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John,

Since I am very familiar with your program, but have been required to use Xactimate 24  on my last assignment, let me add my two cents.

In my opinion, Xactimate's sketch does speed up the preparation of an Xactimate estimate most of the time.  It works just nifty as long as you don't try to do the diagram in a manner that sketch won't allow.  In a complete floorplan, for instance, the rooms need to be added in the proper order or it just won't let you put some rooms in.  I find sketch particularly unwieldy, however, for preparing roof diagrams.  The program seems to think it knows what the roof looks like better than I do.  It is just annoying for roof diagrams on complex roofs.  On a couple of roofs I just ignored sketch, hand drew the roof diagram and scanned it into my report.  Simsol's CAD is much more user friendly for roof diagrams.

Saying that sketch speeds up an Xactimate estimate, however, doesn't change the fact that I can complete an entire claim file in about 60% of the time by using Simsol. 

As far as accuracy, it is all a matter of how accurately one uses sketch.  It sometimes takes a little tweaking to get the sketch reflect the dimesions I want it to reflect.  Since I don't settle for inaccuracy, this sometimes slows down the process while I adjust the sketch until it's right.

With multi- rooms damaged on the interior, it works pretty good for me, and i am by no means a "pro" with sketch. Looks good and not to hard to use--you can click on the 3-d button and see if the layout you made is the same as the dwelling really is---peaked ceilings, vaulted ceilings--missing walls, windows and doors etc. It helps speed production  with the interior diagram//floor plan  for sure.

But on roofs---i guess i should go to a class or something, as i find that when "it" does the math--it gets close--but is off by a little every time.  Basic gables, hips etc are easy enough to draw, but again the math allways off by a little. On any real complex roof, i also have to draw it and scan it to.

Thanks for the comments.  From what was posted here and from the private emails I received adjusters are split 50/50 as far as liking or disliking the Sketch drawing tool.  Accurate drawings are always a great way to document a file and help claim examiners to see the loss from a visual perspective. 

Sketch does speed up the estimate but only if you really know how to do it.  A storm is not the place to learn sketch or be told you have to use it.  I've found that I can sketch about 90% of my roofs with extreme accuracy, even the newer multi-pitch cut-up roofs.  I tend to measure more details on the roof though to make sure my sketch is as accurate as possible.  Interiors are even easier to do.  Once everything is drawn out, the estimate is only a few clicks away with the correct macros.

The only thing I do not like about Sketch is that it prints the diagram too small on the page and multiple measurements in an area can print on top of each other or are not readable.

I consider myself proficient in X8 as well as Simsol having used both for several years and both are up and running on my computer now as well as Integra.  Both get me to the same point and usually are pretty close to each other in final figures.  Simsol is just easier to learn and use without a great deal of training and experience.  The Simsol diagrams are simple and to the point which is all most carriers and Insureds really care about.  The behemoth of an estimate and sketch in X8 appeals to carriers who what to be able to audit every line item electronically in an estimate.  However,  in the end, a good qualified adjuster will get the work done in either program correctly and the claim can be closed.

This all said, I don't choose my software, the carrier does.  In order to get work we have to be be able to use X8 proficiently since it is what is required from most wind/hail carriers at this point.  For flood work I prefer Simsol because it integrates the flood forms with no additional work required.

KLS

http://forums.jlconline.com/forums/...hp?t=24952

While this contractor forum is someone dated it does talk about Sketch in Xactimate from the angle of a contractor. Our contractor uses keep giving us feature request as we work to a version that is friendlier to contractors since they have some needs that are different from adjusters. Adjusters’ estimates errors come out of the carriers’ pockets and the contractors errors come out of their pockets is one big difference that we see and hear.

Here is what I found about one software vendor who added Sketch features.

At http://www.marketwire.com/mw/releas...20benefits one can read.

-          On August 2, 2006, the Company entered into an agreement with Xactware Inc. of Orem Utah ("Xactware") to settle the prolonged lawsuit that the two companies had been involved in. The settlement agreement ends all claims and counterclaims between the two parties. The settlement provides for a royalty stream on less than 1% of future sales as long as one of Xactware's U.S. Sketch patents remains in place. The agreement also provides for an increase to this rate in the event of a change of control or if a material joint venture is entered into on sales after either of these events has occurred.

John based on this info I guess it is a possible that ISO might license you their patents on Sketch if you wanted to add that feature. The fact they then could gain access to one’s books would not be desired I would think.

Something else I found interesting in the lead paragraph of the article linked to above one can read,

Automated Benefits Corp. (the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE:AUT) today reported results for the six month period ending June 30, 2006. This press release should be read in conjunction with the Corporation's interim consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation for the six months ended June 30, 2006, copies of which can be found at http://www.sedar.com/">www.sedar.com.

When one goes to http://www.sedar.com/">www.sedar.com and searchs on Automated Solutions which is the company that holds Symbility you will see their financial reports required of them being a public held company. It shows a running total net loss for the company of $19,124,116.00 as of June 30, 2007 with a loss of $2,422,102.00 for the first 6 months of 2007 as I interpreted the report but I am not sure Canadian accounting methods and terms are the same as in the US so one should read the reports for themselves.

http://www.catadjuster.org/forum/tm.asp?m=27542  There are some good Sketch pointers/comments in threads on CADO.

https://www.usstaffingadj.com/train...courseID=6 It seems like all of the Xactimate training options focus heavily on building Sketch skills.

http://www.stormadjuster.com/forum2...PIC_ID=110 Shows the general frustrations that adjusters had 5 years ago. Has that improved or gotten worse?

http://www.nir-inc.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-5.html The last post in this thread talks about always double checks the results of Sketch. Does this take much time? Would all stop to do this or be tempted to gun and go?

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:spQ-yPG6cioJ:www.contractortalk.com/showthread.php%3Ft%3D21662%26page%3D2+why+use+xactimate+sketch+feature%3F&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=31&gl=us The next to last post is by a roofing contractor discussing Xactimate annual cost and what he has heard about Sketch.

http://www.xactware.com/product/xm8_testimonials.html A few adjusters are quoted in the Xactimate marketing promo. How great Sketch is was a repeating theme.

http://www.stormadjuster.com/forum2/topic.asp?whichpage=0.8&TOPIC_ID=710&#12747 Sounds like some adjusters have been happy with Sketch for some time now.

Just returned from a trip "across the pond' and heading out to a flood conference this morning.  Middle of September and still no landfalls to speak of is of a concern to me.  The "experts" said it would be a late season.  Let's hope they are correct.

Sketch seems to be a more difficult drawing program to most adjusters who are mandated to use it.  If a drawing tool, even if tied to an estimate in the hope (or just plain sales pitch) of making the adjustment process faster, is burdensome to use it is worthless.  Adjusters should diagram all losses whether it be a roof, footprint of the risk or interior floorplan.  But the diagram is only part of the whole process and should not be something that slows the process down.  As a cat company owner, when I review files I only need to see a "sketch" of a diagram to get an idea of what the risk looks like and how the rooms or roof is laid out.  Pictures tell me much more.  I for one don't want our adjusters spending valuable time drawing works of art or having to make sure the diagram is "Exact" in order for the (much more important) estimate to be accurate.

Gale, ISO is not offering use of any of their patents at this time – already inquired. 

 We will come up with something better than the Sketch method of drawing - something that actually helps adjusters get things done faster (and better).  That's what computers should do or, they too, are just another tool designed to inhibit productivity of the professional property adjuster.

John it seems often changes in technology effectively kill the value of software patents by making them obsolete even before they can expire.