Why Your Roofing Contractor’s Xactimate Expertise Could Be Worth Thousands to Your Insurance Claim
Most homeowners have never heard of Xactimate — but it’s the single most important piece of software standing between you and a fully covered roof replacement.
By Alex Hostetler · Hiring & Trust Hub · Serving Franklin, Brentwood, Spring Hill & Middle Tennessee
Quick Answer
Xactimate is the industry-standard claims estimating software used by nearly every major insurance carrier. A roofing contractor with Xactimate Level 2 Certification can write line-item estimates in the same language your insurance company speaks — identifying missed items, filing proper supplements, and maximizing your claim settlement. Most adjusters and most roofers are not formally certified.
TL;DR
Part of Roof University: Trust, Hiring & Contractor Guidance
What Is Xactimate — And Why Should Homeowners Care?
Xactimate is a property claims estimating software developed by Xactware, a subsidiary of Verisk Analytics. It is the undisputed industry standard for writing, reviewing, and settling property insurance claims in the United States. When a hail storm rolls through Williamson County and a homeowner files a roof damage claim, the estimate that determines how much the insurance company pays is almost certainly written in Xactimate.
This isn’t optional software. Xactimate is used to process the vast majority of all property insurance claims in the country. Every major carrier — State Farm, Allstate, USAA, Nationwide, Liberty Mutual, Farmers, Tennessee Farmers Insurance, Erie — relies on Xactimate as the backbone of their claims estimating process. The software contains localized pricing databases updated monthly that reflect current labor rates, material costs, and line-item pricing for every zip code in America.
Here’s why this matters to a homeowner sitting at their kitchen table after a storm: the accuracy of the Xactimate estimate written on your roof directly determines how much money your insurance company will pay. If the estimate is incomplete, if line items are missed, if the scope of work is undervalued — you, the homeowner, pay the difference out of pocket. Or worse, the claim is denied altogether.
And here’s the part that should concern every homeowner in Middle Tennessee: the person writing that estimate — your insurance adjuster — may not be formally trained or certified in the software they’re using to price your roof.
How Xactimate Actually Works
Xactimate operates on a line-item estimating system. Rather than a contractor giving you a lump-sum bid, Xactimate breaks a roof replacement into dozens of individual components, each with its own pricing code, unit of measurement, and localized cost. A properly written Xactimate roof estimate might include 40 to 80 individual line items — and every single one represents money the homeowner is entitled to under their policy.
The software pulls from Xactimate price lists — regional databases maintained by Verisk that reflect current market pricing. These price lists are updated regularly and factor in local labor rates, material supply costs, and regional market conditions. An estimate written using outdated price lists or incorrect regional settings can undervalue a claim by hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Xactimate also uses a standardized format and coding language. When an adjuster writes a line item for “Remove and replace asphalt shingles — per square,” they’re using a specific Xactimate code that maps to a specific price in the database. A roofing contractor who understands these codes can review an adjuster’s estimate line by line and immediately identify what’s been included, what’s been left out, and what’s been undervalued. A contractor who doesn’t understand Xactimate is essentially reviewing a document written in a language they can’t read.
Xactimate Certification Levels — And Why Level 2 Matters
Xactware offers a formal certification program with multiple levels that validate a professional’s proficiency with the software. These certifications require coursework, testing, and demonstrated competency.
Xactimate Level 1 Certification
Covers the fundamentals — basic navigation, creating simple estimates, understanding the interface, and working with common line items. A Level 1 user can generate a basic estimate but may not have the depth to identify complex scoping issues.
Xactimate Level 2 Certification
Where the real proficiency begins. A Level 2 Certified professional has demonstrated advanced knowledge including complex roof scoping, proper use of line-item categories, overhead and profit calculations, accurate waste factors, code upgrade documentation, and the ability to write supplement requests that stand up to carrier review.
Xactimate Level 3 Certification
Expert-level mastery, including advanced macro functionality, custom template creation, and the ability to train others on the platform.
Red Rover Roofing owner Alex Hostetler holds an Xactimate Level 2 Certification — a credential that very few roofing contractors in Middle Tennessee can claim. This means that when Alex inspects a roof in Franklin, Brentwood, Spring Hill, or Thompson’s Station, he writes a complete, line-item Xactimate estimate using the same software, the same coding language, and the same pricing databases that the insurance company’s adjuster will use.
“This isn’t a small detail. This is the difference between a claim that gets approved at full value and a claim that gets shortchanged by thousands of dollars.”
The Uncomfortable Truth: Most Insurance Adjusters Aren’t Xactimate Certified
Insurance adjusters are required to hold an adjuster license in the state where they work. In Tennessee, this involves passing a state licensing exam that covers insurance law, policy interpretation, and claims handling procedures. What it does not require is formal Xactimate certification.
Many adjusters learn the software on the job through informal training, peer mentoring, or abbreviated carrier-specific onboarding programs. This creates a structural problem: the software that determines how much money a homeowner receives is incredibly powerful and detailed — but if the person operating it doesn’t fully understand its capabilities, the resulting estimate will almost certainly leave money on the table.
Roofing industry professionals estimate that supplemental claims are filed on a large portion of storm damage claims. Many of these supplements are approved, which means the money was owed to the homeowner all along — it was simply missed during the initial estimate.
