Q&A
You asked some great questions during the session and with over 500 attendees we couldn't get to them all. So we've listed and answered all of your questions here. If you don't see your question displayed here word for word, it means we received another question with a similar theme and we've grouped them together to provide you an in depth answer to fully cover the topic.
Depreciation:
1. After I have completed an estimate suppose I need to depreciate carpet, padding, paint, baseboards. Can I depreciate everything at once in all rooms and how to do it?
Answer: Yes, you can depreciate everything at once. The way you depreciate one item is the same way you depreciate ten items or twenty items, it's a matter of what you have selected. Hold down CTRL on your keyboard and click any item you want to depreciate or hold down SHIFT and select the first one and then last one and the system will select everything in between. Then when you depreciate it will apply depreciation to all selected items.
2. How can you add the depreciation % to all “Replace” items on an estimate at once, instead of line per line?
Answer: The search feature in the estimate can be a great way to quickly locate all “Replace” items In the Home tab of your estimate, click ‘Search’. You’ll then see additional options displayed directly beneath the ribbon where you can specify that you’re looking for the action Replace. Click ‘Filter’ on the far right side. All replace items will now filter to the top. You can select all items either by using CTRL or SHIFT on your keyboard. Now you can depreciate like you normally would, and all items that are selected will be depreciated. 
Note that there’s also a ‘Replace’ button just to the right of ‘Search’. This can be another option for applying depreciation to many items at the same time. However it’s a bit more advanced. We tried to keep our answer simple and concise for you here but feel free to explore this tool if you feel up to it!
3. Is it possible to make global changes to depreciate drywall in all rooms 12%?
Answer: Yes. One great option for viewing and depreciating all drywall items together is to go to the View Tab, click ‘Grouping’ and click ‘Item.’
Now all the drywall items will come together and you can select them all and depreciate. Click the first drywall item, hold down SHIFT, then click the last item. Now select Depreciate on the home tab and choose % of value (12%).
Remember, there’s often more than one way to accomplish something in Symbility. Try using the ‘Search’ and Replace features’ in the Home tab, if you’re looking for another way to achieve this.
Assemblies:
4. Do you have to add the items to assemblies?
Answer: Nope, assemblies will generate the suggested line items automatically based on the answers that you provide. If you’re not seeing the suggested line items, reach out to our support team and they can help figure out why you’re unable to use assemblies.
5. If I only have cleaning line items can I use the assemblies option too?
Answer: Yes, there’s a Contents Pack Out & Cleaning assembly that you may find helpful.
6. Can you apply an assembly to multiple slopes at once?
Answer: Yes, when you drag and drop the assembly to your roof plan, dropping it on the canvas (the empty white space) will apply it to all slopes at the same time.
7. For the assemblies why use labor hours rather than contents by room size? or prep and mask based on the dimensions of the room?
Answer: Using labor hours rather than contents by room size provides more flexibility and accuracy. For example if you go into to medium sized room and one is that of a hoarder, you would not have enough cost using the default line item for a medium room. As for masking, it is based on measurements. Additionally, many companies have different standards for content manipulation and may choose to create custom assemblies. Speak to your Symbility account manager if that’s an option you’d like to explore.
8. Can you show the replace with feature once more?
Answer: After you generate the estimate items in an assembly, you’ll see item details displayed. Some items will have this symbol
displayed next to it. Click the symbol
and a window with your ‘Replace With’ options will be displayed. Select the item you’d like to replace it with and click OK.
9. Why are my assemblies not available when I sometimes try to do a new estimate?
Answer: This type of question requires a deeper dive to pinpoint exactly what is going on. Feel free to reach out to our support team if this continues to be an issue for you.
Before reaching out to support, here are two thoughts you may want to explore:
- If you’re using an old pricing database you may not be able to use Assemblies.
- You may want to check to see if you have ownership of the claim. If a tool is not working as expected, or you cannot perform the action that you think you should be able to do, always make sure you have ownership of the claim. Ownership means that you have the editing rights of the claim, without it you may be able to see everything, but not make any changes to the claim file. For example, if you do not have ownership of a claim you will not be able to apply an assembly. You can see if you have ownership by looking at your claims list.
