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Managing Your Restoration BusinessAsk the Expert

Ask the Expert

Estimating to Close: Strategies for Faster, Smarter Claims Resolution

How Elkmont Estimates helps restoration professionals close claims faster with accuracy and consistency

By Kayla McGowan
July 2, 2025

On this episode of Ask The Expert, we had the opportunity to sit down with Tess Huge, Senior Estimator for Elkmont Estimates, and Todd Watkins, Claims Closure Specialist for Elkmont Estimates and we discuss estimating and closing your claims. Tess has over six years of experience as a project manager and grew up in the industry. Todd has 20 years of leadership experience in the retail industry and has a strong ability to navigate touchy situations, build rapport and negotiate with professionalism and empathy.


Key Topics of Discussion:

  1. The biggest challenges restoration professionals face when trying to close insurance claims efficiently. 
  2. Accuracy and speed of estimates and how they impact the claims closing timeline. 
  3. The common pitfalls that restoration companies encounter when handling estimates in-house and how Elkmont Estimates works to help improve the outcomes.
  4. How estimating services like Elkmont Estimates help with consistency and compliance and meet carrier expectations and the influence that has on faster claims resolution. 
  5. Tess and Todd share success stories of how their services have directly contributed to smoother, faster claims closures. 

 

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This episode of Ask the Expert is brought to you by Elkmont Estimates.


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KEYWORDS: insurance claims insurance estimating restoration documentation

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Kayla mcgowan author

Kayla McGowan is the SPAR Partner Manager for PuroClean, where she manages and strengthens the company’s vendor partnership ecosystem. In her role, she serves as a key liaison between PuroClean, approved vendor partners, internal stakeholders, and Franchise Owners, helping connect the network with trusted tools, services, and products that support operational success.

With more than 10 years of experience in marketing and communications within the restoration and cleaning industry, Kayla has built her career around connecting people, ideas, and resources that move the industry forward. She is the former Editor-in-Chief of Restoration & Remediation (R&R) Magazine and continues to contribute to R&R as a writer, bringing her industry knowledge and perspective to its audience.

Kayla holds a B.S. in Criminal Science and an M.S. in Public Safety and Emergency Management from Grand Canyon University. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Restoration Industry Association’s Marketing Committee.

Her industry credentials include Microbial Warrior®️, Certified Forensic Operator®️, and High Risk/High Level Decontamination Specialist™️. Passionate about elevating the restoration industry and the professionals within it, Kayla enjoys building meaningful relationships, sharing knowledge, and creating opportunities for collaboration. Outside of work, she is a food lover who enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors.

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