Getting Started with Estimate IOS: Your All-in-One On-Site Companion

Welcome to Estimate IOS! This powerful mobile app transforms your iPhone or iPad into a complete, on-site diagramming and estimating solution. Designed to entirely replace pen and paper, Estimate IOS allows you to seamlessly sketch property layouts, calculate material costs, and generate complete structure and contents estimates directly from the field.

Here is everything you need to know to master the app and streamline your daily workflow.

1. Installation & Login

Getting set up on your iOS device is quick and straightforward:

• Download or Update: Open the Apple App Store on your iOS device and search for Estimate. If you currently use our legacy CAPTURE app, simply update it, and it will automatically transform into Estimate IOS.
• First-Time Login: Ensure you have an active internet connection for your very first login so the app can authenticate your account. Enter your standard username and password, or use your company’s Single Sign-On (SSO) credentials if prompted.
• Biometrics: For faster and more secure access during future logins, you can enable Face ID directly on the sign-in screen.

2. Navigating the Home Screen

Once you log in, the Home screen serves as your primary dashboard for managing assignments:

• Finding Claims: Tap the My Assignments tab to view claims assigned directly to you, or tap All to browse your company’s wider database of available claims. You can also use the Search bar to quickly look up a claim by name, claim number, or policy number.
• Customizing Your List: Tap the Gear icon in the top right corner to sort or group your claims (by status, city, or claim originator) or toggle which details are visible on your list.
• Account Settings: Tap your name at the top of the Home screen to access a menu where you can change your password, securely log into Claims Workspace, view legal agreements, or log out.

3. Working 100% Offline

Cell service can be unpredictable during property inspections, but Estimate IOS has you covered. The core scoping, diagramming, and estimating tools are fully available offline.

• Before You Go: While still connected to a reliable network, review your assignments list and tap the Checkmark icon at the top of the screen to download the data you need for the day.
• Automatic Syncing: Everything you document on-site is saved locally directly to your device. The next time you open the app with an active internet connection, it will automatically sync with your Claims Workspace account, safely uploading your work and downloading any new updates.

4. The Assignment View (Your Central Hub)

Tapping any claim opens the Assignment View, which defaults to the Documentation tab to help you get straight to work. From here, you can easily access four primary workspaces:

1. Documentation: The core of your field work. This section houses all the tools and files needed to build diagrams, write estimates, take photos, and fill out forms, questionnaires, or scanned documents.
2. Loss Summary: Houses all administrative details, including policyholder details, claim numbers, deductibles, coverage limits, and adjuster contact info. To make edits on the fly, just tap the Pencil icon next to any section header.
3. Timeline: Presents a chronological, timestamped log of all activities performed on the claim. You can also tap + New entry to type and save your own manual notes to the log.
4. Assignments: Displays all the specific task assignments related to the file. Tap any assignment to view its details, see participants, and update the overall workflow status (e.g., from Assignment Received to Inspection Performed or Estimate Completed).

5. Advanced Field Tools

Smart Diagrams

• LiDAR Scanning: If you are using a supported Apple Pro device equipped with a LiDAR scanner, navigate to Documentation > New Diagram > Floorplan and choose Scan. Move your device slowly to let Apple RoomPlan automatically capture walls, doors, and windows to generate an instant floorplan.
• Manual Sketching: Drop predefined room shapes, roof panels, or exterior structures directly onto your canvas. Use on-screen tools to adjust dimensions, add structural features (like doors, windows, openings, or missing walls), and pinch to zoom for perfect precision.

Photo Management & Calibration

• Orientation Calibration: The very first time you add photos to a claim, point your camera at the front of the property. The app uses your device's built-in compass to intelligently determine the orientation. You can manually override this if needed, but remember that once confirmed, calibration cannot be changed.
• Photo Editing & Tags: Highlight damage right away by toggling the Damage switch to YES on your images. Use the bottom toolbar to add captions, draw freehand annotations, add arrows, or log measurements. Tap the Tag icon to organize photos by specific areas (e.g., "Bedroom").
• Live Pitch Tool: Measure roof pitch safely. Launch the camera, tap Pitch, and place the edge of your device directly against the roof slope to automatically calculate and capture the pitch in your photo.

Questionnaires, Forms & Documents

• Guided Scoping: Tap New Questionnaire to log your on-site findings. Swipe left or right to move through the sections, tap the camera icon to attach supporting photos, and tap Complete questionnaire to save your progress.
• Forms & E-Signatures: Add necessary company forms, tap fields to fill them out, and sign directly on your device's screen. Note: Applying a signature automatically locks the document to prevent future editing.
• Document Scanner: Scan multi-page paper documents using your device's camera, apply color filters or resizing adjustments, and compile them seamlessly into a single PDF file.

6. Writing & Managing Your Estimate

Estimate IOS gives you multiple smart avenues to compile structural and contents repair costs quickly:

• Search Database: Browse categorized material and labor items or use the search bar to find exactly what you need.
• Assemblies: Answer a few simple questions about damage severity, materials, and coverage to let the app auto-generate a tailored list of line items for you.
• Item Batches: Tap Quick Add next to your company’s saved pre-configured groups of items to drop commonly used line items into your estimate instantly.
• Voice to Estimate (GenAI): Describe the damage out loud (or type a brief description) and let our built-in AI automatically suggest the most accurate line items from the pricing database.
• Debris Removal & ITEL: Let the app monitor your total debris volume and click Recommend Debris Containers to automatically add the correct dumpsters or trucks to your file. You can also order independent pricing analyses for flooring and roofing directly through the integrated ITEL portal. (Note: The ITEL portal is offered only in the United States and is not available in Canada.)
• Foundational Options (Online Only): When connected to the internet, you can tap View Options (typically on the Totals tab) to alter the applied pricing database version, add Overhead & Profit (O&P) adjustments, or configure finalization settings.
• Estimate Preview: Tap Estimate Preview to quickly review applied items. Tap surface icons (like F for Floor or W for Walls) next to any item to change exactly where that item attaches within the room.

7. Finalizing & Printing Your Work

Once your scope of work is finalized, use the three-dot administrative menu inside your estimate to push the project across the finish line:

1. Lock Estimate: Secure your document so no accidental changes can be made. If you ever need to make corrections later, you can select Create revision to safely adjust a locked estimate.
2. Update Workflow Status: Tap your current status button (like In progress) at the top of the estimate screen and change it to Completed or another updated status to push the workflow forward.
3. Generate and Share PDFs (Online Only): Select Print from the menu, customize your high-level and line-item visibility options across the available tabs, and tap Create PDF. After a quick on-screen preview, tap Share to send it via Mail or Messages, AirDrop it, or save the PDF directly to your device's Files app.
4. Release Ownership: Ready to work from your computer? Select Release ownership to safely hand over control so the claim file can be opened and edited on desktop platforms like Estimate PC.

*Need support? If you run into any permission issues—such as the app being unable to launch your camera—simply navigate to your device's native iOS Settings > Estimate to verify that camera authorizations are toggled on.*