If you see a hand symbol underneath your claim folder, that is a visual indicator that you have ownership. If you do not see the hand, then you do not have ownership. If you need to acquire ownership follow these steps:
1. Select the claim in the claim list
2. Click Acquire Ownership
3. Select Synchronize
Batches:
10. How do you create a batch?
Answer: Batches are a great way to bundle line items together. From the line item view select the items you would like to add to a batch. Use the CTRL or SHIFT keys on your keyboard to select multiple items, or the
button. Once your desired items are selected, right click the selected items, and select ‘Add to new Item Batch…’
You’ll then be prompted to give your batch a name and select OK.
11. Is it possible to share a batch that I create with other in my group?
Answer: Yes, to share a batch first open the batch you’d like to share. At the top click ‘Share with…’
You’ll then see a list of other users or companies whom you can share your batch with. Make your selections and click OK.
Database:
12. How is your price list different from Xactimate?
Answer: Symbility is a component base system. This means you will have to add each and every material individually. Example - Roofing, you will need to add the shingles + Ridge shingle + Ice/ Water Shield + felt + drip edge + Valley Flashing + and so on. The Symbility method is a more accurate way to create an estimate because you are selecting which items are needed for the task. One other key difference to note is that O&P is handled differently in the two systems.
13. Where does CoreLogic get the data to compile the price list?
Answer: CoreLogic monitors demographics and econometric statistics, government indicators, localization requirements and market trends, as well as wage rates for more union and non-union trades, 100,000 plus line items of construction data, productivity rates and crew sizes, local cost concerns such as building code requirements and other localized variables.
14. What line item would you recommend for brand name materials such as Pella windows where the labor rate is reportedly set by the manufacturer?
Answer: To properly answer this we would need more details about the specific window and line of window you are referring to. It is always best to check the line item description as well as price components to match up with quality of the window you are estimating for and the one being selected to replace it. Additionally, we have an initiative in the coming months to start to add brand/model name examples to the line item descriptions to help make these selections easier for you. Feel free to reach out to our support team if you want to talk through your question in more detail.
15. For flooring materials like “Mahogany” is that full plank hardwood or composite?
Answer: That is full plank unless otherwise specified in the name or description.
16. I’d like to learn more about adding custom items.
Answer: The most common way to add a custom item is to select the miscellaneous category in the database. Once you’re in the miscellaneous category select the item that closely fits the item you are looking for and then apply it. It’s also a good idea to open the item properties and add some information on the Comment tab to explain the custom item. To modify the comment and additional explanation, click ‘Make note’ in the bottom left-hand corner and the comment field will become editable.
17. Would like to know if it is possible to submit items for consideration of being added to the Symbility items database.
Answer: We do have a process for submitting items to be added to our database. You should forward your suggestion to your manager or your company's point of contact who is responsible for the relationship with Symbility. The Symbility account manager will submit the request to CoreLogic. Additionally you can email, chat or phone, Symbility Support and submit your request.
Diagrams:
18. When two rooms are joined with a wall between them that is missing, are the measurements for the wall included still in the total length or do we not address the wall thicknesses that are missing but still showing. So if two rooms are each 12' with a missing joined wall in between them, this total should equal 24', but in the diagram, the 4" wall still shows making the room 24'4". Should we be subtracting 4" from one of the rooms, or should we keep it the way it is knowing that the program is making the calculations for the missing wall even though it is not shown?
Answer: In this scenario we do not recommend adjusting the dimensions of the room. When adding items such as flooring, drywall, etc., the waste should account for the additional quantity and thus items like flooring added to the rooms, for example, would cover the entire floor.
19. How did you generate that enhanced 3D exterior view?
Answer: That is done with the AutoCreate tool in the Home tab of an exterior plan. When you click AutoCreate, a new window opens up and your diagrams populate on the left side of that window. Select a diagram and drag it over to the grass. If you want to add a roofplan, drag it over after your floorplan and make certain the orange line is all the way down onto the “grass.” Click done and your diagram will generate.
20. Are we able to share diagrams with other users? Should I have a roof sketch and another person inspects the home next year - can I share these measurements?
Answer: Yes, there are various options for this. In your example where someone needs to address something a year later, that individual can simply look up the old claim and download it. To look up the claim in Mobile Claims, go to the ‘Search Claims’ tab at the bottom of the claim list. You can search for the claim by claim number, insured name, etc. Once you locate it, select and click download in the ribbon. Click synchronize. You’ll now see the claim in your claim list again. You can then go into the claim and copy the diagram, open another claim and paste it. Another option is to import the estimate into another claim from the Home tab in the claim list. When you important the estimate, any diagrams associated with it will be imported as well.
