Xactimate LowDown
Xactimate Lowdown is a blog about Xactimate news, classes,
helpful hints and any news that affects its users.
helpful hints and any news that affects its users.
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As a certified Xactimate trainer working closely with restoration professionals, I’ve had a front-row seat to the evolving landscape of water mitigation. From shifts in estimating practices to the integration of new technologies, the industry is undergoing significant transformation. Whether you're a seasoned contractor or just starting out, understanding these trends is key to staying competitive and profitable in 2025.
1. AI-Powered Documentation & Scoping Tools Artificial intelligence and machine learning are making their way into the field. New tools now assist in automating moisture mapping, photo tagging, and even generating preliminary estimates. While Xactimate remains the gold standard, integrating AI tools that complement the platform can drastically improve efficiency and accuracy in the field. 2. Increased Emphasis on Real-Time Data Moisture meters and sensors that sync with cloud-based platforms are gaining popularity. These allow for real-time monitoring of drying progress, making documentation easier and more defensible during audits. Insurers are starting to expect this level of transparency, and adjusters are increasingly using this data to verify the scope. 3. Regulatory Compliance and Documentation Standards States like California and Florida have introduced tighter regulations around mold, Category 3 water, and drying protocols. That means your documentation in Xactimate must go beyond just entering line items — it has to tell a clear, defensible story. We're seeing more restorers adopting standardized scoping templates and audit-proof narratives within their estimates. 4. The Rise of 3D Scanning and Virtual Walkthroughs Using Matterport or similar technology is no longer a luxury — it’s becoming standard. These tools improve accuracy in estimating, reduce adjuster pushback, and provide a clear visual record of pre-mitigation conditions. When integrated with Xactimate via Sketch, it saves hours of time and creates more precise estimates. 5. Trained Technicians = Better Estimates Mitigation techs are being trained not just in drying science, but also in Xactimate basics. Field-level input leads to better scopes and fewer delays in estimate completion. As a trainer, I’m seeing more companies invest in technician-level Xactimate education, which leads to more consistent billing and faster payment cycles. 6. Combatting Undercutting Through Better Scope Writing One of the biggest issues I see today is carriers pushing back with cost-saving demands. The best way to combat this isn’t just negotiation — it’s better scoping. Writing detailed, justified line items in Xactimate, supported by photo documentation and narrative, has become a powerful tool to defend scope and value. Final Thoughts Water mitigation is no longer just about drying structures — it’s about documenting, justifying, and defending every step. As trends evolve, so should our tools and training. Whether you're using Xactimate for daily estimates or managing a full-scale CAT event, staying current with these changes ensures you're getting paid what you're worth — and protecting your business in the process. Need help training your team in Xactimate or building better estimating workflows? Let’s talk. If you are thinking of training an employee in Xactimate by throwing a subscription on his desktop and having him learn on his own or slowly picking up tidbits from fellow employees or YouTube, you are going to lose a lot of productivity from that employee while that is happening. And they may be trained unproperly from non-certified training. Here is a way your employee, in a well-organized manner, can be trained and have them producing quicker and more efficiently.
Check out our free sample video from the course to see what it’s like @ https://www.crestllc.com/xactimate_self-paced.html  Now that Verisk has eliminated the free 30-day Xactimate demo unless you have signed up for training, it’s a no brainer! You can purchase a yearly subscription of Xactimate @ $1910.00 (the most inexpensive version) and struggle through the pain of trying to self-train. Or you can pay less than ½ of that, get level 1 & level 2 training, get a free 30-day trial demo of Xactimate through your Certified Trainer for the training and access to videos of the class with extra training above and beyond the level 2 training for 30 days after class. That’s an offer you can’t refuse.
Come join us for our next training. Check our training schedule at https://www.crestllc.com/store/c3/Virtual_Training.html And if you don’t have 3 days that you can separate yourself from your busy life, you can purchase our Self-Paced Training Video series of the class for less than 1/3 of the subscription price and also get the a free 30-day trial demo of Xactimate through your Certified Trainer. That way you can train when you have the time. Something for everyone. For more information on this, most affordable option for quality Xactimate training go to https://www.crestllc.com/xactimate_self-paced.html  I don't know if you have noticed but Verisk moved up the end date and the free 30 day demo is gone. You now have to sign up for training to get the 30 day free demo. They have given the Certified Trainers the ability to set up a free instance for 30 days for anyone that signs up for training. The only other option is to purchase a subscription from Verisk.
