Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
- 51,004
- 6
How and why to document pre-existing damage by Mike Phillips
How?
Walk around the car and using your Detailer's Trained Eyes - look for pre-existing damage. As a trained professional - you know what to look for and where to look for it. When you discover damage - take a picture and record it on your Vehicle Inspection Form.
Why?
To protect yourself so you do not get the blame. By documenting the damage already existed BEFORE you work on the car you cannot be held accountable.
Here's a 1988 Porsche 928 with the original single stage paint that I detailed recently. Upon inspection, I found the edge on the back side of the passenger side front fender to have a burn through. A burn-through is a term used to describe where paint is missing, usually on edges, corners or raised body lines.
Here's how you document
First frame-up the shot. From this position you can see what part of the car I'm looking at.
Then find a way to point out exactly where and what the damage is, use your finger or a pencil, etc.
Then zoom in to fully capture the damage.
Here's the car....
Here's the location of the pre-existing damage.
Always try to inspect with the owner present. If damage is discovered when the owner is not present then take a picture immediately and send to the owner. The photo and your text message will have a time stamp.
How?
Walk around the car and using your Detailer's Trained Eyes - look for pre-existing damage. As a trained professional - you know what to look for and where to look for it. When you discover damage - take a picture and record it on your Vehicle Inspection Form.
Why?
To protect yourself so you do not get the blame. By documenting the damage already existed BEFORE you work on the car you cannot be held accountable.
Here's a 1988 Porsche 928 with the original single stage paint that I detailed recently. Upon inspection, I found the edge on the back side of the passenger side front fender to have a burn through. A burn-through is a term used to describe where paint is missing, usually on edges, corners or raised body lines.
Here's how you document
First frame-up the shot. From this position you can see what part of the car I'm looking at.
Then find a way to point out exactly where and what the damage is, use your finger or a pencil, etc.
Then zoom in to fully capture the damage.
Here's the car....
Here's the location of the pre-existing damage.
Always try to inspect with the owner present. If damage is discovered when the owner is not present then take a picture immediately and send to the owner. The photo and your text message will have a time stamp.
