1310/71 wrote:
Don't know too many panel beaters that would be keen on quoting based on photos.
I have used both home visits and trailering the shell to them in the past. I think that is the only way you'll move forward with any certainty.
Insurance Company's demand that repairers work this way now if they want to get jobs with their ordering system and to get paid...so a lot of them would have no trouble with photographs...
However, they will almost certainly say that the quote is ballpark or even padded because they haven't seen the shell in the flesh (so to speak)
You can go three quotes or get quoted on an hourly rate...BEWARE the slicks who say we have the lowest hourly rate around (say $70/Hr) as they can just be trying to get you in the door and on the hook and immediately give your job their LOWEST priority...
Word of mouth recommendation is probably a good thing...but
There are no guaranty's and you could find yourself stressing unnecessarily over something you have little control over!!
I could go on...but I need to go lie down to get my blood pressure under control