Ben has been Crest’s most successful student and I used to speak of him as an example of the possibilities of being an independent adjuster in almost every class. I have seen him working during slow times while many, much more experienced adjusters are sitting home because he knows how to process claims.
Ben has been able to close claims when 3 and 4 previous adjusters on the same claim could not. He has been successful at almost everything he has attempted because of his work ethic. But I believe one of his strongest traits is his character as he always does what he feels is right. This character spoke out when he saw that his carriers were not treating his customers fairly. Ben, as an independent adjuster, received an award last year from the Florida Association of Public Independent Adjusters (FAPIA) for just that reason. When was the last time (if ever) you saw an Independent Adjuster receive an award from a Public Adjuster Association? Ben went against his own interest to shed light on a wrongdoing. Watch this report as you will be shock by the high percentage of carriers purposely underpaying their customers. We are in no way taking Credit for any of Ben’s accomplishments (well, maybe his Xactimate knowledge) and certainly not his character as that is all his own. I just wanted to say how proud and grateful I am to know him and am hopeful that maybe his contribution will help to right some egregious behavior by some carriers who do not have their customers best interest at heart.  With a recent update on the elevation tool, it has created some issues if you like using the older “Classic View” (as I do) instead of the newer “Textured View”. Like the 3D changes they made to try to make it look more realistic, they are also now doing with the Elevation tool. Unfortunately it comes out huge in Classic view including the dimensions. There is a fix on the way but no date on it yet. If you change to the new textured view, you don’t have this issue. If you would like more information you can watch my YouTube video on it at https://youtu.be/CMJeg7Vnx3U or you can just click on the link at the top under “More>YOUTUBE” and you can also see it there.
 Recently, the free 30-day Xactimate Demo was changed to a 30-day trial version with some additional requirements and procedural changes that were listed in a previous post.
The trial version will end by the end of the year, so you'll need to purchase a subscription unless you sign up for training with an Xactimate Certified Trainer (XCT) or Verisk. When you enroll in a class with an XCT or Verisk, your instructor can set up an instance for you. This gives you access to Xactimate, though with some limitations, like restricted data transfer and limited access to price lists. These features will unlock once you purchase a subscription. This limited version lets you participate in training and take exams without needing to buy a subscription right away. Just make sure to choose a class like mine, where the instructor is a verified XCT, to ensure you get the right training and avoid picking up bad habits from uncertified trainers. For more information on my classes, click on the home tab at the top of this page and don’t forget to look over the testimonial page to check out the quality of my classes. As always, this is the current plan but as plans often go, it is subject to change and if it does. I’ll let you know. Why do most teachers teach a level 1 and level 2 class together for their live classes and not just level 1? I can’t speak for the other trainers, but I can give you my reason for not teaching just level 1 live. The answer is simple – level 1 doesn’t prepare you for the real world.
Level 1 is a fundamental approach to Xactimate (that’s why level 1 used to be called Fundamentals). It teaches you how to navigate the program, search for line items, prepare reports and some basic functions including basic sketch. So if you are only doing estimates on mobile homes for example, where all your rooms are square or rectangular and basic estimates, you may be ok. As soon as it gets a little complicated, you need level 2. As an adjuster or estimator, life is not that simple. Level 1 is simply an introduction into a much larger scope of work. Level 2 will get you ready for a large portion of what you will see in the real world. So if you want to be a race car driver, don’t just learn the instrument panel and to turn the key. Learn how to punch that accelerator. Invest in your future.  Save 15% on your next Xactimate Certification Test. Just go to our website https://www.crestllc.com/ (or click on the home button above), wait 30 seconds for our mailing list pop-up and you will see a coupon code that will save you 15% on your next certification exam whether you get on our mailing list or not.
 We just posted our Virtual Class Schedule for the rest of the year. Go to https://www.crestllc.com/store/c3/Virtual_Training.html and see which class is convenient for you. And while you are there wait 30 seconds for the pop up. There is a coupon code there that will save you 15% on any Xactimate Certification test.
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Highlight Video - Water Mit to Rebuild very quickly
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Alfred ReyI became a Certified Trainer because it was the part of industry I loved the most. I've come to really love it because of the distance a new student goes in those 3 days. " >
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