This guide teaches you how restoration companies actually use Xactimate, not just basic button-clicking. You’ll learn which subscription tier you need ($70 to $155 monthly), how to write estimates that adjusters approve without supplements, the line items restoration companies most commonly miss (costing you $400-1,200 per job), and strategic pricing techniques that maximize approved amounts while staying within insurance guidelines.
Why Xactimate Dominates Insurance Restoration
Xactware launched Xactimate in 1986 as property claims estimating software. Nearly 40 years later, it controls the market because insurance companies standardized on it. When everyone uses the same platform with the same pricing database, claims processing becomes faster and more consistent.
For insurance companies, Xactimate solves the standardization problem. Before Xactimate, contractors submitted wildly varying estimates for identical work. One contractor bills $800 for demo and removal of water-damaged drywall in a 10×12 bedroom. Another bills $1,400 for the same scope. Adjusters spent hours researching which estimate reflected fair market pricing.
Xactimate’s pricing database updates monthly with localized costs for every ZIP code in North America. Labor rates, material costs, and equipment pricing reflect regional variations—drywall installation costs more in San Francisco than Omaha because of higher labor and material expenses. The database includes over 40,000 line items covering every conceivable restoration and reconstruction task.
According to the Property Loss Research Bureau, insurance companies using Xactimate reduce claim cycle times by an average of 35% and dispute rates by 28% compared to those accepting non-standardized estimates. These efficiency gains saved the industry an estimated $2.1 billion in 2024, which is why carriers mandate Xactimate for restoration work.
For restoration contractors, speaking Xactimate means faster approvals, fewer supplements, and getting paid 20-30 days faster than competitors submitting estimates in other formats. The software’s limitations frustrate many contractors, but those who master it gain a measurable competitive advantage.
Xactimate Subscription Tiers: What You Actually Need
Xactware offers multiple subscription levels. Choosing the wrong tier wastes money on features you don’t use or leaves you without capabilities you need.
XactAnalysis Desktop ($70/month) The entry-level desktop software handles basic estimating for property damage. You can write estimates for water damage, fire damage, contents, and reconstruction. The pricing database and line item library are fully accessible. Monthly updates keep pricing current.
Limitations: Desktop-only access means you can’t write estimates on jobsites. No mobile app. Collaboration features are limited—difficult to have multiple estimators working together. No advanced reporting beyond basic estimate exports.
XactAnalysis Mobile ($85/month) Adds mobile app access to the desktop software. You can sketch floor plans, take photos, create estimates, and make notes on your smartphone or tablet at job sites. The mobile app syncs with your desktop software so work done in the field appears on your office computer automatically.
Benefits for restoration: Most water damage and fire damage assessments happen on-site. Being able to sketch the floor plan, photograph affected areas, and start the estimate while standing in the flooded basement or fire-damaged kitchen saves 2-4 hours per job compared to taking photos, making notes, then recreating everything in the office.
XactContents ($55/month, typically purchased as add-on) Specialized contents pricing for personal property damaged by water, fire, or other perils. The database includes depreciation schedules, replacement cost pricing, and specialized categories for electronics, clothing, furniture, collectibles, and more.
Essential for: Restoration companies doing contents cleaning and restoration, pack-out services, or fire damage work where contents make up significant portions of claims. If contents represent less than 20% of your revenue, you may not need this add-on.
XactRemodel ($75/month, add-on) Pricing database for complete remodeling and reconstruction work including kitchens, bathrooms, and whole-house renovations. Goes beyond basic restoration into full construction estimating.
Useful for: Restoration companies handling significant reconstruction after mitigation work. If you’re just doing emergency water extraction and drying, you don’t need XactRemodel. If you’re rebuilding kitchens after fire damage or entire basements after flooding, this database helps price the construction scope accurately.
XactNet ($155/month, comprehensive package) Includes all features: desktop and mobile estimating, contents pricing, remodel database, advanced reporting, collaboration tools, and priority support. Also includes XactPRM (project management features) and integration capabilities with third-party software.
Typical Restoration Company Needs
- Water damage focused: XactAnalysis Mobile ($85/month)
- Fire damage with contents: XactAnalysis Mobile + XactContents ($140/month)
- Full-service with reconstruction: XactNet ($155/month)
- Large company with multiple estimators: XactNet Enterprise (custom pricing, $300+/month)
Most restoration companies doing $1M+ annually use either XactAnalysis Mobile + add-ons ($140-180/month) or XactNet ($155/month). The difference in cost is minor compared to the functionality gained.
