Outside Estimator for Houston Restoration Contractors, Roofers and Remodelers
You run the job; I write the estimate. I’m Benny Mancillas, an independent Xactimate estimator in Houston. Restoration and mitigation companies, roofers, remodelers and general contractors hire me to walk the property and write a detailed, insurance-ready repair estimate, with labeled photos and a Matterport scan behind every line.
Estimating help without hiring an in-house estimator
Writing a good repair estimate takes hours on site and more hours at the desk. When your crews are busy, or you don’t have someone on staff who writes in Xactimate, I can do that part of the job. I come to the property, document the damage and write the repair estimate. You stay focused on the work.
I spent ten years as a contractor in Houston before I started estimating, and I’ve written estimates in Xactimate since 2020. That background shapes how I write access, protection, detach and reset, and trade sequence, the details a crew needs to actually build what’s on paper.
Who I estimate for
Restoration and mitigation companies. Once the drying is done, the rebuild still has to be written. I write the repair side of water damage, fire and smoke and mold-related jobs, room by room.
Roofers. Wind and hail estimates with slope, waste, flashing, decking and code items written in, plus any interior damage that came with the roof leak. See storm and roof damage estimates.
Remodelers and general contractors. Insurance repair jobs need a line-item scope, not a lump-sum bid. I write the rebuild estimate so you and the property owner are looking at the same itemized scope.
What “insurance-ready” means here
I write every estimate in Xactimate, the same software insurance companies use to price repairs, so the format, line items and pricing are what the other side is used to reading. Each file includes:
- Xactimate estimate: an editable ESX file and a readable PDF, itemized room by room with quantities, units and notes.
- Labeled photos: named to the room and condition, so a line item can be traced back to what I saw.
- Matterport scan: a 3D capture of the property your office can walk through again while reviewing the scope.
- Property sketch: the room layout and measurements behind the quantities.
“Insurance-ready” describes the format and documentation. It isn’t a promise of approval or payment. I’m an independent estimator, not a public adjuster, insurance adjuster or attorney. I don’t contact or negotiate with insurance companies, and I don’t represent the property owner. You and the property owner decide how to use the estimate.
How it works
- Send the job. Call or text with the property address, the type of loss and where the job stands: still drying, opened up, or already being rebuilt. Share any photos, drying records or existing estimates.
- I walk the property. Every estimate starts on site. I measure, photograph and scan the affected areas and note what has to be protected, moved or detached to do the work.
- I write the estimate. Most estimates are completed within 3 business days after the on-site inspection, signed agreement and any deposit. Properties with extensive damage may require additional time.
- Revisions. Same-scope changes and carrier-requested clarifications are handled under the revision terms on the pricing page. My own errors, including incorrect quantities, are always corrected free.
Already have the carrier’s estimate?
If the job already has an insurance estimate and you’ve found damage or scope that isn’t in it, that’s supplement writing and scope review. I document the added items on site and write them in Xactimate with notes explaining each one.
Looking for a construction estimator near me?
I estimate repairs to existing homes and buildings after damage or a loss. I don’t do new-construction takeoffs or bid packages. If the building is already standing and something happened to it, that’s my work. More on my construction and repair estimator page.
Where I work
Houston and the surrounding metro, including Webster, Clear Lake, League City, Friendswood, Pearland, Pasadena, Baytown, La Porte, Deer Park, Seabrook, Kemah, Nassau Bay, Shoreacres, Morgan’s Point, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Katy, Cypress, Spring, The Woodlands and Humble. See the full service area. Visits take place at the property. Hours are Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM Central, and I speak Spanish, which helps on jobs with Spanish-speaking homeowners or crews. Información en español.
Pricing
Fees, travel and payment details are all on one page, so your office knows what to expect before I come out. See pricing.
Common questions
Do you do new-construction takeoffs or bids?
No. I estimate repairs to existing homes and buildings after damage or a loss, based on an on-site walkthrough. I don’t price new construction or additions.
Will you deal with the insurance company for us?
No. I’m an independent estimator, not a public adjuster. I don’t contact or negotiate with insurance companies or represent the property owner. You and the property owner decide how to use the estimate.
Do we get the ESX file?
Yes. You receive an editable ESX file and a readable PDF, plus labeled photos, the Matterport scan and the property sketch.
Can you write the estimate from our photos?
No. Every estimate starts with an on-site walkthrough. Your photos, drying records and existing estimates help me prepare, but they don’t replace the visit.
How fast is the turnaround?
Most estimates are completed within 3 business days after the on-site inspection, signed agreement and any deposit. Properties with extensive damage may require additional time.
What does it cost?
The fee, any deposit and any travel fee are explained on the How pricing works page.
Send me your next job
Call or text Benny Mancillas at 346-680-8880, Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM Central, with the property address, the type of loss and where the job stands. You can also send an inquiry. I’ll confirm the address is in my service area and walk you through the next steps before anything is scheduled.