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What a desk-review-ready Xactimate estimate includes
By the Log Cabin team
A desk reviewer looks at your estimate without standing in the house. Everything they need to agree with a line has to be in the file. These are the habits that make that possible.
1. Photos come first
Write from the photos, not from memory or an invoice. If a line can't be pointed to in a photo, measurement or document, it's either missing support or it shouldn't be there. Label photos by room, or for roofs by elevation and slope, so the reviewer can match them to the estimate.
2. Every unusual line gets a note
Line notes (F9 notes in Xactimate) explain why an item is there: what the photo shows, which code section or manufacturer instruction applies, and why a standard alternative won't work. A short, specific note beats a long general one.
3. Cite the requirement, not an opinion
When a line depends on code or the manufacturer's installation instructions, reference the actual document. "Required" with no source invites a removal.
4. Check the areas next door
Continuous flooring, shared wall planes and adjoining ceilings are common gaps. Photograph and address them, even if the answer is that they're unaffected.
5. Flag, don't guess
If documentation is missing, list it and get it. A guessed line weakens the lines around it.
A quick pre-send checklist
- Every room or slope in the estimate has photos
- Measurements match the sketch
- Non-standard lines carry notes
- Code and spec references are cited
- Adjacent areas are addressed
- Open items are listed