A Detailed Repair Estimate for Your Home Insurance Claim in Houston
Water damage, a storm or roof leak, or a fire — and now your insurance claim needs a repair estimate, or the adjuster’s estimate doesn’t look right. I’m Benny Mancillas. I come to your house, look at every damaged room in person and write a detailed, line-by-line repair estimate that you or your contractor can send to your insurance company.
When homeowners call me
Most people who call me have never needed an estimate like this before. Something happened to the house, there’s an insurance claim, and now somebody needs a written list of what has to be repaired and what it costs. That’s what I do. I’m an independent estimator in Houston, and I write detailed repair estimates for homes with:
- Water damage — a burst pipe, a leaking water heater, a washing machine or toilet line, a slab leak, or water that came in after a storm. See water damage estimates in Houston.
- Storm and roof damage — wind, hail, a tree on the roof, or a roof leak that got into the ceilings and walls. See storm and roof damage estimates.
- Fire and smoke damage — kitchen fires, smoke and soot through the house. See fire damage estimates.
- An adjuster’s estimate that looks too low — you got the insurance company’s estimate and it doesn’t seem to cover everything. See second-opinion estimates.
- Before you hire a contractor — you want your own estimate of the repair so you know what the job should include.
How it works
- Call or text me. Tell me what happened, when it happened and where the house is. Talking about your project is free. I’ll explain how pricing works before anything is booked.
- I come to your house. I walk through every damaged room in person. I measure, look at the materials and write down everything that has to be removed, protected, moved or put back to do the repair right — cabinets, appliances, flooring, baseboards, paint and more.
- I write the estimate. Every repair is listed line by line, room by room, with quantities and notes. 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.
- You decide how to use it. The estimate is yours. You or your contractor can send it to your insurance company with your claim, use it to compare against the adjuster’s estimate, or use it to plan the repairs.
What you get
A detailed repair estimate. A PDF that lists every repair, room by room, with measurements, quantities and notes — the kind of estimate you can hand to your insurance company or your contractor.
Labeled photos. Each photo is labeled with the room and what it shows, so every line of the estimate has something behind it.
A 3D scan of the house. A Matterport walkthrough that you, your contractor or anyone you share it with can look through later, even after the repairs start.
A floor plan with measurements. A sketch of the rooms showing the measurements used for the quantities.
A second opinion on the adjuster’s estimate
A lot of homeowners call after they get the insurance adjuster’s estimate. It’s hard to read, the total looks low, or it leaves out rooms or work you know is needed. In Houston, I don’t review someone else’s estimate from photos. I come out, document the house and write my own complete estimate, so you can compare the two room by room and see exactly where they’re different.
If you already have an estimate and only need the missing items written up, that’s my supplement writing and scope review service.
What I do, and what I don’t
I’m an independent estimator. I’m not a public adjuster, an insurance adjuster or an attorney. I don’t negotiate with your insurance company, talk to them for you or represent you on your claim. I don’t interpret your policy or tell you what you’re owed, and I can’t promise that an estimate will change what your insurance pays. I also don’t do the repairs or mitigation myself, so I’m not the one bidding on the job.
What I give you is a detailed, independent repair estimate with photos and a 3D scan behind it. You or your contractor decide how to use it. Questions about coverage or claim decisions belong with your insurance company or a licensed professional.
The software I use
I write every estimate in Xactimate, the same software insurance companies use to price repairs. That means your estimate uses the same kind of line items and pricing as the adjuster’s, so the two are easy to compare side by side. You don’t need to know anything about Xactimate to hire me — I’ll walk you through the estimate when it’s done. More about it on my Xactimate estimator Houston page.
Who I am
I’m Benny Mancillas. Before estimating, I spent ten years as a contractor in Houston repairing and remodeling damaged homes, many of them insurance jobs. I’ve written insurance repair estimates since 2020. When you call Chairman Estimating, you deal directly with me: I do the walkthrough and I write the estimate. Hablo español — lea esta página en español.
Pricing
All fees are explained on one page, and I’ll go over them with you before I come out, so there are no surprises. See pricing.
Where I work
Houston and the surrounding area, including Webster, Clear Lake, League City, Friendswood, Pearland, Pasadena, Baytown, La Porte, Deer Park, Seabrook, Kemah, Nassau Bay, Shoreacres, Morgan’s Point, Humble, Spring, The Woodlands, Cypress, Katy and Sugar Land. See the full service area. Visits are at your house; I don’t have an office for walk-in customers. Hours are Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM Central.
Common questions from homeowners
Do I need my own estimate for a home insurance claim?
Your insurance company will tell you what they need for your claim. Many homeowners want their own detailed repair estimate so they understand the repairs and have something to compare with the adjuster’s estimate. If you’re not sure, call me and tell me where your claim stands.
Can I send your estimate to my insurance company?
Yes. The estimate is yours. You or your contractor can submit it with your claim or use it however you choose. I don’t contact or negotiate with the insurance company for you.
Will your estimate get me a bigger insurance payment?
I can’t promise that, and I don’t try to. I document the damage and price the repair work. I don’t negotiate claims or influence coverage decisions, and the outcome of a claim isn’t something I control.
Can you give me an estimate from photos?
In Houston, every estimate starts with an on-site walkthrough. For jobs outside my area, I can write the estimate remotely from plans, photos, video or a Matterport scan. See remote Xactimate estimating.
Do I need a contractor to hire you?
No. Homeowners can hire me directly. I also work with contractors, roofers and restoration companies.
Do you do the repairs?
No. I don’t do repairs or mitigation (drying or demolition) myself; I work with contractors and crews you can hire directly. I document the house and write the estimate.
How much does an estimate cost?
The fee, any deposit and any travel fee are explained on the pricing page.
Do you speak Spanish?
Yes. I can handle the whole project in Spanish. Información en español.
Get an estimate for your insurance claim
Call or text Benny Mancillas at 346-680-8880, Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM Central. Tell me the address, what happened and where your claim stands, and have any photos or estimates you already have ready. You can also send an inquiry or request an on-site walkthrough. I’ll confirm I can get to your house and explain the next steps before anything is booked.