Understanding Xactimate Pricing: RCV vs. ACV and How It Affects Your Estimates
Xactimate calculates estimates using Replacement Cost Value (RCV) by default. This is what it would cost today to replace damaged items or repair affected areas with new materials at current market prices. However, insurance policies often pay on an Actual Cash Value (ACV) basis initially, which is RCV minus depreciation.
How Depreciation Affects Restoration Claims Depreciation reduces the claim value based on the age and condition of damaged items. A 5-year-old carpet has depreciated value compared to new carpet. Twenty-year-old hardwood flooring is worth less per square foot than freshly installed hardwood. Xactimate applies depreciation percentages based on material type and age.
The insurance company typically pays ACV upfront, then releases depreciation (called “recoverable depreciation”) after you complete the work and submit proof of completion. This payment structure creates cash flow challenges for homeowners who need to pay you the full RCV amount but only received ACV from insurance.
Restoration Company Strategy Your estimate should always be written at full RCV. Don’t reduce your pricing to match the ACV payment—that’s the insurance company’s job through depreciation deductions. When homeowners ask why your estimate is higher than their insurance check, explain that insurance is paying ACV now with depreciation released upon completion.
Many restoration companies collect the deductible plus the depreciation amount from homeowners upfront, then pay the homeowner back when insurance releases recoverable depreciation. This protects you from homeowners who complete work, receive the depreciation, then struggle to pay you the difference.
According to the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, misunderstanding RCV versus ACV causes 40% of contractor-homeowner payment disputes. Make sure you and your customers understand the difference before starting work.
Essential Xactimate Line Items Every Restoration Company Needs
Xactimate contains over 40,000 line items. You’ll use maybe 200-300 regularly in restoration work. Here are the most important categories and items restoration companies need to master:
Water Damage Mitigation
- Demo and removal items (DMS series): Demo drywall, remove carpet, remove baseboard, remove flooring. These are your bread-and-butter line items for affected areas.
- Drying equipment (DH series): Dehumidifiers by type (refrigerant, LGR, desiccant), air movers, HEPA air scrubbers. Price includes placement, monitoring, and retrieval. Daily rental rates versus flat-rate pricing depending on drying time.
- Moisture testing (PRO series): Initial moisture inspection, daily moisture readings, thermal imaging. Many restoration companies forget to bill for daily monitoring visits—this is 1-2 hours of labor each day checking readings and adjusting equipment.
- Antimicrobial treatment (CLN series): Apply antimicrobial/disinfectant to affected areas. Required for Category 2 (gray water) and Category 3 (black water) incidents.
- Containment: Plastic sheeting, zippered doors, negative air if needed to prevent cross-contamination during demo and drying.
Fire Damage Restoration
- Demolition (DMS): Remove fire-damaged materials (drywall, insulation, flooring, cabinets). Fire damage requires more extensive demo than water damage due to smoke penetration.
- Cleaning items (CLN series): Clean walls, ceilings, contents with appropriate methods (dry sponge, wet wash, ultrasonic). Smoke residue requires different cleaning for different surface types.
- Odor removal (ODR series): Ozone treatment, hydroxyl treatment, thermal fogging, seal surfaces to encapsulate odor. Multiple treatments often needed for heavy smoke damage.
- Contents manipulation (CTM series): Pack-out, cleaning off-site, storage, return and unpack. Fire jobs often require removing contents for cleaning and restoration.
- HEPA vacuuming: Required after soot and smoke particle cleanup before final cleaning.
Mold Remediation
- Containment construction: Build containment barriers with poly sheeting, create negative air pressure, install HEPA filtration.
- Mold cleaning and removal (MLD series): Remove mold-affected materials, HEPA vacuum surfaces, apply antimicrobial treatment, encapsulate remaining surfaces.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE): Respirators, Tyvek suits, gloves. Bill as separate line items for crew safety.
- Post-remediation verification: Clearance testing, air sampling, lab analysis. Usually subcontracted but should be included in estimates.
- Rebuild after removal: Mold remediation estimates should include reconstruction scope—drywall, insulation, paint, flooring, trim for affected areas.
Reconstruction
- Framing (FRM): Rebuild walls, repair structural components, replace damaged studs or joists.
- Insulation (INS): Replace insulation removed during water extraction or fire/mold remediation.
