Scope of work

More estimating & workflow terms

• Scope agreement

  A written document confirming exactly what work was authorized and at what price, separate from the insurance estimate. It protects both sides when the carrier's approved scope and the contractor's work order differ. Sign it before starting, not after.

• Scope creep

  Work that grows beyond the approved estimate without a written change order or carrier approval. It is how contractors end up doing extra work they never get paid for. Every addition needs documentation and a signature before the work happens.

• Scope sheet

  The field document where an adjuster or contractor records what damage was found, what work is needed, and what materials it takes. It becomes the basis for the estimate the carrier writes. Compare it against your own measurements before you accept the number.

• Selector code

  The short code that names a specific line item inside its Xactimate category - you need both halves to identify the product, such as DRY WTRX, not WTRX alone. A right-sounding description on the wrong selector puts the wrong product at the wrong price, and it is a frequent cause of supplement disputes.

• Sketch

  The scaled drawing of the structure in Xactimate that generates measurements and quantities.

• Sketch (Xactimate)

  The drawing tool where you lay out the roof and building so the software calculates every measurement it uses. Errors in the sketch flow into every line item that depends on it. Pitch, valleys, and waste belong in the sketch, not in later guesswork.

Common questions