Your Estimate Is Too Low. Here Is How to Fight It.

Start with the line items

Don't just compare totals. Walk through the damaged area with the XactimateXactimate: The Software Behind Every Insurance EstimateXactimate is the industry-standard software used by insurers, contractors, and public adjusters to price repair work. It contains thousands of line...
Read more → estimate in hand. Check each line item against reality.

Is the flooring quantity right? Are the material grades correct? Is texture matchingDrywall Texture Matching: Why Your Patch Still Shows After PaintingAfter drywall is repaired or replaced, the texture on the new section needs to match the rest of the wall or ceiling. Sound simple? It's not. This ...
Read more → included?

Is overhead and profitOverhead & Profit: The 20% Most People Leave on the TableOn my own claim, I didn't know O&P existed until a contractor looked at my estimate and said, 'Where's the O&P line?' That missing line item was wo...
Read more → listed? Make a written list of every discrepancy: missing items, wrong quantities, and material grades priced below what you actually have. The more specific your list, the harder it is to dismiss.

Get a second estimate

Have a licensed contractor, ideally one experienced with insurance restoration work, inspect the damage and provide their own estimate. A good restoration contractorPicking a Restoration Contractor Who Knows InsuranceThe right restoration contractor does two jobs: high-quality repairs and effective insurance communication. They write line-item Xactimate estimate...
Read more → writes in Xactimate and can point to exact line items that are missing or underpriced. This gives you a professional second opinion that speaks the same language as the adjuster's estimate.

The side-by-side comparison makes the gap impossible to ignore.

File a supplement

A supplement is a formal request to add items or increase quantities in the existing estimate. Your contractor or public adjusterPublic Adjusters: When Hiring One Pays for ItselfA public adjuster is a licensed professional who represents you, the homeowner, in your insurance claim. They understand Xactimate, building codes,...
Read more → prepares a supplemental Xactimate estimate detailing each additional item, with photos and a brief explanation of why it's needed. Submit it to your adjuster by email.

The adjuster may approve, partially approve, or deny. Multiple rounds of supplements are common. Keep a running list of every supplement submitted and its status.

Escalate when needed

If the supplement is denied, request a re-inspection. Ask for a senior adjuster or field adjuster to visit the property and see the damage in person. Desk adjusters sometimes miss things that are obvious on site.

Bring your contractor to the re-inspection so they can walk through the disputed items together. If re-inspection doesn't resolve it, you have formal options. Most policies include an appraisal clause where each side hires an appraiser and a neutral umpire resolves the disagreement.

You can file a complaint with your state's Department of Insurance. You can hire a public adjuster or an insurance attorney. Litigation is a last resort, but it's an option.