- Drywall (DRY): Install, tape, texture, prime, paint. Multiple coats and finish levels.
- Flooring (FLR): Subfloor repair or replacement, new finish flooring installation matching existing or upgraded.
- Trim and doors (TRM): Baseboard, door casings, window trim, doors and hardware replacement.
- Paint (PNT): Prime and paint walls and ceilings. Bill per coat and include wall preparation.
Commonly Missed Line Items That Cost You Money
- Daily monitoring visits: Many restoration companies bill equipment placement and retrieval but forget 5-7 days of daily moisture checks. This is 1-1.5 hours daily at your labor rate ($45-75/hour). Missing this costs $315-525 per job.
- Travel time and mileage: Bill for trips to job sites, especially for emergency response or daily monitoring. Most adjusters approve reasonable travel charges.
- After-hours emergency response: Premium rates for emergency calls (nights, weekends, holidays) are billable. Xactimate includes emergency response line items.
- Floor protection: Putting down ram board or floor protection during demo and reconstruction. Small item but legitimate cost.
- Haul-away and disposal: Dumpster rental, dump fees, hauling debris. Don’t absorb this cost—bill it.
- Temporary climate control: If building HVAC is damaged or you need supplemental heating/cooling during drying, that’s billable.
- Equipment decontamination: After Category 2 or 3 water jobs, cleaning and sanitizing equipment before the next job. Legitimate cost that prevents cross-contamination.
How to Write Estimates That Get Approved Without Supplements
Supplements (revised estimates requesting additional payment after initial approval) slow down jobs and frustrate everyone involved. Writing comprehensive initial estimates reduces supplement rates from 40-60% down to 10-20% according to restoration industry surveys.
Start with Thorough Documentation Take extensive photos of every affected area from multiple angles. Photograph the damage, the cause if visible, and the scope of work needed. Include moisture readings in photos using your thermal camera’s overlay feature or moisture meters held against affected materials. When adjusters review your estimate, they reference photos to verify scope.
Sketch accurate floor plans. Xactimate’s mobile app makes this easy with drag-and-drop room creation. Measure carefully—inflated square footage gets caught quickly and damages your credibility. Detailed floor plans help adjusters visualize the scope without visiting the property.
Write Detailed Scope Notes Each estimate room should have scope notes describing damage severity, moisture readings, materials affected, and work required. For example:
“Master bathroom: Category 2 water damage from toilet overflow. Standing water 1/4″ for 6+ hours. Moisture readings: drywall 28% (north wall), 32% (east wall), subfloor 24%. Remove baseboard (3 walls affected), remove tile flooring (65 SF), demo drywall (bottom 24″ of 3 walls, 42 SF total). Place 2 commercial dehumidifiers, 4 air movers. Monitor daily 5 days. Apply antimicrobial treatment to framing before rebuild. Reinstall drywall, tape, texture, prime, paint. Install tile to match existing. Reinstall baseboard to match existing.”
Detailed scope notes answer adjuster questions before they’re asked, reducing phone calls and speeding approvals.
Include All Related Work Think through the complete restoration process. If you’re removing drywall, you’re removing baseboard first. If you’re placing equipment, you’re making daily visits to check readings and adjust equipment. If you’re demoing ceramic tile, you’re hauling it away and disposing of it. Every step costs money—make sure every step is in the estimate.
Common omissions that require supplements: not including electrical or plumbing work needed before reconstruction, forgetting paint color matching when repainting single rooms, missing specialized materials that need special ordering, underestimating equipment quantity or drying time for severe water damage.
Use Xactimate’s Rough Assemblies Rough assemblies (macros) are pre-built bundles of related line items. For example, a “remove and replace standard baseboard” assembly includes remove baseboard, install new baseboard, caulk, and paint. Using assemblies ensures you don’t miss related line items and makes your estimate appear more professional to adjusters.
Create custom assemblies for your company’s standard procedures. If you always apply antimicrobial treatment after extracting Category 2 water, build an assembly that includes extraction, antimicrobial application, and proper disposal. This ensures consistency across all your estimates.
Justify Non-Standard Items Adjusters approve standard work at standard pricing without question. When you include specialized items (mold containment, asbestos testing, structural drying in unusual materials), add explanation notes. Brief justification prevents initial denials requiring supplement negotiations.
