The 10‑Item Transparent Estimate: See Every Line Before You Sign
Derrick Fredendall
Sticker shock shouldn’t follow a soaked carpet. When you request a water damage restoration estimate in Oklahoma City, you deserve numbers that add up—literally. At 4D, we hand you a 10‑item bid that lists each task, unit price, and expected hours so there’s zero dark math. We build it with Xactimate® software and LiDAR room scans, but the final PDF reads like a grocery receipt, not code. That clarity speeds insurance approvals, trims disputes, and lets you choose upgrades without guessing. In short: transparent totals, no “miscellaneous” padding.
Every dollar is tied to footage, gallons, or minutes—numbers your adjuster can verify and you can trust.
Item 1–4: Extraction, Containment, Drying Gear, and Monitoring
1. Water Extraction. We quote by gallon, not room size. Xactimate® multiplies pump rate by market labor, showing exactly how 200 gallons translate to minutes and dollars. No surprise overtime.
2. Containment Setup. Linear feet of ZipWall® plastic and zipper doors are priced per foot. Twenty feet costs twenty feet—simple math that prevents “flat” fees for half‑done barriers.
3. Drying Equipment. Air‑mover and dehumidifier rentals list daily cost and the projected number of days. If LiDAR scans show moisture gone by day three, you’ll see three days, not five.
4. Daily Monitoring. Moisture reads are billed per visit. We photograph the meter on each log sheet so adjusters verify the charge. One visit equals one line—no bundled fluff.
For deeper context, our Water Damage Restoration page explains how extraction volume and GPP readings set those numbers. Takeaway: first four items tackle getting water out and air moving, each tied to measurable quantities instead of guesswork.
Item 5–7: Demo, Disposal, and Cleaning Agents
5. Selective Demo. If drywall sits two feet high in moisture, Xactimate® prices a 24‑inch flood cut per square foot—no rounding up to full‑wall removal. We include exact footage from the LiDAR map.
6. Debris Disposal. Bag count, dumpster size, and landfill fees appear separately. You’ll see $32 for six mil bags and $95 in dump fees, not a vague “waste handling” charge.
7. Antimicrobial Cleaning. We list disinfectant brand, EPA registration number, and coverage area in square feet. Homeowners can Google the label or ask their insurer for approval, cutting red tape.
Transparent demo and disposal costs often slash insurance negotiation time by 30 %. For claim tips, our Insurance Claims Guide offers sample wording adjusters like. Takeaway: items 5–7 eliminate the “Where did that $800 chemical line come from?” mystery.
Book A Free 15‑Minute Cleanup Consult
Item 8–10: Rebuild Prep, Documentation, and Project Management
8. Rebuild Prep. We prime cut lines with mold‑inhibiting sealer and include exact linear feet of primer‑covered edges. This prevents scope creep when a separate contractor bids reconstruction.
9. Documentation Package. LiDAR before‑and‑after scans, moisture logs, and photo timelines appear as a flat fee. You’ll know the cost of your proof, and adjusters usually reimburse it.
10. Project Management. A single percentage—never more than 10 %—covers scheduling subs, equipment tracking, and daily reporting. It’s capped in writing, so overruns land on us, not your wallet.
Our OKC service page shows how we service your town. Takeaway: final three items wrap the job with sealed edges, airtight paperwork, and a capped management fee you can’t outgrow.
Ten lines, one signature, zero surprises. That’s our estimate promise. Ready for clarity instead of guesswork? Call 405‑896‑9088 for your own line‑item bid today.
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Meet the Author:
Derrick Fredendall
Hey, I’m Derrick — co‑founder of 4D Restoration, former Oklahoma Army National Guard (13D), and a currently active RN working right here in our local hospital systems. I carry IICRC’s WRT, ASD, and AMRT credentials (plus an OSHA‑30 card), so whether I’m running triage on a flooded living room or a patient bedside, you’re in steady, certified hands. My mission is simple: keep Oklahoma families safe, healthy, and back in their homes—fast.
Your Top Restoration Questions—Answered by Local Experts
Why use Xactimate® instead of a handwritten quote?
Carriers load Xactimate® into their systems, so matching codes cut approval time and reduce back‑and‑forth pricing disputes.
How accurate is LiDAR for estimating demo limits?
LiDAR captures dimensions within ¼ inch, letting us trim only what’s wet—saving drywall and money.
Why is there a project‑management line on the estimate?
It covers scheduling trades, tracking equipment, and sending daily updates to you and the adjuster. Capped per job, it’s transparent overhead—not an open‑ended surcharge.
Does the estimate price ever increase after work starts?
Only if scans reveal extra wet areas or you add rebuild upgrades. We rescan and update quantities so you approve changes first.
Will my insurer pay for documentation fees?
Most do, as they rely on those logs for claim validation. We label it clearly so adjusters can reimburse without question.