The industry standard software for creating insurance estimates.
Virtually every major insurance carrier uses or accepts Xactimate estimates.
It creates a common language between contractors and insurance companies.
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The Billing Blueprint
Pricing Database + Estimating Tool
Contains thousands of line items with predefined prices
Prices based on your geographic region
You select line items, enter quantities, software calculates total
You and the adjuster look at the same line items, same prices, same calculations.
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The Billing Blueprint
Price Lists & Regional Pricing
Price lists updated monthly based on regional market conditions
Miami prices differ from Chicago differ from Los Angeles
Software applies correct pricing based on zip code
Don't argue about base prices. Focus on selecting correct line items and justifying quantities. Ensure your estimate uses the correct geographic location.
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The Billing Blueprint
Key Interface Areas
Estimate
Build your actual estimate with line items and quantities
Sketch
Draw room diagrams for automatic square footage calculations
Photos
Attach your documentation directly to the estimate
Reports
Generate final estimate documents for submission
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The Billing Blueprint
Estimate Categories
Demolition & Cleaning: Removal of affected materials
Drying Equipment: Air movers, dehumidifiers, equipment charges
Cleaning & Contents: Cleaning of salvageable items
Line Items: Each has a code, description, unit of measure, and price
Example: "Remove drywall, water damaged" - Unit: square feet - Price per SF
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The Billing Blueprint
F9 = Your Best Friend
Press F9 to open search.
Type keywords like "drywall demolition" or "air mover" and find relevant items instantly.
Learning to use F9 effectively will cut your estimating time in half.
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The Billing Blueprint
Essential Keyboard Shortcuts
F9
Search
Ctrl+S
Save
Ctrl+P
Print/Preview
Ctrl+Z
Undo
Ctrl+Y
Redo
Ctrl+D
Duplicate
These save hours over time when building estimates daily.
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The Billing Blueprint
The Sketch Feature
Draw room diagrams to calculate square footage automatically
Calculates floors, walls, and ceilings
Link line items directly to your sketch measurements
A 12x14 room linked to "remove drywall, walls" = software calculates wall SF automatically.
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The Billing Blueprint
Why Use Sketch?
Accuracy
Measurements directly drive your quantities. No manual calculation errors.
Visual Documentation
Adjusters see exactly which rooms are affected and can verify measurements.
Recommendation: Use Sketch for every estimate. The accuracy and professional presentation pay off.
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The Billing Blueprint
Workspace Efficiency Tips
Create templates for common job types (kitchen water damage, etc.)
Organize favorites - save your 20-30 most-used line items
Set up company info - name, address, license numbers
Templates give you a starting point and ensure you don't forget commonly needed items.
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Practice Makes Perfect
Xactimate has a learning curve. The more you use it, the faster you become.
Create practice estimates for completed jobs to build muscle memory and discover line items you might have missed.