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Hiring an Xactimate estimator? Read this first.
If you're posting a job ad for an estimator, your files are already stacking up. Before you commit to a new hire, it's worth comparing what that hire really carries with sending files out per job.
What an in-house estimator really costs
- Salary and benefits, paid every week whether you have five files or none.
- Recruiting and training. Finding someone who knows Xactimate and your trade takes time, and getting them up to speed on how you document takes more.
- Software. Another Xactimate seat and the equipment to run it.
- Slow seasons. Storm volume comes and goes. Payroll doesn't.
- Turnover. When they leave, you start over and the files back up again.
What per-file estimating looks like
- You pay only when you have a file. Estimate Only is $225 per file. Estimate + Scope Approval is $125 per file plus 2% commission.
- You can start today. No interviews, no onboarding. Send a file through the intake form.
- Guaranteed within 72 hours; most files are back in 48 hours.
- You stay in the loop. We keep you updated throughout. You'll hear from us during the estimating process so you know when your file will be done, and as soon as there's any movement or communication from the adjuster on your file.
- It scales with you. Send one file in a slow month or a stack after a storm.
Who writes your estimates
Our team writes from the field up. Log Cabin was founded by Tony Wratchford: HAAG Certified (Residential Roof Inspection), IICRC WRT certified, and a former licensed general contractor. Every photo is reviewed before the first line is written.
What we need to start
- Interior, mitigation and reconstruction: a sketch in ESX format, or access to your Encircle so we can import it, plus photos labeled by room.
- Roofs: a roof measurement report (PDF) at minimum, plus photos labeled by elevation and slope. An ESX roof sketch is preferred.
See the full file checklist or pricing details.
Still want to hire? Plenty of contractors use us as overflow while they search, so files don't sit while the job ad runs.