Cost Estimating
Accurate estimates are the difference between a fair settlement and a lowball check.
Overview
Cost estimating in the insurance claims context is the process of calculating the true cost to repair or replace every damaged component of your property using industry-standard estimating software, current material and labor pricing, and proper repair methodology. This is not guesswork — it is a precise, line-by-line accounting of what it will actually cost to restore your property to its pre-loss condition. We use Xactimate, the same estimating platform used by over 95% of insurance carriers in the United States, to produce our estimates. The difference is not in the tool — it is in who is using it and whose interests they represent. Insurance company estimators are trained to write the smallest defensible estimate. Our estimators are trained to capture every legitimate repair cost so you receive the settlement your policy entitles you to.
Why is professional cost estimating important?
The repair estimate is the single most important document in your insurance claim. It determines how much money the insurance company pays you. An estimate that understates the scope of work, uses incorrect pricing, or omits necessary repair steps will result in a settlement that does not cover the actual cost of restoring your property.
Insurance company estimates commonly understate costs in several ways: using lower-grade materials than what was originally installed, omitting overhead and profit for general contractors, failing to include code-upgrade requirements, pricing labor below current market rates, and excluding necessary preparation and cleanup work. Each of these omissions can reduce your settlement by thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.
How do we build our estimates?
Our estimating process begins with our on-site inspection. Every item of damage we document becomes a line item in the estimate. We measure affected areas precisely, identify the specific materials and finishes installed on your property, and scope the complete repair methodology — including demolition, preparation, repair or replacement, and cleanup.
We use Xactimate with current local pricing data that reflects real-world material costs and prevailing labor rates in your area. We include overhead and profit where a general contractor will be required, which is standard on any job involving three or more trades. We account for code upgrades required by your local building department. And we cross-reference every line item against your policy coverage to ensure we are claiming exactly what your policy covers — no more, no less.
What is Xactimate and why does it matter?
Xactimate, produced by Verisk, is the property insurance industry's standard estimating platform. It contains a database of over 20,000 line items covering virtually every construction material, labor task, and repair method. Pricing is updated monthly and broken down by zip code to reflect local market conditions.
When both the insurance company and the policyholder's adjuster use Xactimate, the negotiation becomes a line-by-line comparison of scope rather than a battle over pricing methodology. This is a significant advantage. Instead of arguing about whether your repair costs are reasonable, we are focused on whether the insurance company included every necessary repair — and in our experience, they almost never do on the first estimate.
What is the typical gap between insurance estimates and ours?
On the claims we handle, our initial estimates average 2x to 5x higher than the insurance company's first offer. This is not because we inflate numbers — it is because we include everything that the insurance estimate leaves out. We document an average of 30% to 50% more line items than insurance company estimates on the same property.
For example, on a typical hail-damaged residential roof claim, the insurance company might write an estimate for $8,000 to $12,000 covering shingle replacement only. Our estimate on the same property might total $25,000 to $40,000 after including ridge caps, starter strip, ice and water shield, drip edge, pipe jacks, ventilation components, gutters, downspouts, window screens, paint touch-up, and HVAC condenser pads — all items damaged by the same hail event that the insurance adjuster either missed or excluded.
Our Services
How else can we help with your claim?
01
Property Damage Inspections
Comprehensive on-site assessment of all property damage to build the strongest possible claim.
02
Insurance Policy Review
Expert analysis of your policy to identify all applicable coverage and optimize your claim.
03
Claim Preparation & Documentation
Detailed documentation and professional claim preparation to ensure nothing is missed.
05
Insurance Negotiation
Aggressive, professional negotiation with insurance companies to fight for what you deserve.
06
Denied & Underpaid Claims
Reopening, supplementing, and fighting underpaid or wrongfully denied insurance claims.
Get Started
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