Question 1

Why did you start The Estimate Company?

Accepted Answer

Seven years ago, we saw a shift coming to the industry where contractors were going to have the opportunity to capture more business through insurance repair relationships. We also saw a clear gap between what insurance companies were paying and what they should be paying. Legitimate items are left off estimates constantly: code upgrades, missing line items, manufacturer standards. We built a due-diligence process to comb through every estimate and include every line item that's warranted. Nothing more, nothing less. That's why our relationships with insurance companies are strong.

Question 2

What results have you achieved for contractors?

Accepted Answer

We have 4 contractors who, within 12 months of working with us, brought in an additional 6 figures of supplemental income that was previously left on the table.

Question 3

What makes you different from other supplement companies?

Accepted Answer

Multi-state adjuster licenses across SC, NC, GA, TX, and AL. Next-day turnaround. 20+ years of independent adjuster experience across 50+ carriers. When we write a supplement, it's written in the language adjusters accept, with F9 notes, photo documentation, and code citations on every line item. No fluff. No kitchen-sink padding. Just defensible, verifiable line items.

Question 4

I'm new to supplementing. What can you guarantee?

Accepted Answer

Send us an average of 2 insurance claims per week for one year, and we guarantee a minimum of six figures in additional profit margins. If we don't hit that goal, we'll write you a check for $5,000 at the end of 12 months. At our current rate, our fee is 15% of what we recover, which means for every dollar you pay us, you're getting more than 5x back. That's a 500%+ return on every supplemented claim.

Question 5

How does a roofing supplement company work?

Accepted Answer

We review the carrier's original estimate, identify every line item that's missing, underpaid, or inconsistent with local codes and manufacturer standards, then write a supplemental Xactimate estimate. We submit it directly to the desk adjuster with documentation (photos, code citations, manufacturer specs) and follow up 2-3x per week until it's resolved. You get paid more without doing the paperwork.

Question 6

What does a roofing supplement company charge?

Accepted Answer

We charge 15% of what we recover beyond the carrier's original payment. You pay nothing unless we get you more money. At that rate, for every dollar you pay us, you're getting more than 5x back, a 500%+ return.

Question 7

How long does a roof supplement take?

Accepted Answer

Most residential supplements are written and submitted same-day or next-day. Larger supplement and retail jobs may take 1-3 extra days; large commercial projects take longer, and we'll always tell you the realistic timeline upfront. Carrier response typically takes 1-3 weeks depending on the carrier and complexity. We follow up every 2-3 days. Most supplements are resolved within 2-4 weeks from submission.

Question 8

Is hiring a supplement company worth it?

Accepted Answer

At 15% contingency, yes. Almost always. On claims where the roof is already approved for full replacement, our own closed files show a median recovery of about $4,000, with half landing between roughly $1,800 and $9,500. Claims that start denied or repair-only run far higher. You pay the contingency only on what we actually recover, so the fee comes out of money you did not have before we wrote the file.

Question 9

What is a roof supplement?

Accepted Answer

A roof supplement is a formal request to an insurance carrier to revise their original estimate upward, adding line items they missed (starter strip, ice & water shield, drip edge, high-profile ridge cap, steep slope charges, etc.) or correcting underpaid quantities. It's submitted as a Xactimate estimate with supporting documentation.

Question 10

What line items do carriers most commonly miss?

Accepted Answer

Starter strip at eaves and rakes, ice & water shield, high-profile ridge cap, step flashing, drip edge replacement, dumpster/haul-away, steep slope labor surcharges, and renail sheathing when required by code. Individually they look small. On a full replacement they are the difference between an estimate that covers the job and one the contractor eats.

Question 11

Do you work with all insurance carriers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We've worked across 50+ carriers including State Farm, Allstate, USAA, Travelers, Nationwide, Farmers, Progressive, Liberty Mutual, and most regional carriers. Each carrier has different internal guidelines. We know them and write accordingly.

Question 12

Can you help if a claim was denied?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Denials are often overturnable. We review the denial reason, build a documented rebuttal with code citations and photo evidence, and submit a formal supplement or re-inspection request. We've overturned denied roof claims and converted partial payments to full approvals.

Question 13

What is Xactimate and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Xactimate is the industry-standard estimating software used by virtually every major insurance carrier. Supplements written in Xactimate are taken seriously by desk adjusters. We build every estimate natively in Xactimate. Not a spreadsheet, not a PDF, not a contractor invoice. That's why our supplements get approved.

Question 14

Do you work with contractors outside your licensed states?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We serve roofing contractors nationwide. Our adjuster licenses (SC, NC, GA, TX, AL) allow us to operate as licensed IAs in those states, but we write supplements and estimates for contractors in all 50 states. The license is about our credentials, not our coverage area.

Question 15

What is AccuLynx and can you work in it?

Accepted Answer

AccuLynx is a roofing-specific CRM used by many mid-to-large contractors to manage jobs, documents, and measurements. Yes. We can work directly inside your AccuLynx account using your existing templates and workflows. Most supplement companies can't do this. We can.

Question 16

How do I send you a file?

Accepted Answer

Email us the carrier's estimate (PDF), your EagleView or measurement report, any photos of missed damage, and a brief note on anything specific about the claim. That's it. We handle the rest, same-day or next-day for most residential jobs.

The Supplement Blog

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How Xactimate Supplementing Works: A Complete Guide for Roofing Contractors

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15 Hail Damage Supplement Line Items Carriers Almost Always Miss

Wind Damage Roofing Supplements: What Carriers Undervalue Every Time

Wind Damage Roofing Supplements: Every Line Item That Should Be on the Estimate

What to Send Your Supplement Company: A Roofing Contractor Checklist

Why the Carrier's First Estimate Is Almost Never the Final Number

How Long Does a Roofing Supplement Take? Next-Day, Not 3 Days or More

How Roofing Supplement Companies Charge (And Why Contingency Beats Flat Fee)

What to Look for in a Roofing Supplement Company Guarantee

Retail Estimate vs Insurance Estimate: What's the Difference?

17 Xactimate Line Items Every Roofing Supplement Should Account For

Xactimate Estimate vs Contractor Estimate: What's the Difference?

Can Someone Write Supplements Inside My AccuLynx?

Symbility vs Xactimate: What Contractors Need to Know

How to Bill Emergency Tarps Correctly in Xactimate

Tree Fell on Your Customer's Roof: What Gets Paid and What Doesn't

Commercial Roofing Supplements: Why They're Different and How to Maximize Them

How Roofing Contractors Maximize Insurance Payouts Without an Attorney