For instance: “Specialized drying required – hardwood flooring over concrete slab. Standard drying methods ineffective. Requires mat drying system with heat to dry concrete and preserve hardwood. Equipment: 4 Dri-Eaz Injectidry systems, 2 LGR dehumidifiers, supplemental heat. Extended drying timeline: 10-12 days versus standard 3-5 days.”
Xactimate Pricing Strategies: Staying Competitive While Maximizing Approved Amounts
Xactimate pricing is based on regional cost averages. The system calculates line item costs using local labor rates, material costs, and equipment rental prices for your ZIP code. However, you have strategic choices that affect approved amounts.
Understanding Price Lists Xactimate includes multiple price lists for most regions:
- Lower pricing tier: Represents lower-cost contractors, often used by TPAs and insurance-referred vendors
- Mid-range pricing: Represents average market rates, most commonly used by independent adjusters
- Higher pricing tier: Represents higher-end contractors, specialty work, or emergency response pricing
You can write estimates using any price list, though adjusters may request changes to their preferred list. Starting with mid-range or higher pricing gives you room for negotiation if needed, though some adjusters automatically reduce estimates written at higher price lists.
Strategic Pricing Decisions
- Equipment pricing: Xactimate allows daily rental rates or flat rates for equipment packages. For jobs requiring 3-5 days of drying, daily rates typically generate higher total equipment charges. For longer jobs (7-10+ days), flat rates may be more accepted by adjusters while still being profitable.
- Labor rates: Xactimate calculates labor based on regional averages. You can adjust labor rates up or down, though going more than 10-15% above regional averages often triggers adjuster questions. Justify higher rates with certifications (IICRC), emergency response, or specialized expertise.
- Material selection: Most line items offer standard, mid-grade, and premium material options. Adjusters typically approve “like kind and quality” replacements. If you’re replacing Home Depot-grade laminate flooring, bill for equivalent materials. If the home had premium engineered hardwood, bill for comparable replacement.
- Emergency response pricing: Xactimate includes emergency service line items with premium pricing for after-hours, weekend, and holiday work. Insurance policies cover emergency services—bill appropriately when you respond at 2 AM on Sunday.
The Negotiation Buffer Many experienced restoration estimators write initial estimates 5-10% above their target amount, knowing adjusters will negotiate some reductions. This strategy only works if every line item is justifiable—padding with unnecessary work or inflated quantities damages your credibility.
Better strategy: Write estimates at your standard pricing using justified line items. When adjusters question items, have documentation ready to support your pricing. Photos showing damage extent, moisture reading logs proving extended drying time, and equipment placement diagrams demonstrating quantity needed all strengthen your position.
Common Xactimate Mistakes That Delay Payment
Incomplete Sketches Adjusters rely on your floor plan sketch to verify square footage calculations. Incomplete sketches raise red flags and trigger property inspections that delay approvals by 7-14 days. Always sketch complete floor plans with accurate measurements and labels for every room.
Inconsistent Line Item Quantities Your estimate says you’re demoing 200 square feet of drywall, but your sketch shows a 10×12 room (120 SF) with only one wall affected (approximately 100 SF). Adjusters catch these inconsistencies immediately. Verify quantities match sketches before submission.
Missing Required Photos Adjusters need photos to verify damage severity and approve scope. Missing photos of affected areas, the cause of damage, or completed work trigger supplement holds. Take extensive photos at initial assessment, during mitigation, and at completion.
Incorrect Material Selections Billing for premium materials to replace standard materials gets denied. Adjusters compare your materials to photo evidence. If photos show builder-grade carpet, your estimate shouldn’t include premium wool carpet replacement without documentation that homeowner is paying the upgrade difference.
Forgetting Supporting Documentation Water extraction and drying estimates should include moisture reading logs showing initial readings and daily progress. Mold remediation should reference air sample results or inspection reports. Structural damage claims should include engineering reports if structural components are affected. Supporting documentation turns questionable line items into approved charges.
Not Following IICRC Standards Insurance companies expect IICRC-compliant restoration work. Estimates that don’t follow IICRC S500 (water damage), S520 (mold remediation), or other applicable standards raise questions. Reference specific IICRC standards in your scope notes when relevant.
Poor Scope Descriptions Vague scope notes like “repair water damage” don’t provide enough information for approval. Specific scope descriptions like “remove water-damaged materials (drywall bottom 18″, carpet and pad), extract standing water, place drying equipment, monitor until moisture readings reach IICRC Class 1 standards (<15% moisture content in drywall)” give adjusters confidence to approve without additional questions.
