ESTIMATE BETTER. GET PAID. STOP WINGING IT
Learn a field-tested approach to writing clean, detailed estimates that can be justified.
Who This Book Is For
If you're a contractor trying to break into insurance work or an estimator who got handed this role without much training — this book was written for you.
Most people in restoration estimating learned by piecing it together on their own. Watching someone else work. Making mistakes nobody warned them about. Missing line items, sending poorly packaged estimates, getting blindsided by payment conversations that should have happened on day one.
This book is what the training should have looked like.
What's Inside
Foundations of Restoration Estimating is a 127 page PDF that covers all three layers of becoming a competent estimator — the software, the craft, and the business side that most resources never touch.
Part 1 walks you through how the insurance process actually works, who the players are, and the mentality that separates estimators who struggle from ones who get paid consistently.
Part 2 covers everything that needs to happen before you open Xactimate — what information you need, how to scope a job correctly across both mitigation and repairs, and how to set up your file so every number in it is accurate from the start.
Part 3 gets into the software — sketching, line items, reading descriptions, building macros, F9 notes, photos, and reports. The technical execution that turns a scoped job into a professional document an adjuster can approve.
Part 4 is the business side. Sending estimates, handling pushback, supplements, change orders, and the payment process from agreed scope to final check — including the conversations most estimators aren't having with their customers but should be.
The appendix includes a sketch checklist, an estimate pre-submission checklist, and a full glossary of industry terms you can reference in the field.
What You'll Be Able to Do After Reading It
Write estimates that hold up under adjuster scrutiny. Scope jobs accurately across mitigation and repairs. Communicate professionally with adjusters and customers. Understand how insurance money actually moves from approval to your account. Build the systems that make you faster, more consistent, and harder to lowball.
Built From Real Experience
This isn't a certification manual or a policy document. Every chapter is grounded in real scenarios from thousands of claims across mitigation and repairs work — the mistakes, the wins, the adjuster conversations that went wrong and the ones that didn't.
If you apply what's here consistently you'll be ahead of most estimators working today.
$27 — Instant PDF Download
🧰 Xactimate Mitigation Macro Pack – MACRO-MIT-V1 | Water Mitigation Estimating Macros
Streamline your mitigation estimates and save hours on every job.
The Scopecraft Systems MACRO-MIT-V1 is a pre-built Xactimate macro designed for restoration and mitigation professionals who want cleaner, faster, and more consistent estimating.
Built by an active estimator in the industry, this macro covers the most common Category 1–3 water loss scenarios — from containment setup to HEPA cleaning, demo, drying equipment, and more — all neatly organized and ready to drop into your project.
🔹 What’s Included
Over 100+ line items organized by trade category
Coverage for General, Containment, PPE, Insulation, Drywall, Flooring, Tile, Cabinetry, Cleaning, HEPA, and Equipment
Category 3 (black water) versions included for relevant trades
Pre-loaded standard pricing and structure for faster setup
Clean, consistent format that mirrors real-world estimating flow
Built for use in Xactimate Desktop or Online
🔹 Perfect For
Mitigation contractors
Restoration estimators and project managers
Adjusters and independent estimators
New team members learning Xactimate
🔹 File Format
.ESX macro file for Xactimate
⚙️ How It Helps
Speeds up your estimating process
Reduces missed line items
Improves accuracy and consistency across your jobs
Great foundation to customize into your own system
Version: MACRO-MIT-V1
Developer: Scopecraft Systems
Release Date: November 2025
⚠️ Requires an active Xactimate license to use.
Legal Disclaimer & Copyright Notice
This document and its contents are the intellectual property of ScopeCraft Systems and are protected under U.S. copyright law. Unauthorized distribution, reproduction, modification, or resale of this material — in whole or in part — is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action.
This resource is licensed to the original purchaser for personal or internal business use.
Write faster, cleaner repair scopes — without missing key line items.
This macro pack includes a curated set of Xactimate repair macros built specifically for common structural repairs after water, mold, or demo jobs. Whether you're scoping drywall, baseboard, flooring, or light framing, these macros help you avoid guesswork, speed up estimate writing, and justify every cost.
What’s Inside:
Pre-built macros for drywall repair, texture blending, painting, and patchwork
Trim, baseboard, and casing replacement macros
Light framing and subfloor repair scopes
Built-in F9 notes based on industry standards
Fully editable .ESX files compatible with Xactimate desktop & online
Bonus Video - How to Import and Create Macros (MP4 file)
Perfect for PMs, estimators, and mitigation techs who need to hand off clean, complete scopes to repair crews or carriers.
✅ Reduce oversight.
✅ Scope faster.
✅ Justify every line.
NEW RESTORATION ESTIMATING FOUNDATIONS BOOK
Most estimators learn this job by piecing it together on their own — missing line items, sending poorly packaged estimates, getting blindsided by payment conversations that should have happened on day one. Foundations of Restoration Estimating covers the full picture across both mitigation and repairs — the software, the craft, and the business side of getting paid. Built from real experience on thousands of claims. This is the training that should have existed from the start.
GET YOUR FREE ESTIMATING JUMPSTART
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Get best practices on estimating ranging from rookie mistakes to how to layout your estimate
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A list of terms that are common in the restoration industry.
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A checklist you can utilize before submitting your estimate to help avoid forgetting important details.
QUIZ: IS THIS RIGHT FOR YOU?
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You’re a PM or estimator guessing your way through line items
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You waste hours building scopes from scratch
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Your new to estimating, and want to stop leaving money on the table
IF THESE ARE FAMILIAR, OUR SCOPE CRAFT ESTIMATING SYSTEMS IS MADE FOR YOU!
FAQs
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The free kit includes a 4-page Jumpstart to best estimating practices, a glossary of terms, and a estimating checklist you can utilize before submitting any estimate to ensure you aren’t missing important items.
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Yes — all macros come in .ESX format and are fully editable within Xactimate. You can adjust them to match your estimating style, carrier preferences, or company standards.
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The tools are built for common restoration scopes starting with repairs. If you write Xactimate estimates for insurance claims, these will apply directly to what you do. Just look at the label and descriptions of what the macro packs are for to ensure you are getting what you need.
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Default macros are generic and often outdated. These are tested on real claims, built around carrier expectations, and include F9 notes based on industry standards.
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Each download includes step-by-step instructions for importing the macros into your Xactimate desktop or online version. You’ll be up and running in just a few clicks.
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This book will be great for contractors or new estimators getting into the estimating (or planning to) who want to get ahead of the learning curve in front of them. This will help with the theories, practicality, software, communication, and many other topics with over 120 pages of content.