After your insurance adjuster visits and assesses the damage, they produce a written estimate using software called Xactimate. This document — not the damage itself — determines how much money you receive. Understanding how Xactimate works, and how it can be manipulated, is one of the most valuable things you can know as a Missouri homeowner with a roof claim.
What Is Xactimate?
Xactimate is a property estimating software made by Verisk Analytics. It's used by approximately 80–90% of insurance companies and independent adjusters in the United States to produce standardized repair estimates. The software contains a database of thousands of line items — from "remove and replace asphalt shingles" to "pipe boot replacement" — each priced using local market data updated monthly by ZIP code.
When an adjuster assesses your roof, they select the relevant line items, enter quantities (measured in squares, linear feet, or units), and the software calculates a total replacement cost. That number becomes the basis for your insurance payout.
How Xactimate Gets Manipulated Against Homeowners
The software is only as accurate as the adjuster using it. Here are the most common ways Xactimate estimates undervalue roof claims:
Tactic #1: Missing line items
The adjuster simply doesn't include code-required items like ice & water shield, drip edge, or enhanced underlayment. Each missing line item reduces the payout. SRA's team knows every required Missouri code item and checks every estimate for completeness.
Tactic #2: Incorrect quantities
Using satellite measurements that are slightly off can shave 5–10% off a claim. Some adjusters also undercount the number of pipe boots, the length of flashing, or the extent of damage.
Tactic #3: Omitting O&P (Overhead & Profit)
When a general contractor coordinates multiple trades, they're entitled to a 10% overhead + 10% profit addition to the total. Adjusters frequently omit this 20% addition on roofing claims, particularly on larger projects. This is consistently one of the top supplemental items SRA recovers for clients.
Tactic #4: Using low-tier line item codes
Xactimate has multiple codes for similar work at different quality levels. Using a code for standard underlayment when code requires synthetic, or using a non-weighted average shingle cost, results in a lower payout that doesn't reflect actual replacement cost.
Tactic #5: Aggressive depreciation
While depreciation is legitimate, how it's calculated can vary. Some adjusters apply depreciation to labor (not just materials), which is not standard. Others apply a higher depreciation percentage than is standard for the roof's age.
How SRA Uses Xactimate to Advocate for You
SRA Roofing & Gutters uses Xactimate directly — the same software your insurance company uses. This means we can:
- Produce a competing estimate in the same format, making comparison easy for the insurance company
- Identify specific line items that are missing from the adjuster's estimate
- Submit a supplement that adds recoverable items in a format the insurer recognizes
- Calculate O&P entitlement and document why it applies to your project
- Cross-reference the adjuster's quantities against actual measured scope
Real Example
On a recent Springfield, MO insurance claim, SRA's initial review of the adjuster's Xactimate estimate found: missing drip edge (full perimeter), omitted O&P, incorrect shingle quantity (measurement error), and no pipe boot line items. The supplement SRA submitted recovered an additional $4,200 for the homeowner before any negotiation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Xactimate?
Xactimate is the industry-standard estimating software used by ~80–90% of insurance companies and adjusters to calculate property repair costs. The Xactimate estimate is the document that determines how much your insurance company pays.
Can a contractor dispute an Xactimate estimate?
Yes. Contractors familiar with Xactimate can identify missing line items, incorrect quantities, or outdated pricing and submit a supplemental estimate. SRA uses Xactimate directly and can produce estimates in the adjuster's format.