Xactimate Training: Learning Curves and Certification Options
Self-Training Timeline Xactimate has a steep learning curve. Expect 40-60 hours of practice to become proficient at basic estimating. You’ll write 30-50 practice estimates before feeling comfortable with the software. Many restoration contractors report 3-6 months of regular use before writing estimates quickly without constant searching for line items.
Xactware University Xactware offers online training courses through Xactware University. Courses range from basic navigation ($49-99) to advanced estimating ($150-299) to specialty topics like contents estimating or commercial reconstruction. Self-paced video training lets you learn on your schedule.
The “Xactimate Essentials” course ($149) covers core estimating skills and is recommended for anyone new to the platform. Budget 12-15 hours to complete the course and practice exercises.
IICRC Xactimate Courses The IICRC offers Xactimate courses tailored to restoration work. These courses teach the software while covering IICRC estimating standards, ensuring your estimates align with industry best practices. IICRC Xactimate courses cost $400-600 including course materials, typically delivered over 2-3 days.
The advantage of IICRC training over Xactware’s generic courses is restoration-specific focus. You learn which line items matter most for water damage, fire damage, and mold remediation rather than general estimating skills.
Private Training and Consulting Restoration industry consultants offer one-on-one Xactimate training customized to your business. Consultants review your actual jobs, optimize your estimating process, and teach strategies specific to your market and service mix. Costs range from $1,000-3,000 for comprehensive training programs but deliver faster competency than self-study.
Certification Options Xactware offers Xactimate Proficiency Certification demonstrating your estimating competency. The certification exam tests software knowledge, estimating accuracy, and industry standards understanding. Passing the exam gives you a credential that some insurance companies and TPAs value when evaluating preferred vendors.
Cost: $199 for certification exam. Many insurance companies and TPAs don’t specifically require certification, but it can differentiate your company when competing for preferred vendor status.
Integrating Xactimate with Your Restoration Software
Xactimate doesn’t operate in isolation—it needs to connect with your job management software, accounting system, and documentation platforms for efficient workflows.
DASH Integration DASH offers the industry’s best Xactimate integration. Estimates created in Xactimate automatically import to DASH with all line items, pricing, and scope preserved. Job information from DASH populates into Xactimate estimates reducing double-entry. Changes to estimates in either system sync bidirectionally.
This integration saves 2-4 hours weekly per estimator by eliminating duplicate data entry. When adjusters request estimate changes, updates flow to both platforms automatically keeping documentation synchronized.
PSA and Other Restoration Software Most restoration-specific platforms integrate with Xactimate at some level. Integration quality varies from basic estimate import/export to robust bidirectional syncing. Evaluate integration capabilities when selecting restoration software—poor Xactimate integration forces manual workarounds that waste time.
QuickBooks Integration Approved estimates should flow to your accounting software as invoices. Direct Xactimate-QuickBooks integration (available through third-party tools like QuickBooks Sync) creates invoices automatically when estimates are approved, improving billing speed and reducing accounting data entry.
Mobile Documentation Integration Photos and documentation captured on job sites should attach to Xactimate estimates automatically. The best workflow uses mobile apps that geo-tag photos, organize by job number, and sync to cloud storage accessible from Xactimate. This eliminates emailing photos or manually organizing files before estimate creation.
Advanced Xactimate Features Most Restoration Companies Underutilize
Depreciation Schedules Xactimate includes detailed depreciation schedules for every material type. Understanding depreciation helps you explain ACV versus RCV to homeowners and predict what insurance will actually pay. Many restoration companies never explore depreciation features, then struggle explaining payment gaps to confused customers.
Custom Price Lists You can create custom price lists with your preferred pricing for commonly used items. If you’ve negotiated specific equipment rental rates with your equipment supplier, create a custom price list that reflects your actual costs. This improves estimate accuracy and helps identify profitable versus unprofitable line items.
Estimate Templates Templates speed estimate creation for common scenarios. Build templates for “standard residential water damage – bathroom” or “typical kitchen fire damage” with line items you use repeatedly. Templates ensure consistency across estimates and reduce time spent searching for line items.
Collaboration Features XactNet subscribers can collaborate on estimates with multiple team members simultaneously. Field techs can start estimates mobile while office estimators complete reconstruction scope. This parallel workflow reduces estimate delivery time from 48-72 hours down to 12-24 hours.
