Following are some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) we get at Assistimate Property Loss Consulting related to Xactimate®, Cotality™/Symbility™, insurance claims processes, and our own internal workings. If you have a question and don’t find the answer here, please Contact Us for assistance. We’re always eager to help.
I’m ready to get started. What do you need from me?
What is your turnaround time?
Can you “RUSH” my project? I need it right away.
How much do you charge?
For Cotality/Symbility projects involving a supplemental estimate, do you charge based on the amount added to the estimate or do you charge based on the end total of the estimate?
When will I be charged for my project?
Will you look for overlooked or missing items and add them to my project?
Can I send you an Eagleview™, HOVER or other satellite measurement report to help in writing my project?
Can you use a Matterport, DocuSketch or other 3D imagery for my project?
How do I submit a project?
Can my project be cancelled once submitted?
What’s included with my completed project?
Will the Project Preview be put on my letterhead?
Are any revisions included with my project after it’s been finalized?
My project contains errors. What should I do?
What is Overhead and Profit? (sometimes called 10 & 10, O&P, P&O, OH&P or GCO&P)
What is a Scope Sheet form?
What is a Scope of Work? (sometimes called Scope of Repairs or Repair Scope)
What is roof pitch?
What is Replacement Cost Value? (sometimes called RCV)
What is Actual Cost Value? (sometimes called ACV)
What is Depreciation and how is it determined?
What is Xactimate?
What trades is Xactimate capable of estimating?
How does Xactimate know pricing for my area?
What is a Price List?
What happens if an item I need isn’t in the Price List?
What is an Opening Statement?
What version of Xactimate do you use?
Can Assistimate import and export Xactimate ESX files?
What is Cotality/Symbility?
What trades is Cotality/Symbility capable of estimating?
How does Cotality/Symbility know pricing for my area?
Will the insurance company agree to my Xactimate or Cotality/Symbility estimate?
What is a Labor Minimum (sometimes referred to as Minimum Charge)?
Do Xactimate and Cotality/Symbility have additional costs for a 2 story roof?
What are the Assistimate Terms of Service?
What is the Assistimate Privacy Policy?
I’m ready to get started. What do you need from me?
To find out what documentation we will need to complete your project, please take this Short Survey. It can help to save time and avoid possible rejection of your project for lack of adequate information.
What is your turnaround time?
In many cases, we can complete your Project Preview (i.e. draft of your project) in one to three business days and finalize it on the same day you approve it. We update our average turnaround time each business day and post it on our home page as well as within our order form. However, actual turnaround time can vary depending on the complexity of a project, the quality of information provided, and our current project volume. If you need an estimated turnaround time for your specific project, please Contact Us.
Can you “RUSH” my project? I need it right away.
Yes. If you need your project back sooner than our current average turnaround time, you may request that we “RUSH” your project for an additional fee equal to 50% of your ordinary fees (this option is available within our order form). Though we can make no guarantee of any specific turnaround time when the RUSH option is requested, we will in good faith prioritize your project over others and complete it as quickly as possible within the best of our abilities. Further details about the RUSH option can be found when Submitting a New Project or by Contacting Us.
For project involving supplemental/correction Cotality/Symbility estimates, do you charge based on the amount added to the estimate or do you charge based on the end total of the estimate?
We charge based on the end total of the estimate, which includes any portion already written by the insurer but that we had to rewrite. However, we do not include bid items in our billing calculations (i.e. subcontractor bids, quotes or invoices).
Will you look for overlooked or missing scope of work and add them to my project?
Yes, we will look for any items that appear to be overlooked or missing from your Scope Sheet or the insurer’s estimate, we will add them to your Project Preview, and we will highlight them for your review. You can decide whether or not to keep them in your finalized project.
Can I send you an Eagleview™, HOVER or other satellite measurement report to help in completing my project?
Yes, we encourage you to order satellite reports on any projects that involve roofing, gutters or siding. Even if you need to supplement an insurer’s estimate that indicates it’s already based on a satellite report, we still recommend ordering your own satellite report if the insurer didn’t share a copy (we have seen countless insurer estimates referencing satellite reports that still have inaccuracies and still omit important items detailed in those reports).
Can you inspect using Matterport, DocuSketch or other 3D imagery?