21. How do you "layer" second story on dwellings?
Answer: To add a 2nd story onto a dwelling, follow these steps:
Step 1: Add an additional floorplan by right clicking diagram, ‘Add Floorplan.’
Step 2: Make sure the superimpose feature is turned on. Superimpose may be turned on by default depending on your configuration. If it is not turned on by default you can turn it on by going to the view tab, as shown in the screenshot below. This places a light image, or watermark, on your canvass, and enables you to properly align the floorplans. When drawing the second floor, rooms will automatically snap to the walls of the superimposed image, making it easy to draw the 2nd floor perfectly aligned over the first.
22. What’s the best way to put a staircase in the middle of a room? I encounter this in basements and always have to make a missing wall to apply the staircase in the middle of the room.
Answer: You are correct that a staircase will need to be placed against a wall. Here is one option for achieving this:
Step 1: Place two rooms side by side to make your basement, place the stairs against the wall in the middle and then make the other parts of that wall missing.
Step 2: Join the two rooms as subrooms so that the system sees them as one unit. Take a look at the screenshot below for an example:
23. Do roof sketches allow me to free hand or draw hand a room?
Answer: No. You can free hand for an interior diagram using the Freeform tool, but not for a roof plan.
24. Are there more options to adjust the shape of a ceiling? For instance, can you make tray and coffered ceilings?
Answer: Yes, there are several options for adjusting the shape of a ceiling in the ceiling editor. You can also use blocks and other techniques to diagram a tray ceiling, coffered ceiling, etc. We’ve included a few examples and directions below, but keep in mind there are several ways to adjust ceiling shapes and height.
Example 1 - Ceiling Editor: Select a room and click ‘Ceiling Editor’ from the Room tab in the ribbon. Select the ceiling type from the properties box in the top left. This example shows a peaked ceiling.
Example 2 - Tray Ceiling: Use 4 blocks and the ‘Wall Editor’ to adjust the blocks’ height, width, and depth to go around the ceiling perimeter.
Note: A coffered ceiling can also be accomplished with manipulating the height, width, and depth of blocks placed on the ceiling.
25. When you combine all slopes you are then able to change sf for all combined slopes?
Answer: If you’ve combined all slopes and then adjust your diagram, the SF will change. However if you attempt to manually adjust the quantity in the item properties you will not be able to do so. If you’d like to retain the ability to manually change the SF for all slopes you could consider waiting to combine all slopes until you’ve made your adjustments.
26. Please show how to add line item of 40 linear feet of ridge vent.
Answer: To apply ridge vent to your diagram, locate the line item in the database, select the actions, then click and drag the item to your diagram and place your cursor directly on the ridge line. The system will recognize the LF of the ridgeline and when you release your click the item will be applied to the LF of the ridge.
Note that if you do not want to apply the item to the full length of the ridge, you can open the item properties and manually adjust the quantity. To manually adjust the quantity after you’ve applied the item locate the item either in your line item view or in your estimate, right-click and select properties. Once in the properties panel, in the ‘General tab’ click in the quantity field and type in your desired quantity. Click OK.
27. Do you combine roof slopes the same way as sub-rooms?
Answer: When adding items to a roofplan, the items will populate in the line item view separately, just as they do with a room and a sub-room on a floorplan. For example, the screenshot shows shingles applied to a roofplan that has a gable roof and one dormer.
If you want to combine these into one, select the ‘Combine Related Subrooms’ icon. 
28. When I print the estimate, I "print" to my computer hard drive. I have to go to options, properties, and then filename generation. Do you know how to make this permanent rather than having to update the destination each time I open Symbility?
Answer: By default windows will use the last place that you saved a file to. Feel free to reach out to our support team and they can take a look at your specific settings and try to help you out.
29. How can you print just one diagram's estimate such as roof only without the interior damages?
Answer: It sounds like in this type of scenario you may want to have your roof on a separate estimate than your interior damages. One solution is to copy that estimate (the roof in your example) into a separate structure. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Right click on estimate, ‘Add Structure.’
Step 2: The new structure should now be the bold (active) structure. From there select ‘Import Items’ from the ribbon and select your estimate. The original estimate will be copied into the new estimate.
Step 3: From there (in the second structure), select everything that you do not want to have printed by clicking the top item, holding SHIFT, and clicking the bottom item. Click delete and you should be left, in this example, with just your roof section of the estimate.
Step 4: Now you have a second structure with just your roof estimate. Select the print button in the top left-hand corner and choose the estimate to preview & print.
