To summarize, think of AI as a new estimator who works for you. Here's how you can effectively communicate with the AI:
Describe Your Project in Detail:
Start simple if you don't know much about the job. Provide dimensions and any scopes you know.
If you have more details, include all the information you know.
Three Main Things to Include:
Type of Job: Specify what kind of job it is (e.g., kitchen remodel, ground-up home project).
Dimensions: Provide the dimensions of the project.
Scope of Work: Detail the specific tasks involved (e.g., demo tile, flooring, etc.).
Example:
"This is a kitchen remodel with this floor plan and ceiling height. Scope of work includes demo tile, flooring, etc."
Using Voice Input:
For fast input, use the microphone button on your keyboard to speak your project details.
Handling Formats:
Handoff can understand various formats, typos, slang, and common phrases. For example, you can say "15 foot" using different abbreviations like FT, LF, or spell it out.
How to give instructions to the AI:
To give instructions to the AI, go into any estimate (or new estimate) and click the yellow “✨Use AI” button. A text entry field will appear where you can type in written instructions. The AI will generate an estimate based on your description. You can give additional instructions after each generation by clicking ✨Use AI” again.
We recommend thinking in terms of two phases:
Initial Instructions: describe your project basics to get an initial draft.
Clarifications: fine tune scope, quantities, and pricing to get to a final draft. You can clarify finish grades, material selections, your labor/material pricing, markup, etc.
Initial Instructions
Great instructions look like this:
1- GOOD: Summarize the project and location.
“This is a Kitchen Remodel in Seattle, WA. … “
2- BETTER: Specify the project dimensions.
“This is a Kitchen Remodel in Seattle, WA. The kitchen is 150 SF, 15’x10’ with 8’ ceilings. …“
3- BEST: Specify the scope of work, and submit!
“This is a Kitchen Remodel in Seattle, WA. The kitchen is 150 SF, 15’x10’ with 8’ ceilings. We will demo everything to the studs. We will install drywall, tile floor, lower and upper cabinets, countertops, a new island, recessed lighting, new appliances, sink, and faucet.
The model will produce an initial draft based on your description.
Clarifications
Review the initial draft. You have the opportunity to click “Use AI” to give clarifications to fine tune your estimate.
Here’s what we recommend. Let’s use our Kitchen Remodel example again.
1- Review scope accuracy.
Add missing scope with phrases like:
“Add new lines items for sliding glass patio door, purchase and install. “
Remove unnecessary scope with phrases like:
“Remove all line items for Demolition and Appliances”
2- Review quantity accuracy.
Read the quantities of each line. Do these reflect your project dimensions?
Change quantities with phrases like:
“Increase quantity of recessed lights to 20”
“Change count of windows to 10”
“Double the quantity of framing nails”
“Change quantity of cabinets to 15 LF lowers and 15 LF uppers”
3- Review pricing accuracy.
Read the unit costs for each line. Do these accurately reflect your $/SF and $/LF costs?
It is best to give AI instructions to update the Unit Costs rather than to update Item Totals or Group Totals.
Change pricing with phrases like:
“Increase unit cost of Concrete to $215 per CY”
“Increase unit costs of countertops to reflect high end quartz”
“Decrease unit costs of flooring to reflect budget laminate”
“Increase unit costs to reflect a high end custom project”
“Decrease unit costs to reflect a budget renter grade project”
How to give instructions faster
If you’re on a mobile phone, you can use Voice-to-Text to speed up text entry! Tap the 🎙️ icon on your keyboard, and start talking.
You can copy-paste in project descriptions from other sources! For example: copy-paste your homeowner’s scope list, or the project notes from platforms like Thumbtack, Angi, etc
Abbreviations
The AI understands all construction abbreviations and symbols.
For example, all the following formats are acceptable:
Square Feet, SF, sf, Sq Ft, SqFt, sqft
Feet, FT, Ft, ft, or ‘
Linear Feet, LF, lf
Inches, in, or “
Cubic Yards, CY, Yards, Yds, Yd
When giving pricing instructions, all the following formats are acceptable:
Update flooring costs to: $10/SF, $10 per SF, 10 dollars per SF, 10 $/SF.
Don’t use vague phrases like “10 per foot” or “update floorings costs to 10”
These will be understood the same way:
Kitchen Remodel 15’ x 10’
Kitchen Remodel 15x10
By providing detailed descriptions and using the tips mentioned, you can ensure the AI understands your project requirements accurately.