--- title: What's in a repair estimate description: The parts of an insurance repair estimate (RCV, ACV, depreciation, O&P) and why two estimates for the same damage can differ. --- [Skip to content](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/help/whats-in-a-repair-estimate#main-content) [Customer portal](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/client-portal?hsLang=en) [![Phantom Consulting Services](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/hs-fs/hubfs/phantom-logo-header-320w-1.png?width=100&height=60&name=phantom-logo-header-320w-1.png)](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/?hsLang=en) - Services Show submenu for Services - [All Services](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services) - [Xactimate Estimating & Supplements](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/xactimate-estimating) - [Construction Estimating](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/construction-estimating) - [Bid Management](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/bid-management) - [Billing & Collections](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/billing-collections) - [Job Costing](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/job-costing) - [Project Administration](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/project-administration) - [Contractor Claims Consulting](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/contractor-claims-consulting) - [Owner Claims Consulting](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/owner-claims-consulting) - [Matterport 3D Scanning & As-Builts](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/matterport-3d-scanning) - [Moisture Mapping & Documentation](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/moisture-mapping) - [Reports](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/reports) - [Sales & Marketing](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/sales-marketing) - [Process Automation](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/process-automation) - [Who We Help](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/who-we-help) - [About](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/about) - [Contact](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/contact) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Services Show submenu for Services - [All Services](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services) - [Xactimate Estimating & Supplements](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/xactimate-estimating) - [Construction Estimating](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/construction-estimating) - [Bid Management](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/bid-management) - [Billing & Collections](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/billing-collections) - [Job Costing](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/job-costing) - [Project Administration](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/project-administration) - [Contractor Claims Consulting](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/contractor-claims-consulting) - [Owner Claims Consulting](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/owner-claims-consulting) - [Matterport 3D Scanning & As-Builts](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/matterport-3d-scanning) - [Moisture Mapping & Documentation](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/moisture-mapping) - [Reports](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/reports) - [Sales & Marketing](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/sales-marketing) - [Process Automation](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/services/process-automation) - [Who We Help](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/who-we-help) - [About](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/about) - [Contact](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/contact) - [Customer portal](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/client-portal) - [Get Started](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/get-started) [Get Started](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/get-started?hsLang=en) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Phantom Help Center](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/help?hsLang=en) 2. [For Property Owners](https://www.phantomconsultingservices.com/help/for-property-owners?hsLang=en) # What's in a repair estimate ## How to read an Xactimate estimate and compare two estimates line by line Most insurance repair estimates are written in Xactimate, the estimating software most carriers and contractors use. Once you know the parts, you can compare two estimates line by line instead of just comparing totals. | Part of the estimate | What it shows | What to check | | --- | --- | --- | | Rooms and measurements | Each room's size, ceiling height and affected areas | Are all damaged rooms listed? Do the sizes match the property? | | Line items | Each task, such as "remove drywall" or "paint walls, 2 coats", with a quantity and unit | Is anything missing, like baseboards, insulation, texture or cleaning? | | Price list | The local pricing used, by region and month | Is it the price list for your area and the current period? | | Replacement cost (RCV) | The cost to repair or replace with like kind and quality | Is it based on what's actually in your home? | | Depreciation | The reduction for age and wear | Is it recoverable after repairs? See your policy. | | Actual cash value (ACV) | RCV minus depreciation; often the first payment | Does the math add up? | | Overhead and profit (O&P) | The general contractor's costs when several trades are involved | Was it included when several trades are needed? | | Deductible | Your share, subtracted from the payment | Is the right deductible applied? | **Why two estimates differ** - One estimate missed rooms, items or hidden damage. - They used different price lists or dates. - They describe the same repair in different ways. - Damage found during repairs wasn't in the first estimate. That gets sent to the carrier as a **supplement**, with photos. **How to compare.** Put the two estimates side by side, room by room. Circle anything that appears in one but not the other, and ask the person who wrote each estimate to explain the difference. Our team writes detailed Xactimate estimates and supplements for contractors and property owners, with photos for every line item that needs one. *This article is general information, not legal advice. Your policy and your situation control. 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