Precision is a critical factor in the field of construction, which can lead a project to either success or failure. Whether you are a construction contractor or a business owner and thinking about budgeting the material, labor, equipment, and other overheads for your construction project, accuracy is the primary factor in these calculations.
Any miscalculation or misjudgment in these factors can lead to underestimation or overestimation, ultimately leading to material shortage or wastage. This can further cause costly surprises and unexpected time delays. This is where Xactimate, a reliable construction estimating software, steps in.
In the dynamic world of today, Xactimate construction estimating software has become a need of the hour for all construction contractors, estimators, and insurance companies as it assists in the accurate and precise calculation of all the materials required in the construction project and their costs. It serves as an extensive solution to all the project managers, supervisors, estimators, and contractors for accurate cost estimation. In this article, we will delve deep into what Xactimate is, its key features, benefits, and the value it serves in the construction industry and professionals.
What Is Xactimate?
Xactimate is a software developed by Xactware for property damage estimation. It is used to create estimates after the damage amidst natural disasters like fires, floods, hurricanes, etc., so restoration and repair work can be done. This software also includes the local area prices for materials, labor, and equipment. It is based on the regional building codes and regulations for calculating the project’s total cost.
Key Features Of Xactimate Construction Estimating Software
Xactimate holds some extensive features that help construction professionals to ensure the accuracy and precision of cost estimates and keep the project on track, avoiding cost overruns and time delays. These features help them to streamline the entire construction process. Those features are mentioned as follows:
1. Comprehensive Database
The primary feature of Xactimate is that it offers the feature of enhanced reporting and analytics to offer you deep insights and profound knowledge of your cost estimates, overall estimates, and profit margins. This will help the insurance companies and contractors to make more informed decisions regarding future projects and make any corrections in the existing ones, seeing the analytic report.
2. Sketch Tool
This feature of the sketch tool in Xactimate construction estimating software enables project managers, estimators, and construction contractors to create 2D or 3D diagrams of all the dimensions of the construction project, such as walls, rooms, windows, doors, openings, and side layouts.
This feature empowers users to create a detailed view of dimensions and a visual representation of all the project elements. It also allows them to easily integrate with the entire estimating process. Thai graphical representation of dimensions helps the clients and contractors to better understand the project layout.
3. Integration with Mobile and Desktop Platforms
Xactimate is the construction estimating software that is available across various platforms. These include laptop, computer, mobile, and tablet. This availability across various platforms empowers the users with the flexibility to work on their cost estimates whether they are on the job site or in their office. This flexibility enables them to post real-time updates in cost estimates while they can continue their meetings and schedule in an undisturbed way. This also allows the site workers to continue their work by examining the latest updates on the site without the need to return to their offices.
4. Automated Estimating Process
Xactimate construction estimating software can handle automated takeoff and allow you to prepare the list according to the input design. Xactimate software can gauge the quantities of all materials according to the measurements of the property project.
It includes all the materials and does not overestimate the quantities. For example, it would quantify all elements, such as material types, finishes, hardware, labor, and others, to estimate the costs accurately. This feature is necessary for the critical and accurate measurement of all elements
5. Collaboration Tools
Xactimate estimating software also collaborates with many other construction management tools, such as project management, accounting software, and customer relations managers. This means that you can easily feed all the data into other areas of your construction project, improving its overall efficiency and alignment. This also helps to avoid any communication discrepancies that can further lead to some conflict between the contractors and stakeholders.
6. Reporting and Analytics
Xactimate offers a comprehensive feature of accurate reporting and analytics of all the project elements, including project timelines, summaries, and cost breakdowns. These reports are valuable for construction contractors and estimators and also for clients and stakeholders to provide them with an accurate breakdown of all the project timelines and estimated costs. This also enables the users to compare the estimate with actual project costs, so it can provide insight to the construction companies for future projects.
Xactimate Subscription Plans and Pricing
If you haven’t tried Xactimate yet, now is the perfect time to explore the benefits of this powerful tool for estimating and claims management. Whether you’re a new user or looking to upgrade your current subscription, they offer two flexible plans tailored to meet your business needs.