Yes, we can use most 3D imagery platforms to inspect and help determine your scope of work. It is always best to have “before” and “after” scans. However, having one scan at least is still helpful. When you share your imagery, be sure to share it using unlisted links rather than password protected links (i.e. unique links that no one could guess but that anyone with the links can view).
How do I submit a project?
You must first Sign Up and be logged into your account before you can Submit a New Project. For full details, see How it Works.
Can my project be cancelled once submitted?
Yes, if your project is in our queue and hasn’t begun to be processed yet, you can cancel your project and no cancellation fee will apply. However, if your project has started to be processed, then a cancellation fee may apply. Please Contact Us for details.
What is a Project Preview?
A Project Preview is a draft version of your project that comes in the form of an emailed link. It is viewable in your web browser, but is watermarked, protected from download, tracked, and set to expire within a certain time-frame. A Project Preview is not meant to be shared with your customer, an adjuster, an insurer, or anyone else outside of your organization — it is meant only for your review so you can give us feedback to fine-tune everything to your liking.
Sometimes you might find we’ve written a Project Preview just how you want it. Other times you might find a Project Preview needs minor changes, in which case you’ll provide us with further instructions and we’ll then send you an updated Project Preview.
Once a Project Preview meets your approval, we’ll calculate and bill you any remaining balance, finalize the project, put it on your Letterhead, and send you the completed copy. You can then submit the completed project to your customer, an adjuster, an insurer, etc.
What’s included with my completed project?
It depends on whether your project uses an Xactimate or a Cotality/Symbility estimate. Projects involving an Xactimate estimate include a set of standalone work products that document the loss and support your file, alongside the finalized estimate:
- Loss Evaluation Report — our review of the property’s condition, the damage claimed, and the source of the measurements used, including a review of those measurements for accuracy.
- Scope Discrepancy Analysis Report — for projects where we’re correcting or supplementing an existing estimate, our written review of what was missed, mispriced, or incorrect, and how it should be corrected.
- Scope of Work Narrative Report — for projects we build from scratch, our written scope of the work to be done, including justification for commonly disputed items.
- Code-Compliance Report — applicable jurisdictional code-required items, with citations (or a note that none were identified).
- Photo Report
- Xactimate Estimate — the finalized estimate, on your letterhead.
Projects with a Cotality/Symbility estimate include the following:
- Photo Report
- Cotality/Symbility Estimate — the finalized estimate, on your letterhead.
Return to top of page
Will the Project Preview be put on my letterhead?
Once a Project Preview meets your approval, we’ll calculate and bill any remaining balance, finalize your estimate, put it on your Letterhead, and send you the completed file — including all of the related work products for projects using an Xactimate estimate: Loss Evaluation Report, Scope Discrepancy Analysis Report*, Scope of Work Narrative Report**, Code-Compliance Report, and Photo Report. You can then submit the completed file to your customer, an adjuster, an insurer, etc.
* Projects with corrected/supplemental estimate only.
** Projects with estimate from scratch only.
Are any revisions included with my project after it’s been finalized?
For a project involving a Cotality/Symbility estimate, we will honor without additional charge a reasonable amount of revisions to a finalized project we have written (‘reasonable’ to be determined at our discretion). However, if any revision results in the estimate totaling more than it did prior to the revision, then the difference will be subject to additional billing based on current Pricing.
For a project using an Xactimate estimate, we will reopen your project and bill you at our hourly rate in 1/10th hour increments for any revisions we make.
My project contains errors. What should I do?
We strive to maintain a high level of accuracy in all of the project we write. However, in rare cases an error may occur. If this happens, we will promptly correct any error we may have made free of charge. Please do not use the order form to request an error correction as unnecessary charges may occur. Instead, please email your issue directly to us.
What is Overhead and Profit? (sometimes called 10 & 10, O&P, P&O, OH&P or GCO&P)
Overhead and Profit is the markup of an estimate usually reserved for projects in which a general contractor will be utilized. The markup is usually 10 percent for overhead and 10% for profit for a total markup of 20%. In some areas of the U.S., the markup for overhead can go even higher. Opinions vary with adjusters and insurers about whether or not overhead and profit are warranted on certain projects. The unwritten ‘rule of thumb’ for years has been that if a project involves three or more trades and its complexity would motivate a reasonable person to hire a general contractor to complete the work, then overhead and profit would be justified. However, there are no guarantees an insurer will agree with this so-called rule of thumb, and it seems to vary from state to state where there are different case law precedents regarding overhead and profit. Additionally, even if an insurer does agree to pay overhead and profit, some have been known to still exclude it from certain trades such as roofing.
