Why Both the Contractor, Insured and Insurer Are All Protected by a 360 Scan
Captures a one‑time record of conditions
The most important step is to document the loss before anything is moved or removed; once items are gone they cannot be documented. A 3D scan captures every surface, dimension and object at the time of loss—something that cannot be reproduced later. Traditional photos rarely capture everything and often miss context or subtle damages.
Saves time and reduces risk
A 3D camera can automatically capture images, measurements and a comprehensive scan while limiting exposure to hazardous conditions. Pairing a 3D scan with TruePlan has been shown to increase productivity by 500% and cut the estimation process by 400%, saving more than $100,000 per estimator per year. These efficiencies free technicians for mitigation work—time that has value.
Creates a tamper‑resistant, litigation‑ready record
A digital twin provides high‑definition imagery and dimensionally accurate measurements, with time‑stamped capture. The file functions as an unbiased record of conditions at the time of loss, reducing disputes over sizes, moisture‑affected areas and contents.
Supports remote adjusting and shortens the claim cycle
Adjusters can walk the model remotely, which reduces travel and reinspections. Sharing models reduces inquiries and clarifies scope. Importing a TruePlan or schematic floor plan into Xactimate can reduce sketching time by up to 70% and speed cycle times materially.
Enables inventory and pre‑loss documentation
Scanning before mitigation, after demolition and at other milestones ensures hidden conditions are captured and verified. The model can confirm the size of destroyed items and document contents. Pre‑loss scans serve as a reconstruction roadmap.
Protection for Homeowners: Why a Scan Is Owed to the Insured
When a water‑loss occurs, crews of unfamiliar people may need to enter every part of a house to tear out wet materials and move contents. A comprehensive 360° scan taken at the outset protects the homeowner by documenting not only the extent of the loss but also the condition and placement of all belongings. This inventory acts as a safeguard against theft, scratches or other incidental damage while strangers are working in the home.
Most homeowners policies include Property Removed coverage, which insures personal property against direct loss from any cause while it is being removed from a premises endangered by a peril insured against. This coverage is all‑risk for up to 30 days while the property is removed and does not increase the policy limit.
During an emergency loss, policyholders are effectively required to admit crews of unfamiliar technicians into every room of the home with little or no notice. It is not realistic to vet each person’s references or employment history before work begins. In that brief window, the homeowner needs the strongest protection available. A baseline 360° scan taken before demolition or pack‑out documents the house and belongings as‑found, establishes a practical chain of custody for contents, and helps ensure the home and its contents are returned in the same condition at the end of the project. Insurers should proactively support—and when appropriate, request—this documentation so the insured’s loss and the pre‑intervention condition of belongings are preserved for everyone’s sake: the policyholder’s peace of mind, the contractor’s accountability, and the insurer’s evidentiary record.
This means the damage to a television, sofa, or other item that is dropped or scratched while being carried out of the dwelling to a safe area may be covered.
The digital twin provides indisputable evidence of the item’s existence and pre‑removal condition, helping the homeowner perfect a claim under the Property Removed coverage.
If a mitigation contractor’s negligence causes the damage, the insurer can pay the homeowner and then subrogate against the contractor. The scan therefore offers both evidence of the insured’s property and a pathway of recovery for the insurer.
Think of it not merely as a “virtual tour,” but as the modern equivalent of a moving company’s packing list plus photographs: movers document condition on pickup and delivery so the customer can verify that what leaves returns in the same condition. Likewise, a 360° scan gives the policyholder indispensable “before” documentation—baseline evidence created at the outset. Providing this level of documentation is part of performing mitigation in a workmanlike manner. Floor plans benefit the contractor, but the core value is the insured’s comprehensive inventory and condition record.
In practice, a water‑loss is an emergency: the policyholder is asked to allow a crew of complete strangers into private spaces immediately—without time to check references or employee records—and those workers must handle closets, bedrooms, garages and heirlooms on short notice. At that moment the insured needs the maximum protection. A 360° scan at arrival, with contents captured in situ, functions like a modern mover’s packing list plus photos: it establishes what was present, where it was, and its apparent condition before work begins. Insurers should be there to support and reimburse this baseline documentation so that the loss and the existing condition of belongings are recorded for everyone’s sake—the policyholder, the mitigation contractor, and the carrier.
