Insurance Estimate Review: Is the Insurer's Estimate Complete?
By Nick Shank, licensed Tennessee public adjuster
The insurer's estimate is a document you can check. Most are written in Xactimate or a similar program, which means each line has a quantity, a unit price and a description. Here's how to read one and spot what's missing.
Read the summary page
Find the replacement cost value (RCV), depreciation, actual cash value (ACV), deductible and net claim. Know which numbers you've been paid and which are held back until repairs are done.
Check scope, then quantities
Scope is what's included: every room, elevation and roof slope affected. Quantities are how much: square feet of drywall, linear feet of baseboard, squares of roofing. Compare both to your contractor's estimate and your own photos.
Watch for these gaps
- Rooms or elevations missing entirely
- Paint and flooring limited to one wall or one room when materials run continuously
- Code-required items not included
- Contents, cleaning and mold remediation left out
- Overhead and profit omitted where a general contractor is reasonably needed
- Depreciation applied to labor in a way your policy may not allow — ask the insurer to explain
Ask questions in writing
Write to the insurer listing each disputed line with your evidence. Ask them to explain any line they won't change. This record matters if you later use appraisal or need help.
Get a second opinion
Upload your estimate for a free review and I'll tell you where it looks incomplete — without promising a number before I've seen the property and the policy. Every policy is different. This guide is general information, not legal advice or a promise of coverage.
Common questions
- What is the difference between RCV and ACV?
- Replacement cost value is the cost to repair or replace new; actual cash value subtracts depreciation. Many policies pay ACV first and the rest after repairs.
- Can I use my own contractor's estimate?
- Yes. A detailed contractor estimate is useful evidence when asking the insurer to revise its scope.
- Will you guarantee my estimate is wrong?
- No. Sometimes the insurer's estimate is fair. A review tells you either way.