Below is a breakdown of our Pro and Standard subscription options:
| Subscription Plan | Cost | Included Features |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Plan | $2,690/year or $330/month | – Access Xactimate from desktop, mobile, and online platforms. |
| – Guided estimating with XactScope® for efficient project management. | ||
| – Precise measurements using SketchAR®, Xactimate’s direct-to-sketch tool. | ||
| – Enhanced water mitigation claims and rebuild estimates with XactRebuild. | ||
| – Complimentary one-year access to the Xactware Classroom for in-depth learning. | ||
| – 24/7 customer support via online chat. | ||
| Standard Plan | $2,100/year or $850 for 3 months | – 24/7 free online chat support. |
| – Access to one platform: choose between desktop, mobile, or online. | ||
| – Guided estimating assistance with XactScope® for smoother workflow. | ||
| – Accurate measurements with SketchAR® for better precision. | ||
| – Automated rebuild estimates and support for water mitigation claims with XactRebuild. |
Why Xactimate Estimating Software Is Essential For Construction Professionals
After we have learned the features of Xactimate estimating software, let’s have a look that why Xactimate is essential in the field of construction.
1. Accuracy and Reliability
Xactimate software creates estimates with greater precision and accuracy. It considers all the factors and provides an exact cost estimate for the repair and restoration work. This helps construction contractors and insurance companies avoid overestimating or underestimating the estimates, thus preventing costly surprises and time delays.
2. Time Efficiency
Gone are the days when estimators used to do takeoff with their spreadsheets and manual calculations. It is time-consuming and prone to many errors. Xactimate automates the process of takeoff, which would take several hours in the case of manual takeoff. It minimizes the chance of errors, too.
With its pre-built templates, comprehensive database, and automated formulas, it generates cost estimates within a fraction of the time. This increased speed and accuracy enables the contractors and estimators to handle multiple construction projects, without compromising on quality and completing the project within time.
3. Cost Control
Xactimate estimating software not only helps in the initial cost estimation of the construction projects but also helps control the costs throughout the construction cycle. The software keeps track of all the material costs, labor, and other expenses and provides comparative data against the original estimated costs. This visibility helps the contractors to prevent cost overruns and ensure the project completion on time.
4. Professionalism and Transparency
Cost accuracy is paramount for insurance companies. The software accounts for all elements, including labor, equipment, permits, and special fittings, ensuring the estimate covers all potential expenses. Most insurance companies in the U.S. employ Xactimate for property damage estimation, making it a standard platform for estimating damage costs and initiating restoration work.
You might like this too: How To Read An Xactimate Estimate
How To Get Started With Xactimate
Getting started with Xactimate is straightforward, but to ensure the accuracy of cost estimates, a profound knowledge of Xactimate is essential:
1. Training
Xactware offers comprehensive training resources for Xactimate, including online courses, tutorials, and certification programs. For new users, it’s highly recommended to go through the available training to understand the software’s full potential. Certification not only enhances skills but also builds credibility for construction professionals, especially when working with insurance companies.
2. Software Customization
Once trained, users are capable to customize their cost estimates according to their project requirements. This includes setting up the price lists, arranging the database according to the regional codes and regulations, and trade-specific requirements. Customization is the primary factor to ensure the accuracy and precision of cost estimates.
3. Integration with Other Tools
Xactimate can integrate with other project management software like QuickBooks and ProEst. This enables the users to share all the data on one platform, which can be tracked easily, thus improving the efficiency of the overall project. Construction professionals can benefit from this by unifying all the features in one platform.
Conclusion
In the construction industry, accuracy and precision hold prime importance. Here, Xactimate construction estimating software has proven valuable as a powerful tool for construction contractors, estimators, and insurance companies. It’s a powerful combination of software customization, accuracy, cost control, and integration with other tools, making it a comprehensive solution for all construction professionals. At Total Scope Estimating, we provide Xactimate solutions tailored to your project requirements.
