Xactimate
The estimating software the property insurance industry has effectively standardized on for writing a [[concept-scope-of-loss|scope of loss]], a shared price list and line-item structure that lets adjusters, public adjusters, and contractors all produce estimates that can actually be compared against each other, even though no regulation requires using it specifically.
Why it matters
Because nearly every party in a claim uses the same software and the same underlying price list, a dispute over an estimate usually comes down to specific line items or quantities rather than two completely incompatible formats: that shared structure is what makes negotiation between competing estimates possible at all.
On a real project
An insurance adjuster and a public adjuster each write their own estimate for the same water-damaged room using Xactimate, and because both estimates use the same line-item codes and regional pricing, the two sides can identify and negotiate their specific disagreements rather than reconciling entirely different formats.
Who this matters most to
An Insurance Adjuster and an Insurance Restoration Estimator both rely on Xactimate proficiency as close to a practical job requirement, even though no state license mandates the specific software.
Where this goes wrong
A contractor unfamiliar with Xactimate submits a repair estimate in a homemade spreadsheet format instead. The insurer's adjuster can't easily map the contractor's line items to Xactimate's standard categories, and the mismatch slows down negotiation considerably compared to a claim where both sides start from the same estimating structure.