Estimate With Integrity

Why Ethical Estimating in PDR Is Key to Your Success

In the world of Paintless Dent Repair (PDR), there’s always a temptation to pad the estimate a bit. After all, you’re providing a highly skilled service, and the temptation to "shoot for the moon" is real. You might feel like you could earn a little extra by including Remove and Install (R&I) items that you don’t actually need to touch. But trust me, taking this route isn’t worth the risk. Here’s why staying ethical, honest, and transparent in your estimating is the only way forward for long-term success.

You’re Always Responsible for What’s on the Estimate

When you include something in your estimate, you’re essentially taking responsibility for it. If something goes wrong, even if you didn’t actually touch that R&I, it’s still on you. Insurance adjusters and body shops won’t hesitate to come back to you if the vehicle doesn’t pass inspection or something gets overlooked.

That extra $50-100 might seem appealing in the moment, but is it really worth the potential fallout if something doesn’t go as planned? The last thing you want is to have your reputation tarnished over something you didn’t even do. It’s just not worth the liability.

Stick to What You’re Actually Touching

If you don’t need to remove and install a part to fix the damage, don’t include it on your estimate. This is the simplest way to avoid unnecessary liability. Not only does it protect you from blame if something goes wrong, but it keeps your estimates clean and accurate, which will earn you respect in the long run.

Instead, focus on upcharging for what you actually need to use—like your glue pull system, for example. This is a legitimate cost and one that will help you ensure the best possible repair. By focusing on the tools and techniques you’re using, you’re staying true to your work, and you’ll be doing your customer a solid by not adding unnecessary steps to the process.

Honesty Builds Trust and Long-Term Relationships

Ethical estimating isn’t just about covering yourself—it's about building a reputation. When you stay honest and transparent, insurance adjusters, body shops, and customers alike will come to trust you. They’ll know that you’re someone who plays fair, who doesn’t cut corners, and who delivers quality work without trying to inflate the bill. That trust will lead to repeat business, referrals, and a reputation that precedes you.

Body shops and adjusters aren’t just looking for the lowest price—they’re looking for reliability, honesty, and consistency. By sticking to what’s necessary, you’ll build the kind of reputation that makes your phone ring with more business, instead of worrying about defending your estimates.

Integrity Pays Off in the End

At the end of the day, your success in PDR isn’t just about how many repairs you complete; it’s about how you treat your business, your clients, and your partners. Be a technician with integrity, and people will notice. The long-term trust you build will far outweigh the short-term gain of inflating an estimate.

So, let’s stick to what we know is right—write ethical estimates, stay transparent, and keep our reputation intact. Insurance adjusters, body shops, and your customers will appreciate your integrity and trust you with more business, and that’s the kind of growth that truly pays off.