While it’s true that there are challenges faced in estimating the building and/or repair of high-end homes, the author’s comments regarding the Xactimate software require clarification.
Xactimate is an estimating “tool”. It provides the flexibility to allow users to either build and maintain their own set of prices and rates, or utilize a set of market rates which Xactware publishes on a regular basis.
While Xactware’s published price list contains thousands of line items, it is not intended to include every possible item which may be available for use in a building. Key point – Xactware’s price list contains many exterior door options from which to choose, but doesn’t include a 2 ¾” thick white oak door with side-lights and transom. Therefore it isn’t correct to state that “Xactimate prices this unit” when it clearly doesn’t price the unit. In cases such as this, estimators should add their own line item to the estimate.
As such, the statement that “when dealing with high end or unique materials Xactimate pricing is not always accurate” would be better clarified to say “when dealing with high end or unique materials, Xactware’s price list is not meant to every item for every situation”.
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While it’s true that there are challenges faced in estimating the building and/or repair of high-end homes, the author’s comments regarding the Xactimate software require clarification.
Xactimate is an estimating “tool”. It provides the flexibility to allow users to either build and maintain their own set of prices and rates, or utilize a set of market rates which Xactware publishes on a regular basis.
While Xactware’s published price list contains thousands of line items, it is not intended to include every possible item which may be available for use in a building. Key point – Xactware’s price list contains many exterior door options from which to choose, but doesn’t include a 2 ¾” thick white oak door with side-lights and transom. Therefore it isn’t correct to state that “Xactimate prices this unit” when it clearly doesn’t price the unit. In cases such as this, estimators should add their own line item to the estimate.
As such, the statement that “when dealing with high end or unique materials Xactimate pricing is not always accurate” would be better clarified to say “when dealing with high end or unique materials, Xactware’s price list is not meant to every item for every situation”.