Estimate Writing vs. Estimate Review: Which Service Does Your Job Need?

When contractors reach out to Mitchell Estimating Services, the first question is almost always the same: do you need a full estimate built, or do you need an existing estimate reviewed? These are two different problems, and they require two different services.

What Is Estimate Writing?

Estimate writing is the right service when no usable estimate exists yet. You have photos, scope notes, measurements, or field documentation — but you need someone to take that material and build a complete Xactimate estimate from it.

This is the service to choose when the job needs to be built from the ground up, when internal staff does not have time to write it, or when the draft that exists is too rough or incomplete to use.

What Is Estimate Review?

Estimate review is the right service when an estimate already exists but something feels off. The estimate may be too low, missing scope, or inconsistent with what was actually done on the job.

Estimate review focuses on evaluating the existing estimate against the documentation and field conditions. The goal is to identify what is missing, what is weak, and where the estimate may not reflect the actual loss.

How to Decide

Ask yourself one question: does an estimate already exist for this job?

• If no usable estimate exists → Estimate Writing
• If an estimate exists but needs a second opinion → Estimate Review
• If you need both → both services can be stacked

If you are still unsure, use the contact form and describe the situation. The right service path will be identified from there.