What is a Scope Sheet form?
A Scope Sheet form is a tick sheet-style order form used to help create estimates. It is where you can list the basic Scope of Work for your project (i.e. which rooms and areas are affected, the sizes of those rooms and areas, items needed in those rooms and areas, actions needed for those items, etc). If you’ve ever ordered sushi from a tick sheet menu (the kind where you fill in bubbles for ingredients and then list quantities wanted), then you’ll have no problem filling out a Scope Sheet.
What is a Scope of Work? (sometimes called Scope of Repairs, Repair Scope, or Work Scope)
For purposes of an Xactimate or Cotality/Symbility estimate, a Scope of Work is a set of information that includes:
- A diagram with dimensions of each affected room or area (applicable only to structure estimates)
- A description of damaged items (e.g. 1/2 inch drywall)
- A quantity needed to repair or replace the damaged items (e.g. 32 square feet)
- The actions needed to repair or replace the damaged items (e.g. remove & replace, detach & reset, etc.)
Our detailed Scope Sheet forms make it easy to list this information room-by-room and area-by-area.
What is roof pitch?
Roof pitch is the measure of steepness of a roof. It is expressed as ‘rise over run.’ It is determined by the amount of vertical rise in inches a roof makes for every 12 inches of horizontal run (or span) that it makes. For example, a roof with a vertical rise of 6 inches for every 12 inches of horizontal run (or span) would be considered a ‘6:12 pitch.’ The greater the rise number, the steeper the roof. For example, a 12:12 pitch roof is twice as steep as a 6:12 pitch roof. The rise number will always be a variable number while the run number will always be a constant ‘12.’ Most modern roofs do not exceed a pitch of 12:12.
What is Depreciation and how is it determined?
Depreciation is commonly defined as ‘a reduction in value of an asset with the passage of time.’ Depreciation is usually determined by taking into account one or more of the following factors: age, condition, wear and tear, deterioration, use, obsolesce, and expected useful life.
Adjusters apply depreciation to the estimates they write, but they usually only apply it to items being replaced, and not to items being repaired. The reason is that depreciation is usually applicable only when betterment occurs, and betterment doesn’t usually occur when an item is only being repaired. For example, if a shingled roof is warranted to last for 30 years, and if it is 15 years old at the time it is damaged, depreciation could be expected to be 50 percent. However, if the roof were in extremely good condition for its age, depreciation could be expected to be less than 50%. On the contrary, if the roof were in extremely poor condition, depreciation could be expected to be greater than 50%.
What is Xactimate?
Xactimate is software capable of estimating costs to repair, rebuild, and clean commercial and residential structures and components therein. It is also capable of estimating costs to inventory, pack, move, clean and store personal property and other contents items. The software is used by the majority of insurers and restoration contractors in the U.S. for determination of fair market pricing for such projects. With more than 14,000 unique line items available in the software, Xactimate has pricing for nearly any item one could imagine estimating.
What trades is Xactimate capable of estimating?
