If you are considering the path of independent insurance adjusting, you will come across the Xactimate technology sooner or later. But do you really need it? Do you need training for it?
The short answer is, yes, you need to know Xactimate. Here’s why:
I wouldn’t wish my first deployment on my worst enemy.
I landed in the aftermath of a category 4 hurricane, was handed a stack of claims and told to install “Xactimate,” and that’s basically it. (Xactimate is the most popular estimating software for claims.)
My new storm manager chuckled and, with a twinkle in his eye, said, “Good luck” as he pushed me out the door. He didn’t expect me to make it. Thankfully, I did make it…partly due to pride, partly due to financial desperation…but I made it.
Everything about my initial deployment was tough. First deployments usually are…especially CAT deployments. But out of all the challenges I faced, the biggest was getting a handle on Xactimate. It took me a solid week to write and submit my first Xactimate report. (I’m not joking!) I was warned that it would likely be ‘kicked back’ for revisions, and indeed it was. But after that week of hell, the requested changes seemed minor. I did my next claim faster, the third more so, and after a month, I was on a roll. I made it over the hump.
Sadly, many new adjusters do not.
My storm manager later told me that he rarely fires anyone; however, tons of new adjusters basically fire themselves. They arrive en masse, eager and ready to go. But by storm’s end, too many leave with their tail between their legs, having jumped in with little to no preparation. Far too quickly, many new folks start falling behind, in part because they aren’t able to use the estimating software efficiently. Before long, they’re overworked, overwhelmed, overwrought, and unable to get their heads back above water.
Now that I’ve been training adjusters for over 20 years, I’m amazed I actually survived jumping into a catastrophe deployment without any Xactimate training or experience. I’ve instructed on many important aspects of adjusting, but by far, Xactimate is the largest and most difficult technical hurdle for new claims adjusters.
On the other hand, once you really master Xactimate, it becomes one of your most powerful advantages, allowing you to close more claims accurately and with greater ease and less stress. And to earn money, you need to close the claims. It’s as simple as that.
Why is Xactimate Proficiency Necessary For Insurance Adjusters?
“So,” you ask, “what’s the deal here? Is learning Xactimate worth the energy and investment?” I liken it to baseball; having a bat doesn’t mean you’ll be a good ball player. But without one, you can be sure you’re not even going to play. Similarly, you’ll need to master many skills, but if you don’t have your license and Xactimate proficiency, you’re not even in the game yet.
If you’re middle-aged or above (like me), mastering new, complex computer programs like Xactimate can feel daunting, and potentially even paralyzing. The good news is that anyone can master Xactimate. I know because I’ve watched it happen. I’ve witnessed great success in some of my most unlikely students.
When I trained Debbie, she was in her late 50’s. She noticed that, in our class, the younger folks seemed to “get it” twice as fast. Her resolution? Work twice as hard! Early in her adjusting career, coworkers teased her about the late-night practice, but her work paid off in spades. The last time I talked to her, she called me looking to hire good candidates to work for her. She had founded her own claims company, working directly for an insurance carrier who was sending her all of its large loss claims business.
So how exactly does one master Xactimate? I recommend two things: good training and lots of practice.
What Does Excellent Xactimate Training Look Like?
I divide good Xactimate training into two basic categories: technical and practical. I do think you need a good dose of both. Technical training is easy to find. Practical training (and good practical training), on the other hand, is tougher to come across.
Technical training is geared toward understanding and mastering the program’s intricacies, including all the small details. Which button does what? How do I load this image? Where can you find x, y, or z? The problem I’ve seen in my decade of training is that folks who’ve only received technical training aren’t prepared to hit the ground running in a deployment. They lack the practical, or what we call tactical, training. In other words, they know the buttons but don’t know how to scope, estimate, or close an actual claim.
Or, like me on my first deployment, they can close a claim, but it takes them forever. So while veterans and adjusters who understand XM8 are closing 2-5 claims a day, they’ve only closed one claim in 3 days. This is not only frustrating for the storm manager, the adjuster is leaving SO MUCH money on the table.
Practical training, on the other hand, is geared towards working. I’m talking about closing claims, getting the job done, and making your deployments really count. Like technical training, good practical training should and will prepare you to pass Xactimate certification tests, but practical training does more. It truly teaches you how to use the software in actual, applicable work situations. In our business, that’s claims.
Remember that the ultimate goal here is making money and adjusters do that by efficiently and correctly closing claims. Our Tactical Xactimate Training is designed to prepare you to use Xactimate effectively in an insurance claim scenario.
What Should You Look for in Your Xactimate Training?
Not all Xactimate training is created equal, and if you’re an insurance adjuster, that matters more than most people realize.
Xactimate is used by a wide range of professionals: builders, roofers, contractors, estimators, and adjusters. But each role uses the software differently. Training built for construction teams, for example, might not cover what you actually need to estimate a claim correctly.
That’s why it’s important to look for a course designed specifically for adjusters. At AdjusterPro, our 3-day live webinar is taught by a certified Xactimate trainer who also works as a field adjuster. That combination matters: it means the instruction is grounded in the real-world scenarios you’re likely to face.
It’s also worth noting:
- The training is live, so you can ask questions as you go.
- It prepares you for both Level I and Level II Xactimate Certifications.
- It’s focused on the tools and workflows adjusters actually use day to day, not just what’s available in the software.
No matter where you train, be sure to ask: “Was this designed for someone in my role, or for someone else?”
When Should You Start Learning Xactimate? Practice, Practice, Practice
If you’re wondering when to start learning Xactimate, the answer is simple: start as soon as possible. Waiting until deployment to get comfortable with the software puts your success (and your paycheck) at risk.
Remember, the problem most new adjusters face isn’t a lack of opportunity; it’s a lack of preparation. Without enough practice ahead of time, you risk losing money, frustrating your employer, and delaying your own growth. The most successful students I’ve seen practice and learn continuously. Plus, Xactimate is constantly being improved upon and upgraded, so even those with experience need to stay on top of changes.
Ready to find a course? Students in our webinar class will be given Xactimate access through AdjusterPro’s private training portal. After purchasing the class, you’ll receive detailed setup instructions so you’ll be ready to go when the live webinar starts.
Still have questions? Gathering your information? We get it. At AdjusterPro, we’ve helped thousands of prospective adjusters succeed by preparing them for real-world readiness before they ever deploy. Even if we aren’t the right provider for you, we are happy to answer questions and help point you in the right direction for your own goals.
Please reach out if we can be of assistance.