Loss Summary Reports Generate reports summarizing all line items by category (demo, drying equipment, reconstruction). These reports help adjuster reviews by organizing scope logically. Loss summaries also help you analyze job profitability by breaking costs into mitigation versus reconstruction phases.
Working with Adjusters: Using Xactimate to Build Better Insurance Relationships
Insurance adjusters appreciate restoration contractors who write clear, well-organized, professionally documented Xactimate estimates. These qualities differentiate you from competitors submitting sloppy estimates requiring extensive back-and-forth.
What Adjusters Look For
- Accurate sketches: Floor plans matching actual property dimensions with proper room labels
- Appropriate scope: Line items that align with damage severity shown in photos
- IICRC compliance: Estimates following industry standards for restoration procedures
- Complete documentation: Photos, moisture logs, and supporting reports attached
- Reasonable pricing: Using standard price lists without obvious padding
Building Adjuster Relationships Consistently delivering quality estimates builds trust with adjusters. They learn to approve your estimates quickly with minimal questions because your track record demonstrates competence. This relationship advantage can’t be overstated—adjusters dealing with 50+ claims simultaneously prioritize the contractors who make their jobs easier.
Return phone calls promptly. Answer questions professionally. Provide requested documentation same-day when possible. These behaviors combined with quality Xactimate estimates turn adjusters into advocates who recommend you to other insurance companies and TPAs.
Negotiating Supplements Despite best efforts, supplements are sometimes necessary when hidden damage is discovered or scope changes during work. When writing supplements, reference the original estimate, clearly explain what changed, provide photos documenting the additional damage, and use the same professional format as original estimates.
Well-documented supplements get approved 85-90% of the time versus 50-60% approval rates for poorly documented supplement requests according to restoration industry data. Adjusters approve justified additional costs—they resist poorly explained or excessive supplement requests.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to learn Xactimate?
Plan on 40-60 hours of training and practice to become proficient at basic estimating. You’ll write 30-50 practice estimates before feeling comfortable. Most restoration estimators report 3-6 months of regular use before writing estimates efficiently without constant searching for line items. Taking structured training (IICRC course or Xactware University) accelerates learning compared to self-study.
Can I write estimates for insurance work without Xactimate?
Technically yes, but insurance companies process Xactimate estimates 20-30 days faster than other formats and dispute Xactimate estimates 35% less frequently. Some TPAs and insurance programs require Xactimate estimates. If you’re serious about insurance restoration work, Xactimate is the industry standard you need to adopt.
What Xactimate subscription level do restoration companies need?
Water damage focused companies typically use XactAnalysis Mobile ($85/month). Fire damage companies doing contents work add XactContents ($140/month total). Full-service restoration companies handling reconstruction use XactNet ($155/month). Companies doing over $2M annually often need XactNet Enterprise (custom pricing) for multiple simultaneous estimators.
How accurate is Xactimate pricing compared to actual market rates?
Xactimate pricing reflects regional average costs updated monthly. Pricing accuracy varies by market—competitive urban areas often see actual costs 5-15% below Xactimate pricing while rural or low-competition markets may see actual costs at or above Xactimate rates. The pricing is defensible to insurance companies even if not perfectly matching your specific costs.
Do all insurance companies accept Xactimate estimates?
Over 80% of insurance carriers in North America use Xactimate, though not all require estimates in Xactimate format. However, submitting Xactimate estimates to companies that use the platform dramatically speeds processing even when not technically required. The few carriers not using Xactimate typically have their own estimating systems or processes.
What’s the difference between Xactimate and XactContents?
Xactimate is the core estimating platform for structural restoration and reconstruction. XactContents is a specialized add-on with detailed personal property pricing, depreciation schedules, and replacement cost databases for contents damaged by fire, water, or other perils. You need both if doing significant contents restoration or fire damage work with extensive contents claims.
Can I use Xactimate on job sites without internet connection?
XactAnalysis Mobile allows offline estimate creation and sketching. Data syncs to your desktop software when connectivity returns. However, you need internet access to download initial job information and upload completed estimates. The mobile app works well in basements or areas with spotty service by working offline and syncing later.
How do I handle situations where my actual costs exceed Xactimate pricing?
Document why your costs are higher (specialized equipment, certified technicians, emergency response, geographic factors). Include detailed notes justifying premium pricing. Many adjusters approve reasonable pricing premiums with proper documentation. Alternatively, negotiate with the homeowner to cover the difference between insurance payment and your actual costs, though this should be disclosed upfront.