Xactimate is capable of estimating several thousand items and tasks within the following trade categories:
ACCESSORIES – MOBILE HOME
ACOUSTICAL TREATMENTS
APPLIANCES
APPLIANCES – MAJOR W/O INSTALL
ART RESTORATION, CONSERVATION
AWNINGS & PATIO COVERS
CABINETRY
CLEANING
CONCRETE & ASPHALT
CONTENTS: CEILING/WALL HANGINGS
CONTENTS: CLEAN – GENERAL ITEMS
CONTENTS: CLEAN – HARD FURNITURE
CONTENTS: CLEAN – LAMPS OR VASES
CONTENTS: CLEAN APPLIANCES
CONTENTS: CLEAN ELECTRIC ITEMS
CONTENTS: CLEAN, UPHOLSTERY & SOFT
CONTENTS: GARMENT & SOFT GOODS CLN
CONTENTS: PACKING,HANDLNG,STORAGE
CONTENT MANIPULATION
DOORS
DRYWALL
ELECTRICAL
ELECTRICAL – SPECIAL SYSTEMS
EXCAVATION
EXTERIOR STRUCTURES
FENCING
FINISH CARPENTRY / TRIMWORK
FINISH HARDWARE
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
FIREPLACES
FLOOR COVERING – CARPET
FLOOR COVERING – CERAMIC TILE
FLOOR COVERING – RESILIENT
FLOOR COVERING – STONE
FLOOR COVERING – VINYL
FLOOR COVERING – WOOD
FRAMING & ROUGH CARPENTRY
GENERAL DEMOLITION
GLASS, GLAZING, & STOREFRONTS
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL REMEDIATION
HEAT, VENT & AIR CONDITIONING
HEAVY EQUIPMENT
HOUSEWARES – HOME DECOR
INSULATION
INSULATION – MECHANICAL
INTERIOR LATH & PLASTER
LABOR ONLY
LANDSCAPING
LIGHT FIXTURES
MARBLE – CULTURED OR NATURAL
MASONRY
METAL STRUCTURES & COMPONENTS
MIRRORS & SHOWER DOORS
MISC. EQUIPMENT – AGRICULTURAL
MISC. EQUIPMENT – COMMERCIAL
MOBILE HOMES, SKIRTING & SETUP
MOISTURE PROTECTION
ORNAMENTAL IRON
PAINTING
PANELING & WOOD WALL FINISHES
PERISHABLE – NON-PERISHABLE
PERMITS AND FEES
PLUMBING
ROOFING
SCAFFOLDING
SIDING
SOFFIT, FASCIA, & GUTTER
SPECIALTY ITEMS
STAIRS
STEEL COMPONENTS
STEEL JOIST COMPONENTS
STUCCO & EXTERIOR PLASTER
SWIMMING POOLS & SPAS
TEMPORARY REPAIRS
TILE
TIMBER FRAMING
TOILET & BATH ACCESSORIES
TRAUMA/CRIME SCENE REMEDIATION
USER DEFINED ITEMS
VALUATION TOOL COST
WALLPAPER
WATER EXTRACTION & REMEDIATION
WINDOW REGLAZING & REPAIR
WINDOW TREATMENT
WINDOWS – ALUMINUM
WINDOWS – SKYLIGHTS
WINDOWS – SLIDING PATIO DOORS
WINDOWS – VINYL
WINDOWS – WOOD
If there is a specialty trade you need estimated but you do not see it listed above, please keep in mind that we can plug in custom line items with any pricing you need. This comes in handy if you have obtained subcontractor bids for such specialty trades.
How does Xactimate know pricing for my area?
Xactimate collects cost information from actual completed bids in each of the 470 geographic regions it services. It updates its Price Lists with this information monthly.
What is a Price List?
A Price List is a list published monthly by Xactimate and Cotality/Symbility for each region that details material, labor and equipment rates for thousands of unique line items. Depending on the type of item being estimated, the rates are in units of square feet, linear feet, cubic feet, per day, per week, etc.
What happens if an item I need isn’t in the Price List?
Occasionally, Xactimate and Cotality/Symbility Price Lists may not contain a certain item you need. Usually this only happens with obsolete or specialty items. If it does happen, we’ll do our best to research pricing for you, or suggest an alternate item if pricing can’t be found. Alternatively, we can add a custom line item to an estimate with any description or cost you want.
Can Assistimate import and export Xactimate ESX files?
Sending us your ESX file
We currently use Xactimate Standard Desktop. Therefore, no matter what version you are using, we should be able to import your ESX file without a problem. In certain situations, we may need you to duplicate your ESX file in “Carrier” or “Contractor” profile prior to sending to us. If that occurs, we will walk you through it.
Getting your ESX file back from us
We currently use Xactimate Standard Desktop, which generates ESX files readable only by that version and higher versions. If you are using an older version of Xactimate, you will not be able to import our ESX file. However, you will still be able to receive your estimate back in PDF format.
What is Cotality/Symbility?
Similar to Xactimate, Cotality/Symbility is software capable of estimating costs to repair, rebuild, and clean commercial and residential structures and components therein. It is also capable of estimating costs to inventory, pack, move, clean and store personal property and other contents items. The software is gaining market share from Xactimate, but is still not as widely used.
What trades is Cotality/Symbility capable of estimating?
