Your estimating team isn’t the bottleneck. The incomplete documentation creating rework is the bottleneck.
I’ve trained estimators for 15 years. Because of that, I know exactly where estimates stall: missing measurements, unclear damage scope, and photos that don’t answer the adjuster’s next question.
When initial documentation is incomplete, someone has to go back. That return visit delays the estimate. As a result, the estimate delay pushes back adjuster approval. Then, approval delay means payment delay. One gap creates a chain reaction. Nelson also discussed how remote estimating can improve efficiency in Rethinking Estimating in Restoration.
If 30 out of 100 jobs need follow-up visits, your capacity problem isn’t staffing. It’s process.
Complete initial documentation eliminates the revision cycle. Field teams capture accurate measurements, clear photos, and full damage scope on day one. As a result, estimates get written fast. Adjusters approve without asking for more. Payment happens without delays.
Hiring more estimators won’t fix a documentation problem. You’ll just have more people managing the same backlog.
In short, capacity is about how many jobs move through without stopping. Documentation that answers questions before they’re asked creates real throughput. For more on this topic, visit DocuSketch to see how technology supports better field documentation.
Nelson Higgins
Nelson is the Vice President, North America at DocuSketch. Prior to DocuSketch, Nelson was the founder and COO of XTR Consulting Inc. His home base is in Halifax, NS, Canada, but he covers projects throughout North America. He currently holds an XCT (Xactimate Certified Trainer) certificate and has held this designation for over 10 years. With more than 35 years of experience in the insurance industry from both the contractor and adjuster perspectives. He is experienced in all aspects of scoping and estimating property damages of residential and commercial buildings and has been involved in completing estimates and projects of all sizes through completion. He has gained a vast amount of knowledge on leveraging new technologies to help clients with in-depth documentation and the cycle of a claim.
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