Damage Description Course | Scope to Estimate

A great damage description makes for stronger scopes and defensible estimates

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Damage descriptions tell the story

Let’s talk damage descriptions. They’re the foundation of the entire file—the tasks, the scope, the estimate, how fast and how much the insured gets paid—it all depends on what was documented on Day 1. You already understand the job, this is about getting that understanding into the file.

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Quick Poll

Before we get into it — what do you think actually moves an estimate the most?

How to create a damage description in Encircle

Open a General Note
Add title ‘Damage Description’
Record a video walkthrough

So we’re in the primary bedroom. Source of loss is gonna be this wall over here. What we have is we have the supply line that has become damaged in the wall, wet the carpet. As you can see, we got baseboard, drywall, and some contents. Scope of work, we’re gonna need to extract the carpet, lift the carpet out, potentially remove the padding. We’re also gonna have to detach the baseboards and manipulate this furniture. In the next room, we have a little bit of hardwood floor in the hallway, and it appears that the walls are wet as well. We’ll confirm that with a meter, but we’re definitely gonna have to utilize some drying for the floor, remove the baseboards, and also apply drying techniques there. It looks like we come into this patch. The oh, it looks like the other bedroom is affected. As we come into the bedroom, the carpet is is definitely wet. The padding is wet. We have some tile here that is still wet. We have drywall baseboards installed. Okay. Looks like we’re gonna have to detach the baseboards and do some additional drying there. I don’t think we’re gonna have to do any drywall removal whatsoever. It appears this is all good water that came from a supply line. We’ll confirm, but as of right now, no no other work. And then we still have the bathroom and yes. The bathroom is affected. In this room, we have a vinyl flooring, that is definitely affected. It looks like the yep. We got some damage on the vanity as well. So in here, no baseboard. So let’s go ahead and detach that vanity and that toilet and get this floor out of here for sure. There’s there’s gonna be some problems with that. And then we can set up containment basically at this area here for the entire opening. That’ll work for that.

What a description needs

A long description doesn’t mean it’s a good description. Watch the video and refresh yourself on the anatomy of a solid damage description that strengthens the scope and estimate.

See It Done Well

Same loss, two ways of writing it down.

Tap an option to see the fuller version.

Same loss. One tells the story, one doesn’t.

Job Narration Cue Cards

Here’s a quick cheat sheet for you to print out and keep in your pocket to make sure you’re getting all the details you and your estimator need.

Get Your Cue Cards

Why damage descriptions matter

Stronger file, as we’ve already said. But what does that mean? It means the estimator isn’t chasing you down for details, the adjuster is pushing back less, and it saves so much time and frustration for everyone.

Scenario

Learn more about getting the best damage descriptions

The Mit List | Ep. 3: David on Scoping as a Story

The narrative of the damage is what drives your estimate, your carrier conversation, and your communication with the insured, which translates to a faster payout.

Watch The Full Episode