Estimating is an art. It is not an exact science. These were two of the first truths I learned about estimating over thirty years ago. They still hold true today.

Although it is a fact most estimators and insurance adjusters no longer hand write labor and material take-offs, the computerized estimates they produce must still tell the story of the loss. Like any good Hollywood screenwriter, a restoration contractor must follow specific rules of structure when writing professional repair estimates. An estimate without such structure is doomed to failure and leaves its audience confused and wanting to know where their money went!