July 13, 2026 · ACI Adjustment Group
After an inspection, your insurer sends an estimate: a line-by-line breakdown of the repairs it will pay for and the amounts. It is the single most important document in your claim, and it is also dense, full of abbreviations, and easy to skim. Learning to read it is how policyholders catch the gaps that lead to an underpaid settlement.
The parts of an estimate
Most estimates list each repair as a line item with a quantity and a unit price. A few terms are worth knowing: Replacement Cost Value (RCV) is what it costs to repair or replace today; Actual Cash Value (ACV) is RCV minus depreciation for age and wear; and your deductible is subtracted from what is paid. Many policies pay ACV first and release the withheld depreciation once repairs are completed — that withheld amount is called recoverable depreciation.
Check the scope first
Read the estimate against the actual damage room by room. Is every damaged area included? Are the quantities right — the full square footage, not a fraction? Is the quality or grade of materials a fair match for what you had? Scope gaps are the most common reason an estimate falls short of the real cost of repair.
Watch for matching and missing items
Two things are frequently left out. Matching: when a damaged material is discontinued, a partial repair can leave a visible mismatch, and your policy may address how that is handled. And downstream damage: interior damage that followed water, smoke, or a roof failure sometimes never makes it onto the estimate at all. Both are worth checking for line by line.
Red flags and getting help
Be cautious when an estimate patches rather than replaces, omits areas you know were damaged, applies heavy depreciation, or simply does not add up to a repair a contractor would actually perform. If the numbers do not reflect the work, you do not have to treat them as final. A licensed Pennsylvania public adjuster can prepare an independent, line-by-line estimate and negotiate the difference. ACI Adjustment Group reviews where your claim stands at no cost.