Xactimate's labor tiers: what actually changed
Archive story from the 2026-07-16 edition. This is the reporting as filed; source publication and event dates may differ. Check the dated storyline for subsequent developments.
Detail firmed up on the three-tier labor-efficiency architecture we flagged in May: the new Large Restoration/Remodel tier sits between Restoration/Service and the old "New Construction" setting, which has been relabeled "Total Rebuild or Similar." It requires a 2026-or-later price list. Hourly billable labor rates update monthly.
Why it matters
The relabel matters more than it looks. "New Construction" was the setting carriers used to underpay restoration work; renaming it "Total Rebuild or Similar" changes the argument you get to make about when it applies.
Our assessment
The three tiers got all the attention and the rename got none. The rename is the leverage. A setting called new construction was easy for a desk to apply to your occupied water loss, and the new label is much harder to defend on a phased job in a lived-in house. Quote the label back when a tier gets downgraded, and attach photos of the occupancy.
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Vendor / Trade press High confidence at publication
What changed
Storyline: Xactimate pricing
What changed "New Construction" is now "Total Rebuild or Similar"; 2026+ price list required.
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Terms in this story: Xactimate