I really need to vent about a very annoying surprise that Xactimate hides in the program.
Let's say if you have a fountain that is cemented down or somehow fixed in place. Most adjusters would correctly consider that "other structures" kjust like a fence, a permanently installed basketball hoop, etc.
Watch out! If you choose the fountain line item, you will discover the hard way, after you print the estimate and check it, that Xactimate has decided you fountain is CONTENTS! and separated it out as a different part of the estimate.
Thanks, Xactimate, for trying to be the adjuster! Since there's no way to shove the fountain line item back in with the rest of the building property where it belongs I must resort to the tried and true software fudge- go to a known line item that is surely building property and overwrite the description.
Like an idiot I choose a masonry line item, never expecting that the pricing is so low compared to my fountain price, that the nice computer won't let me put in the depreciation.
Off I go to another line item, under "pools and spas".. Ahhh, that does the trick, I can override the description, its a property line item, and the price is high enogh that the program doesn't fight me when I enter the depreciation. Of course I have to enter the depreciation as a set dollar amount, otherwise Xactimate will apply a percentage to the material costs hidden inside the spa line item when I actually have a fountain line item that is 100% material. (In California we can only apply depreciation to material).
So finally I relax and print my estimate. But no, Xactimate pulls the same stunt with the labor I entered for installing the fountain.
After five tries I get it done.
Please Xactimate, if you have an item that is contents:
1) let us know. It is very frustrating to find out that the software considers the item to be contents AFTER the estimate is all done.
2) Or, let us choose whether we want the item considered as contents.
Some examples of "contents" that might be considered building property, depending on the policy and whether they are attached:
TVs, fountains, freestanding refridgerators, pictures screwed to the wall in a restaurant, etc etc.
Conversely there's probably some building property items that an adjuster might want to adjust as contents in certain situations. I could think of some examples.
Why can't we click the mouse to change items from contents to building or vice versa? Or can we already and I don't know how?