Describe the job the way you'd brief an estimator, and your AI builds it: one section per part of the work, with quantities, units, cost and markup on every line. It lands in "Estimates" as a Draft with Projul's totals, ready to review and send.
What to say to your AI
Give quantities and costs like a takeoff sheet: permit, code items, material by the each or linear foot, labor hours, and any option the homeowner picks. Your AI sets a type, quantity, unit, cost and markup on every line, marks a line not taxable, or assigns it to a trade.
Build an estimate in Projul for [Whitfield Water Heater Replacement]. Three sections. Permit and code items: [plumbing permit, $145, no markup, not taxable], [thermal expansion tank, 1 ea at $68] plus [25]%, [seismic straps, drain pan and pan drain line, 1 lot at $54] plus [25]%, and [sediment trap and flex connectors, 1 lot at $46] plus [25]%. Removal and disposal: [haul away and dispose of the old 50 gallon heater, 1 ea at $45] with no markup, and [1.5] hours of labor at [$72]/hr plus [40]%. Heater and installation: [50 gallon atmospheric gas water heater, 1 ea at $985] plus [25]%, [3/4 inch copper and fittings, 12 lf at $9.20] plus [25]%, [T and P discharge line, 10 lf at $3.40] plus [25]%, [6] hours of plumber labor at [$72] plus [40]%, and [6] hours of apprentice labor at [$42] plus [40]%. Apply our [Utah] sales tax and tell me the estimate number and the total.
Repipes, rough-ins and drain calls price the same way:
Create an estimate in Projul for [Pruitt Whole House Repipe], a [12] fixture home-run PEX repipe. Sections: [access and protection], [water distribution repipe], [fixture reconnection and trim], [access hole patching]. Repipe is [PEX-A tubing, 480 lf at $0.92] plus [25]%, [14 port manifold, 1 ea at $265] plus [25]%, [fittings, hangers and sleeves, 1 lot at $310] plus [25]%, [main shutoff and pressure reducing valve, 1 ea at $210] plus [25]%, [38] hours of plumber labor at [$72] plus [40]% and [38] hours of apprentice labor at [$42] plus [40]%. Reconnection is [12] fixture connections at [$28] each plus [25]% and [10] hours at [$72] plus [40]%. Add [plumbing permit, $190, no markup, not taxable].
Selections and your saved templates
A failed heater or a repipe often comes with a homeowner choice. Ask your AI for a selection section where the client picks one, none, or several; only what's picked counts. See How do I use subsections, selections and display-only sections with my AI?
Have your AI build repeat jobs from an estimate template, a saved section, or your cost-item library. See How do I have my AI create an estimate from one of my templates? and How do I build and reuse estimate, section and line-item templates with my AI?
What you'll see, and change orders
Your AI reports the estimate number and total once you approve each step. Click "Estimates" in Projul: the new estimate sits at the top as a Draft, each section's subtotal on the card.
When hidden damage changes the job, your AI adds a change order, left as a Draft; dropped scope becomes a display-only deduction. See How do I have my AI add a change order?
Things to know
Note: Tax applies only when you name a rate from your settings; add it later otherwise. The estimate is a Draft on purpose: publishing, sending, approval, and invoicing happen in Projul. See Can my AI publish or send an estimate?
Note: The job needs a project or lead; a project holds one estimate. Your AI creates the lead if none exists, or offers to edit it or add a change order if one does. See How do I have my AI add a new lead?
Questions? Let's Chat.
support@projul.com
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