Contractor estimate vs. insurance estimate.
Both sides want the same thing: a fair, accurate estimate of the repair. But they often use different Xactimate settings, price lists, and assumptions. A line-by-line comparison reveals exactly where the numbers diverge.
Same loss. Different estimate. Here is why.
The differences are rarely accidental. Each side is working from a different snapshot of the same facts.
Different scope of work
A contractor may price a complete repair because that is what the work requires. A carrier may write for the visible damage only. Both can be internally consistent while producing different totals.
Different price lists
Xactimate allows multiple price lists and regions. If one estimate uses a January price list and the other uses July, the same line item may carry a different unit price.
Different code selections
A contractor might select a premium code for a material that matches the existing finish. A carrier might select a standard code that appears equivalent but is priced lower.
Overhead and profit rules
O&P is applied differently depending on trade complexity and whether the estimate is treated as one job or several. The summary can look the same while the math is different.
Where the two estimates typically drift.
The table below is not a judgment about either side. It is a map of the places where the two estimates usually need to be reconciled.
A fair comparison starts with the same facts.
Before anyone negotiates, both sides should agree on the line items they are comparing. That means matching rooms, activities, quantities, and prices one by one.
- 1Verify that both estimates are for the same property and date of loss.
- 2Compare the room list and square-footage totals first.
- 3Match line items by activity and code, not just by description.
- 4Check quantity and unit price for each matched line.
- 5Compare O&P, tax, and deductible calculations separately.
- 6Attribute every dollar of variance to a clear category.
Both sides of the claim can use the same comparison.
The goal is not to prove one side right. It is to reduce the time spent arguing about the math.
For contractors
Show exactly where the carrier estimate differs from your scope. Replace broad disagreements with specific line items that can be reviewed and resolved.
For carriers and adjusters
Compare a submitted estimate to your original in minutes. Identify scope changes, duplicate lines, and price drift without reading every page manually.
Run a comparison and see the difference for yourself.
Upload a contractor estimate and a carrier estimate for the same loss. Estology will highlight every line item where they diverge.