Why Annotated Scans Justify Additional Billing
Not just labels
Annotations (MatterTags/field tags) embed photos, moisture readings, notes and links directly in the model. Tags can identify equipment, durations, moisture mapping and readings so stakeholders see what was used, where and for how long.
Requires expertise
Accurate tagging and notes require knowledge of drying standards, materials and mitigation practices. This work is performed by a senior water technician or supervisor, not low‑cost admin staff. The labor is separate from the scan capture.
Adds clarity for off‑site reviewers
Tags let adjusters jump directly to saturated drywall, damaged cabinets or unaffected rooms without hunting through hundreds of scan points. A well‑tagged tour functions as a guided review that speeds desk audits and supports line‑item estimates.
Additional add‑ons and deliverables
Schematic floor plans & TruePlan for Xactimate
Floor plans can be generated within hours. TruePlan produces an import‑ready sketch for Xactimate; pricing starts at $79. These reduce sketch time and improve accuracy.
Progress scans (pre‑mitigation, post‑demo, final)
Stage‑by‑stage scans document newly uncovered damages and verify that drying goals were met.
Contents inventory & pack‑out planning
The model shows the arrangement of furniture and equipment so crews can return items to their exact locations.
Remote visual inspections & field safety
Remote reviews allow faster approvals and reduce exposure to hazards. This requires investment in technology and trained staff.
360 Scanning Is Now an Xactimate Pricing Reality
(Why This Is Not a “Wrench” or “Tape Measure”)
When an Adjuster Says… “A 360 Scan Is Considered a Tool of the Trade”
No. In Xactimate, fundamental hand tools (a plumber’s wrench, a carpenter’s tape) are already captured inside the labor overhead that’s baked into unit prices. They are not billed separately because they are basic to performing the trade.
By contrast, a Matterport‑type 360° scan is an advanced, optional documentation service—not a hand tool. Xactimate recognizes this by providing explicit add‑on line items to bill it when used. If scanning were just a “toolbox” item like a wrench, there would be no separate line items for it.
1) Xactimate created dedicated scan/sketch fee line items
Xactimate includes FEE SCAN3D (for the capture) and FEE SKETCH (for the TruePlan sketch). These exist so professionals can bill for the scan and pass through the TruePlan cost when requested.
2) TruePlan has a published price
TruePlan orders start at $79 per model (size tiers apply). That is a discrete, external service—not embedded overhead.
3) Hand‑tools are already in labor overhead
Depreciation on basic tools lives inside labor overhead. A 3D scan is treated differently—it is separately billable.
What each Xactimate line item covers (short form)
| Line Item | What it’s for | What it covers (short) | Typical use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| FEE SCAN3D | Physical 3D scanning service | Travel; on‑site scan time; equipment use; processing & upload; subscription/admin | Bill technician labor to capture the model |
| FEE SKETCH | TruePlan conversion (import‑ready sketch) | Pass‑through of the $79+ TruePlan order; generated ESX/SKX for Xactimate | Recover cost of ordering the TruePlan import file |
“If it were included, why don’t carriers deduct when it isn’t done?”
Insurance carriers cannot automatically reduce unit pricing when a scan is not performed, because scans are not included in the unit cost in the first place. Nor can a carrier compel a non‑network contractor to provide an optional service simply because a referral‑program vendor chooses to bundle it at no charge.
Why this service benefits insurers (and should be paid)
Third‑party verification and trust
Insurers can rely on measurement accuracy, authentic imagery, and capture timestamps delivered by Matterport’s systems—data that is difficult to manipulate after the fact.
Optional service, extraordinary value
Vendors are not paid less for not scanning; yet when a loss occurs at 2 a.m., carriers rarely have a field team on site. A digital twin gives them remote access, 4K time‑stamped footage, and full‑scene context minutes after mitigation begins. Sharing a digital twin consistently reduces site visits, speeds sketching and estimating, and reduces disputes.
Value proposition
How much would an insurer pay to press a button and receive comprehensive, trusted documentation of loss conditions in near‑real‑time? Digital twins deliver that value at a modest cost—protecting the carrier’s interests with fewer re‑inspections, clearer scope and faster indemnity decisions.
Help us improve this argument
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