Supporting Your Restoration Business: JobProof and Xactimate
In the fast-paced world of restoration and insurance claims, accurate documentation is paramount. Restoration contractors often navigate complex demands, balancing efficient field operations with the stringent reporting requirements of insurance carriers.
It's important to understand that JobProof is a separate product designed specifically for field documentation and reporting. Xactimate is a third-party estimating platform widely used across the insurance and restoration industry for creating detailed project estimates. Both tools play distinct, yet complementary, roles in a successful restoration and insurance claim workflow.
By leveraging each tool's strengths, contractors can build stronger, more defensible insurance claims, reduce payment delays, and ultimately improve their bottom line.
What Xactimate Is Used for in Insurance Claims
Xactimate has long been the industry standard for creating estimates in property insurance claims. Its primary function is to provide a comprehensive framework for pricing restoration and reconstruction work.
Generate Detailed Estimates
Create line-item estimates using an extensive database of pricing for labor, materials, and equipment.
Standardize Pricing
Ensure consistency in bidding and align with insurance carrier expectations for pricing.
Develop Scopes of Work
Outline the specific tasks and items required to complete a restoration project.
Facilitate Negotiations
Provide a common language and basis for discussion between contractors and adjusters.
In essence, Xactimate is a powerful tool for specifying what needs to be done and how much it will cost. However, its strength lies in pricing, not in the granular, real-time capture of field conditions and daily progress.
What Xactimate Does Not Capture in the Field
While Xactimate is excellent for estimating, it is not designed to be a comprehensive field documentation tool. Xactimate typically does not natively capture or manage:
Daily Moisture Readings
The critical day-to-day fluctuations and progress of moisture removal from affected materials.
Drying Logs
Detailed records of temperature, humidity, GPP, and equipment changes over the entire drying process.
Progress Photos
Chronological visual evidence of damage before, during, and after mitigation, often with specific tagging and timestamps.
Equipment Tracking
Real-time placement, movement, and operational status of air movers, dehumidifiers, and other drying equipment.
Attempting to use Xactimate for these purposes would be inefficient and cumbersome, often leading to gaps in documentation that can jeopardize claims. This is where a dedicated field documentation solution works alongside Xactimate to provide the missing pieces.
Why Adjusters Still Ask for Photos, Logs, and Readings
Even with a meticulously crafted Xactimate estimate, insurance adjusters require substantial visual and data-driven evidence to approve claims. Their primary goal is to ensure the work performed was necessary, effective, and justified. They need to see:
Proof of Loss and Scope
Clear "before" photos demonstrating the extent of damage and validating the initial scope of work.
Justification of Work
Evidence that equipment used, drying protocols, and labor hours were appropriate for the specific class and category.
Verification of Drying Progress
Daily moisture readings and drying logs that show a consistent decline in moisture levels.
Confirmation of Dry Standard
Final readings and "after" photos confirming that materials have reached dry standard.
Without this evidence, adjusters often flag claims for further review, regardless of the Xactimate estimate. For more details, see our documentation requirements guide.
How JobProof Works Alongside Xactimate
JobProof specializes in precisely what Xactimate does not: comprehensive, real-time field documentation. It is the ideal partner that works alongside Xactimate, providing the granular details and evidence adjusters demand.
Think of JobProof as your field data powerhouse, providing the verifiable proof that backs up your estimate and accelerates payment. Learn more about our specialized water mitigation software.
Typical Mitigation Workflow Using Both Tools
Initial Call & Assessment
Technician arrives on-site, uses JobProof to document initial damage with photos, takes baseline moisture readings, identifies water source, and classifies the water category and class.
Equipment Setup & Monitoring
Equipment is placed. Technician uses JobProof to log equipment placement and begins daily monitoring, recording environmental conditions and moisture readings.
Estimate Creation
Based on the initial assessment and documentation from JobProof, the project manager creates the detailed Xactimate estimate, outlining all line items for demolition, drying, and repairs.
Daily Progress & Adjustments
Technicians continue to use JobProof to log daily moisture readings, psychrometric data, and progress photos, making adjustments to equipment as needed.
Dry Standard & Completion
Once materials reach dry standard, final moisture readings are taken, and "after" photos are captured in JobProof, confirming the completion of mitigation.
Report Generation & Submission
JobProof generates a comprehensive water mitigation report. This report is submitted alongside the Xactimate estimate to the adjuster—the JobProof report provides the verifiable evidence that supports the scope and pricing.
Questions & Answers
Does JobProof integrate with Xactimate?
JobProof is a separate product that works alongside Xactimate. It specializes in capturing detailed field documentation like photos, drying logs, and moisture readings. These reports then support your Xactimate estimates.
Can JobProof replace Xactimate?
No, JobProof does not replace Xactimate. Xactimate is a third-party estimating platform used for creating detailed project estimates. JobProof works alongside Xactimate by providing the essential field documentation that justifies and supports your Xactimate estimates.
Why do adjusters ask for documentation if I already use Xactimate?
Adjusters ask for documentation (photos, drying logs, moisture readings) to verify that the work outlined in your Xactimate estimate was necessary, properly executed, and achieved dry standard. This evidence ensures the claim is defensible.
Can JobProof reports support Xactimate estimates?
Absolutely. JobProof reports are specifically designed to provide the detailed field documentation—including visual evidence, moisture readings, and drying logs—that works alongside Xactimate estimates to justify your scope of work and accelerate insurance approvals.
What does Xactimate not capture that JobProof does?
Xactimate doesn't natively capture daily moisture readings, drying logs with psychrometric data, chronological progress photos with timestamps, real-time equipment tracking, or detailed field notes. JobProof captures all of these in real-time from the field.