaged properties.

  
  

Inspection Tools

• Pitch gauge and tape measure (digital if possible).

• Telescopic camera pole (for inspecting without stepping onto dangerous areas).

• 1000-lumen flashlight with magnetic base.

• Moisture meter and infrared thermometer.

• Multi-tool and chalk (white and orange).

  
  

Tech Setup

• iPad or Surface Pro with stylus (loaded with Xactimate/Symbility).

• Mountable phone holder for windshield and roof photo capture.

• Solar-powered power bank plus two backup chargers.

• Mobile printer/scanner for on-the-go signatures and document delivery.

• Drone (DJI Mini 3 Pro) registered with FAA and tested monthly.

• High-capacity SD cards and waterproof pouch for data backups.

Mobile Command Center (Vehicle)

• Oil change, tire check, air compressor, jump starter.

• Fold-out workspace table in the back.

• Trunk organizers for tools, claims packets, and personal items.

• Magnetic adjuster signs (“Catastrophe Claims Inspector”)

Pro tip: Take pictures of your entire setup before you leave. If your gear gets stolen, misplaced, or damaged, you’ll have documentation for replacement.

5. Xactimate, Symbility & Hover: Software Sharpening Tactics

There’s one rule I follow every off-season: no software rust. Because if I’m slow in Xactimate, I’m slow in making money.

I dedicate at least 2–3 hours a week to sharpening up. Here’s how I do it:

Daily Practice Claims

I use AdjusterPrep’s mock storm claim packs to simulate field estimates. I time myself sketching roofs, framing rooms, and inputting common hail damage items. Great for Wind & Hail Adjuster

My goal: complete an entire roof and interior damage estimate in under 40 minutes—clean and accurate.

Templates I Keep Loaded

• Wind-only roof templates (gables and hips)

• Hail damage interior repair templates

• Detached garage and fencing damage packs

• Tree damage and emergency tarp repair bundles

These are pre-coded into my estimate macros so I don’t waste time typing the same scope 10x a week.

What’s New in 2025

• Symbility now auto-links damage tags with documentation learn this if you’re doing desk.

• Xactimate’s April 2025 update includes AI photo labeling (but it’s glitchy verify manually).

• Hover now lets you annotate inspection photos directly in 3D. Great for desk reviewers.

Want to stay sharp? Set up a weekend challenge. Sketch a full home exterior with dormers, gutters, fencing, and separate garage then score yourself on accuracy and speed.

6. Carrier Expectations in 2025: What’s Changed (and What Hasn’t)

If you haven’t worked claims since last year, take this section seriously. Carriers have tightened up on a few things in 2025.

1. Photo Documentation Standards Are Stricter

• Multiple directional shots of each slope are now required (with compass bearing).

• Annotated damage photos are expected. I use Skitch and Markup apps.

• Drone photos must include address tag and scale reference (ruler, boot, or tape).

2. Cycle Time = King

Turnaround times are being measured down to the hour:

• Contact within 24 hours.

• Inspection within 72 hours.

• Estimate uploaded within 48 hours of inspection.

If you’re juggling 4–5 claims a day, that means you must be managing time like a pro. I preload policyholder call scripts and route my claims geographically to reduce drive time.

3. Report Format Preferences

Some carriers are now demanding:

• Separate “Scope Summary” page

• Coverage disclaimer in bold at the end

• Pre-filled depreciation fields

AdjusterPrep members get access to report format templates that are carrier-specific. Don’t reinvent the wheel just follow their preferred layout and keep your file moving.

7. Building a Financial Buffer Before the Storm

Let’s talk real life. Even if you land a deployment tomorrow, your first check might not come for 3–6 weeks. That means every successful CAT adjuster I know plans for the gap.

What I Budget for Before Leaving

• $1,500 minimum for fuel, food, and lodging for 2 weeks

• $1,000 reserve for repairs (vehicle, tools, gear)

• Emergency $500 credit card buffer for rental cars, flight, or evac

Tip: Estimate Your Season Earnings

Here’s a simple formula I use:

• 4 claims/day x $300 avg = $1,200/day

• 6 days/week = $7,200/week gross

• 6 weeks of deployment = $43,200 gross

  
  

  Subtract 30% for expenses and taxes → ~$30,000 net in 6 weeks

Now ask yourself, are you set up to capitalize on that? Or are you scrambling to survive the first few weeks?

Get your finances right before the storm. That’s how you turn CAT work into real income, not just hustle.

Coming in Part 3:

• The top IA firms I’m watching this season

• What I say to deployment managers to get picked

• My mental & physical prep strategy

• How to keep your skills sharp while waiting on a call