Cotality/Symbility is capable of estimating several thousand items and tasks within the following trade categories:
ACOUSTICAL TREATMENTS
ANTENNA & SATELLITE DISHES
APPLIANCES
AWNINGS & PATIO COVERS
CABINETRY
CLEANING – STRUCTURE
CONCRETE & ASPHALT
CONTENTS – CLEAN APPLIANCES
CONTENTS – CLEAN ELECTRIC ITEMS
CONTENTS – CLEAN FURNITURE
CONTENTS – CLEAN GENERAL ITEMS
CONTENTS – CLEAN LAMPS & VASES
CONTENTS – CLEAN TEXTILES
CONTENTS – CLEAN UPHOLSTERY
CONTENTS – PACKING, HANDLING & STORAGE
DOORS
DRYWALL
ELECTRICAL
EQUIPMENT RENTALS
EXCAVATION
EXTERIOR FURNISHINGS
FENCING FINISH CARPENTRY & TRIMWORK
FIREPLACE
FLOOR COVERING
FRAMING & ROUGH CARPENTRY
GENERAL DEMOLITION
HEAT, VENT & AIR CONDITIONING
INSULATION
INTERIOR FURNISHINGS
LABOR ONLY
LANDSCAPING
LIGHT FIXTURES
MASONRY
METAL STRUCTURES & COMPONENTS
MISCELLANEOUS
MITIGATION
MOBILE HOMES, SKIRTING & SETUP
MOISTURE PROTECTION
OUTBUILDINGS
PAINTING
PANELING & WOOD WALL FINISHES
PERMITS AND FEES
PLASTER & LATH
PLUMBING
POOLS & HOT TUBS
ROOFING
SIDING
SOFFIT, FASCIA & GUTTER
STAIRS
TEMPORARY REPAIRS
TILE
TOILET & BATH ACCESSORIES
VENTS
WALL PAPER & WALL CARPET
WINDOW SCREENS
WINDOWS
If there is a specialty trade you need estimated but don’t see it listed above, please keep in mind that we can plug in custom ine items with any pricing you need. This comes in handy if you have obtained subcontractor bids for such specialty trades.
How does Cotality/Symbility know pricing for my area?
When asked where they get the data to compile their price list, CoreLogic, the developer of Cotality/Symbility, states the following on their website:
“CoreLogic monitors demographics and econometric statistics, government indicators, localization requirements and market trends, as well as wage rates for more union and non-union trades, 100,000 plus line items of construction data, productivity rates and crew sizes, local cost concerns such as building code requirements and other localized variables.“
Will the insurance company agree to my Xactimate or Cotality/Symbility estimate?
Because Xactimate and Cotality/Symbility are the most widely used estimating platforms in the property insurance industry, estimating with them will likely increase your chances of reaching an agreed repair cost with insurers — especially if you’re estimating with their preferred platform. However, just because your estimate is written in Xactimate or Cotality/Symbility doesn’t guarantee it will be agreed to. For example, opinions may differ as to whether an item is damaged or whether a task is necessary, and coverage may not exist even if the item is damaged or deemed to be necessary. Be sure to contact the insurer for questions on these matters.
What is a Labor Minimum (sometimes referred to as Minimum Charge)?
A Labor Minimum is the cost a particular trade-person will charge for labor to show up and do a small job. For example, a painter might normally charge $0.50 per square foot labor to paint a wall. However, if only 80 square feet of wall surface needs to be painted, you’d be hard pressed to find a painter willing to do it for only $40 of labor (80 square feet x $0.50). After all, the painter has to mobilize, set up, perform the work, clean up, tear down his equipment, etc. That’s where Labor Minimums come in: they account for the minimum amount a trade-person would charge for a small job.
Do Xactimate and Cotality/Symbility have additional costs for a 2 story roof?
Yes, Xactimate and Cotality/Symbility both have a ‘high charge’ for roofs that are 2 story and greater. Typically, the number of stories a structure has is considered to be all floors at and above ground level. A basement is not usually included as a story unless it is a walk-out or shallow basement well above ground level.
What are the Assistimate Terms of Service?
The Assistimate Terms of Service can be found here.
What is the Assistimate Privacy Policy?
The Assistimate Privacy Policy can be found here.
Insurance Projects are Hard.
Assistimate makes them easy.