What pricing models do Xactimate estimating services use?
Short answer: Flat-rate tiers, percentage with a minimum, hourly, and paid-when-paid percentages are the most common.
| Model | How it works | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat rate / size tiers | A set price per estimate, often tiered by job size or complexity | Predictable budgeting on similar jobs | Small jobs can cost as much as mid-size ones; tier boundaries can be unclear |
| Percentage with a minimum | A percent of the estimate total, with a floor for small jobs | Fees that scale with job size | Check whether the percent is on the written, approved or paid amount |
| Hourly | Billed by estimator time | Unusual or consulting-style work | Hard to predict the final bill |
| Percentage of amount paid | A percent of what the carrier actually pays, often for billing or follow-up services | Aligning the fee with collections | Check what the percent is applied to and whether prior approvals are excluded |
| Subscription / retainer | A monthly fee for a volume of estimates | Steady, high-volume shops | You pay in slow months too |
What do published prices look like in 2026?
Short answer: Among the public pricing pages we reviewed in October 2026, flat-rate tiers ran from about $199 to $1,499 per estimate depending on size, and one percentage-based provider listed 1.5% with a $125 minimum.
Many providers don't publish pricing at all and quote per job. Always ask what the fee is applied to (written, approved or paid amount) and when you're billed.
What does Redefined Restoration charge?
Short answer: $150 or 1% of the approved estimate for estimating; the same on new money only for supplements; 3.5% of the final amount paid for claim support.
| Approved estimate | Redefined estimating fee |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $150 |
| $10,000 | $150 |
| $15,000 | $150 |
| $19,250 | $192.50 |
| $25,000 | $250 |
| $50,000 | $500 |
| $100,000 | $1,000 |
(Rows other than $10,000 and $19,250 are illustrative applications of the published formula.)
- Supplements: $150 or 1% of only the new money we add. A $4,000 increase costs $150; a $20,000 increase costs $200.
- Claim support: 3.5% of the final amount paid, minus the carrier's written baseline, invoiced only after you confirm payment arrived. $28,000 paid on a $30,000 invoice costs $980.
- Billing: estimating and supplements on the 14th and 28th of each month.
What questions should I ask before hiring an estimating service?
- Is the fee based on the written, approved or paid amount?
- Is there a minimum, and when does it apply?
- Can I remove items before approving, and does that lower the fee?
- How are supplements priced: on the whole estimate or only the added amount?
- When am I billed?
- Do I need my own Xactimate license or seat?
- Who writes the estimates, and what are their credentials?
- What's the typical turnaround?
- Are they acting as a public adjuster or negotiating on my behalf? (If so, check licensing rules in your state.)
Is the cheapest estimate the best deal?
Short answer: Not necessarily. A complete estimate that captures the work you did matters more than a few dollars in fees.
A lower fee on an estimate that misses line items costs you more than it saves. Look for experienced estimators, published pricing, and a review step before anything is final.