What About Symbility? Understanding Both Claims Platforms
While Xactimate dominates, Symbility (now CoreLogic Claims Connect) is the second most widely used claims estimating platform. It operates as a cloud-based platform with many of the same core functions — line-item estimating, localized pricing, photo integration, and standardized reporting.
The majority of large national carriers primarily use Xactimate, but some regional carriers and certain national carriers have adopted Symbility. For a homeowner in Middle Tennessee, this means the platform your insurance company uses could be either — and your roofing contractor needs to understand the difference.
A contractor who only understands one platform — or neither — is at a significant disadvantage when advocating for your claim. Alex Hostetler’s Xactimate Level 2 Certification reflects a deep understanding of the entire property claims estimating ecosystem, including how estimates interact with carriers that may use competing platforms.
The Line Items That Get Missed — And What They Cost You
One of the most tangible ways Xactimate expertise protects homeowners is in identifying line items commonly missed or undervalued. These aren’t obscure technicalities — they’re standard components of a proper roof replacement with real dollar amounts.
Every one of these items has a specific Xactimate code and a corresponding price in the localized database. An estimator who knows these codes writes a comprehensive estimate that captures the full scope. An estimator who doesn’t may produce an estimate that looks complete but leaves legitimate coverage on the table.
The Supplemental Claims Process — Where Xactimate Expertise Pays for Itself
Even when an adjuster produces an initial estimate, the claims process isn’t necessarily over. A supplemental claim is a formal request to add line items or adjust pricing on the existing claim. Supplements are normal and expected — they exist because no single inspection catches everything.
However, a supplemental claim has to be written properly to be approved. It needs photo documentation, code references, and Xactimate formatting. A contractor without Xactimate proficiency cannot write a supplement that a carrier will take seriously.
Red Rover Roofing files supplemental claims on behalf of homeowners when the initial estimate doesn’t capture the full scope. Alex writes these supplements in Xactimate using the same codes and pricing databases the carrier uses, supporting each line item with photo documentation and code references. This process has recovered thousands of additional dollars in claim value for homeowners across Franklin, Brentwood, Spring Hill, Thompson’s Station, and throughout Williamson County.
What to Ask Your Roofing Contractor About Xactimate Before You Hire Them
1. “Are you Xactimate certified? If so, what level?”
The most direct question you can ask. A contractor who is formally certified has demonstrated tested proficiency.
2. “Will you write your own Xactimate estimate for my roof?”
A contractor who writes a parallel estimate can compare their scope to the adjuster’s line by line — the most effective way to identify missed items.
3. “Will you meet with my adjuster during the inspection?”
A contractor present during the adjuster visit can discuss line items in real time and ensure accurate scope from the start. Red Rover Roofing makes this standard practice.
4. “Do you handle supplemental claims?”
If the initial estimate is short, you need a contractor who can file a proper supplement in Xactimate format.
5. “Do you know which platform my insurance company uses?”
Whether your carrier uses Xactimate or Symbility, your contractor should be familiar with the process.
If a contractor can’t answer these questions confidently — or if they’ve never heard of Xactimate — that’s a serious red flag on a storm damage claim. It doesn’t mean they’re a bad roofer. It means they’re not equipped to advocate for your financial interests in the insurance process.
Why This Matters in Middle Tennessee Right Now
Williamson County and surrounding Middle Tennessee communities — Franklin, Brentwood, Spring Hill, Thompson’s Station, Nolensville, Murfreesboro — sit in one of the most active severe weather corridors in the Southeast. Hail storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes are seasonal realities.
After every major storm event, neighborhoods like Tollgate Village and Bridgemore Village in Thompson’s Station, Westhaven and Fieldstone Farms in Franklin, and subdivisions across Brentwood are inundated with roofing companies — many from out of state. These storm chasers may promise to “handle everything with insurance,” but when it comes time to write the Xactimate estimate and file a supplement, many lack the expertise to deliver.
Red Rover Roofing was built on this principle. Alex Hostetler spent nearly a decade in the roofing industry — beginning in Houston, one of the most storm-active markets in the country — learning storm restoration, roofing systems, and insurance claims. His Xactimate Level 2 Certification, combined with his CertainTeed Master Shingle Applicator certification and Tennessee Home Improvement License #12890, represents a rare combination of installation quality and claims expertise.
The Bottom Line
Xactimate isn’t just software. It’s the language your insurance company speaks when it decides how much your roof claim is worth. A roofing contractor who is fluent in that language — who holds formal certification, writes line-item estimates in the same platform, meets with adjusters as an equal, and files supplements that stand up to carrier review — is protecting your financial interests in a way that a contractor without this expertise simply cannot.
Most insurance adjusters aren’t formally Xactimate certified. Most roofing contractors aren’t either. And when both sides of the process lack deep expertise with the tool that determines the outcome, the homeowner is the one who pays the difference.
Red Rover Roofing exists to make sure that doesn’t happen to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Red Rover Roofing is a licensed, insured, and certified roofing contractor serving Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, Spring Hill, Thompson’s Station, Leiper’s Fork, and surrounding Middle Tennessee communities. Tennessee Home Improvement License #12890 | Xactimate Level 2 Certified | CertainTeed Master Shingle Applicator.