What is Xactimate and why you might need it

Sep 6, 2022 | Estimates, Fire damage, Floods | 0 comments

After disasters like floods, fires, and infestations, you must estimate the cost of restoration, remediation, and rebuilding.

According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost of home disaster recovery in the U.S. is $5,700 for flood damage removal and repair. On the other hand, fire damage recovery costs average $13,120. However, these figures can vary significantly depending on factors such as insurance coverage and the specifics of the situation. Therefore, if you need repairs and are seeking insurance compensation, it’s crucial to estimate the costs beforehand.

So, how do you determine the accurate cost of restoring your home after a fire or flooding incident? The answer is Xactimate.

What is Xactimate?

Xactimate is a leading insurance claims estimation software widely used in the global insurance repair industry. It’s a powerful tool that helps create and send construction estimates. The software runs on all major operating systems (Windows, Android, iOS) and plays a vital role in estimating repairs, restorations, new construction, and insurance claims.

Insurance adjusters, claims agents, independent adjusting firms, and restoration contractors rely on Xactimate. Before its introduction, professionals used pricing books, calculators, and handwritten claims to estimate costs. However, with Xactimate, it’s now possible to generate fast, accurate cost estimations, enabling repairs to happen quicker and helping policyholders recover swiftly.

How Xactimate Works

Xactimate works by collecting loss information, sketching a structure’s outline, selecting relevant project costs, and reviewing estimates for accuracy. The software uses sketch data to generate cost estimates and reports, supported by pricing tools. Additionally, users can upload GPS coordinates, photos, and other data, which are stored in the cloud and accessible from any device.

The software analyzes material, equipment, and labor costs using comprehensive surveys to produce average price estimates. It also integrates third-party data, which factors in worker’s compensation and taxes in the final estimates.

In short, Xactimate stands out as the most accurate construction cost estimate software available. The software breaks down estimates into specific components such as roofing or flooring, with removal and replacement costs based on size and corresponding totals. It also includes depreciation, taxes, contractor fees, and other associated costs in its final summary.

Why Do You Need Xactimate?

There are two key reasons why you need Xactimate:

  1. Contractor and Builder Estimates Aren’t Accurate

If your home is damaged by floods or fire and you call a contractor or builder, most estimates will be based on general knowledge, which can lead to inaccurate pricing. Without Xactimate, your contractor or builder may be at a disadvantage during insurance settlement discussions. Xactimate, however, provides a level of cost accuracy that general quotes cannot match.

  1. Independent Estimates Guarantee Fair Claim Settlements

Xactimate also helps ensure a fair settlement for property owners. While your insurance company will generate its own cost estimates, you can create your own independent estimates using Xactimate. This allows you to negotiate more effectively, as you will have professional, documented estimates to support your position, rather than simply rejecting an offer as too low.

How Can You Use Xactimate?

Homeowners facing flood, fire, or other emergency restoration needs often don’t have the time to learn Xactimate. The software requires proper training to fully leverage its capabilities. Untrained contractors might produce inaccurate, lower estimates because they can’t easily sketch complex structural components, access reliable pricing data, or use other essential features correctly. This is where our professional Xactimate estimate services come in.

At 911 Floods R Us, we understand how stressful dealing with a disaster can be. That’s why we offer dedicated Xactimate estimate services, alongside our other restoration and mitigation services after fire, flood, and storm damage.

Restoring your home after a disaster involves many critical steps, and providing an accurate financial estimate is essential. The monetary impact of the situation is just as important as getting your life back on track. Let us take care of the estimates for you. We’ll use Xactimate to provide the best solution and begin restoring your home once we’ve assessed the full scope of your loss. From containing the emergency to completing the restoration, we’ll handle every step for you.

If you live in Lawrenceville, GA, or the greater Atlanta area, 911 Floods R Us is ready to offer you professional Xactimate estimates and more. Call us at (470) 270-6464, available Monday through Sunday, 12 a.m. to 12 a.m., or contact us for your free estimate.

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