Using Bing Maps to Sketch Xactimate Roofs

Roof Sketching Tutorial: Mastering Xactimate with Bing Maps

Hey everyone! Today, let’s dive into how to sketch roofs using Bing Maps in Xactimate. This is super helpful when working with Hover or Eagle View reports that might not include a roof sketch or all the details you need. Bing Maps is a favorite for many, particularly for its accuracy in new developments or homes not yet on Google Maps.

Here’s how to do it:

Starting a New Project:

1. Open Xactimate and start a new project. Name it something like “Bing.”
2. Skip the claim info and jump straight to the estimate section.

Sketching the Roof in Xactimate:

• Follow the usual steps to sketch the roof in Xactimate.
• If we’re doing a hip roof for this example, clean up any extra numbers on the label.

Switching to Bing Maps:

• Open Bing Maps and put in the address.
• Change to satellite view to see the house in detail.

Measuring with Bing:

• Right-click in Bing Maps to use the measure distance tool.
• Carefully measure each roof section for accuracy.

Transferring Measurements to Xactimate:

• Enter your measurements into Xactimate, tweaking the sketch as needed.
• Take note of any differences between Google and Bing measurements.

Detailed Sketching:

• Keep measuring and drawing even complex roof parts, aiming for precision.
• Use the break and control functions in Xactimate for a more accurate sketch.

Flat Roof Tips:

• Identify and sketch any flat roof areas, making adjustments as necessary.
• Use the zero slope setting in Xactimate for true accuracy.

Checking in 3D Mode:

• Switch to 3D mode in Xactimate to give your sketch a visual check.
• Make sure the flat roof sits right to avoid any estimate errors.

Finalizing Your Sketch:

• Double-check your sketch and measurements for accuracy.
• A concise, accurate sketch is key for precise estimating.

Wrapping Up:

• Bing Maps is just as useful as Google Maps for roof measurements.
• Now you’re set for the next steps in Xactimate.

I hope this tutorial helps! Explore Xactimate with Bing Maps for spot-on roof measurements. Have a great day! Bye!