Miscellaneous:
30. How do you get to related items?
Answer: Viewing related items is a great way to quickly see some similar items. Let’s take shingles as an example. Right click the line item within the database and select ‘Find Related Items’. You‘ll then see a list of related items displayed. We’re seeing items like Felt, Height Allowance, Ice/Water Shield, etc.
31. How did you get the claim explorer from the right side of the screen to the left?
Answer: The claim explorer can be placed in four different locations - top, bottom, left, or right - it's up to you! To move the claim explorer place your cursor on the words 'Claim Explorer'. Hold your click down and start to move your mouse, the explorer will come with you. You'll see four arrows in the center of the screen. Bring your cursor to touch the arrow pointing to the left. You'll see a dark blue shading indicating where the Claim Explorer is going to be placed. When you let go of your click, the claim explorer will snap into its new location. 
32. I am a mitigation estimator specializing in mold and water tear out - can I use the filter icon to filter tear out line items? Is there a better way to only see those types of line items?
Answer: While there is currently no option to filter the database based on the tear out action, there is a mitigation filter in the 'Saved Filters' tab that you may find helpful.
Likewise you can also use the binocular keyword search and search for the ‘tear out’ action with any other search term.
33. If you have an emergency estimate and a structure estimate, how do you add items to the emergency estimate?
Answer: You can work with multiple estimates in a claim, the structure estimate and emergency estimate is a great example to use here. When you look in the claim explorer and see the estimates heading. Whatever estimate is Bold is the active estimate, meaning any line items you apply will be added to that estimate. To set an estimate as active, right click the desired estimate and select 'Set as Active'.
34. The estimate cover page shows adjuster contact info. If my info has changed where do you go to update it?
Answer: You can update that information from your user profile in Claims Connect. When you’re logged into Claims Connect click your username in the top left-hand corner and select profile. 
From the blade that opens you can modify your account. Make sure you click ‘Save’ in the top right-hand corner when you’re done.
35. Is there a way to show Overhead and Profit on the final print out? When it displays in the structure estimate section, it still does not seem to print onto the final printout.
Answer: If you have O&P configured on the totals page in your estimate, and you’ve included the Totals page as part of your print options, then O&P should be showing up on your final print out. If this is not working for you, reach out to our support team and they can help you out!
36. Can you show how you get the waste factor note to show on an estimate automatically in the line item view of the estimate?
Answer: You can configure certain types of notes to automatically be added in Mobile Claims. This is done from Preferences. To set your preferences accordingly, select the Symbility icon in the top left-hand corner and select ‘Preferences’.
Select the ‘Items’ tab and scroll down to ‘Automatic Note Generator’. Select ‘Automatically add note when non-zero waste used’ and click OK.
37. Is there any plan for Symbility to get real life photo examples or other images for some line items in the database?
Answer: Starting with the December 2019 database release we will have brand-new photorealistic 3D renderings of some items and will continue to add more every month moving forward. Here are a few examples:
38. Is there a way I can take ownership of another person’s Symbility file?
Answer: In order to acquire ownership you must be participating in a claim. Log into Claims Connect and open the claim you’d like to participate in. Select the Originator’s name. In the blade that open on the right-hand side of the screen click the ‘…’ in the top right-hand corner and select ‘Participate’. 
Once you’re participating in the claim, go to Mobile Claims and synchronize. The claim will now show up in your claim list and you can go ahead and acquire ownership of the claim.
39. Combining rooms tends to not allow quantity editing. How do you edit quantities when you have sub rooms?
Answer: Yes, quantity is greyed out when the rooms come together as one. You’ll want to either adjust the quantities before you join the rooms, or you can always un-join them, adjust the quantity and then re-join them. Joining subrooms is a toggle feature, so if you’ve clicked it once to turn the feature on, clicking it a second time will turn the feature off.
Option 1 In the line item view: Leave the items separate in the line item view, and select/edit the quantities for each.
Option 2 In the estimate view: From the ‘View’ tab under ‘Options’ un-check ‘Combine related subrooms’ and that will separate the sub-rooms in the estimate view. From there you can click on the quantity of either or both rooms and edit the quantities.
40. Can you please explain how deleting a sketch affects your estimate in a supplement or revision.
Answer: Deleting a diagram will result in all line items being deleted from the estimate as well. Keep in mind that any diagram associated with a locked estimate cannot be deleted.
Support
If you have additional questions or require support, we encourage you to reach out to our support team. They're always there to help and it's completely free to contact them!
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