An insurance estimate describes putting right the damage, not the work the client would like done — and that distinction decides whether the claim is paid in full.
Record before pricing
Photographs with a scale, measurements of the affected areas, and a date. Every line must trace back to a specific piece of damage; a line with no photographic counterpart raises questions about the whole document.
What to include
Strip-out and drying; reinstatement only to the previous condition; materials and labour priced separately, since insurers check material prices; access and protection; and adjacent areas where a finish cannot be repaired in part — justified with a note rather than left unexplained.
Improvement versus reinstatement is the usual dispute. If the client wants a better material, split the estimate into like-for-like reinstatement and a separate upgrade at their own cost.
Why estimates come back
Round sums with no quantities; work beyond the damage; areas that do not match the photographs; no company details or signature; and an unclear VAT position.
Requirements differ between insurers and policies — ask the client for the document list they were given. See also the bank estimate.