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AI ChatAI Chat Overview

AI Chat - Create Estimates by Conversation

Tallie’s AI Chat is the fastest way to create professional estimates. Just describe your project in plain English, and Tallie generates a complete estimate with accurate line items, materials, and pricing.

What You’ll Learn

  • How to start a conversation with Tallie’s AI
  • Tips for getting the best estimates
  • Editing AI-generated estimates
  • Continuing past conversations

Why Use AI Chat?

Traditional estimating means hours of measuring, calculating, and pricing. With Tallie’s AI:

  • Save time - Get a complete estimate in minutes, not hours
  • Stay accurate - AI pulls current material pricing from Home Depot
  • Be thorough - Never forget a line item again
  • Look professional - Clients receive polished proposals

Starting a New Chat

From the Dashboard

  1. Click Chat with Tallie in the sidebar
  2. You’re taken to a new conversation
  3. Describe your project and Tallie responds

From a Project

  1. Open any project
  2. Click Create Estimate with AI
  3. The chat opens with your project context

Quick Start Shortcut

Click the New Estimate button anywhere in Tallie and select Use AI to jump straight into a chat.

How to Describe Your Project

The more detail you provide, the better your estimate. Include:

  • Scope of work - What needs to be done
  • Measurements - Square footage, room sizes, quantities
  • Materials - Any specific products or brands
  • Quality level - Standard, premium, or budget
  • Special conditions - Access issues, existing damage, rush jobs

Example Prompts

For painters:

“I need to paint a 2,000 sq ft house exterior. Two stories, currently beige, going to white. The trim needs work too. Premium quality paint.”

For electricians:

“Install 8 recessed lights in a living room, about 400 sq ft. The room has an existing switch. Customer wants dimmable LED fixtures.”

For plumbers:

“Replace a 40-gallon tank water heater with a new tankless unit. Gas line is already there. Home is single story with easy access.”

For general contractors:

“Full kitchen remodel - new shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, subway tile backsplash, and LVP flooring. Kitchen is 12x15 ft.”

The AI Conversation Flow

1. You Describe the Job

Type your project description. Be as detailed as possible, but don’t worry about getting everything perfect - Tallie will ask follow-up questions.

2. Tallie Asks Clarifying Questions

If Tallie needs more information, it will ask. For example:

  • “What quality level of paint would you like?”
  • “How high are the ceilings?”
  • “Are there any access limitations?”

Answer these questions to improve accuracy.

3. Tallie Generates the Estimate

Once Tallie has enough information, it creates your estimate with:

  • Itemized materials with current pricing
  • Labor hours and costs
  • Your default markup applied
  • Professional scope of work

4. Review and Adjust

The estimate appears in the chat. From there you can:

  • View the full estimate
  • Edit any line item
  • Add or remove items
  • Adjust quantities or prices
  • Regenerate specific sections

Editing in Chat

After Tallie generates your estimate, you can continue the conversation to make changes:

“Add crown molding to every room”

“Increase the labor hours by 20%”

“Use Benjamin Moore paint instead”

“Remove the disposal replacement”

“Add a $500 contingency line item”

Tallie updates your estimate in real-time.

Your Preferences Matter

Tallie uses your account preferences to customize estimates:

  • Work categories - Focuses on your trade specialty
  • Pricing location - Uses local Home Depot pricing
  • Default markup - Applies your standard markup percentage
  • Rate sheet - References your saved rates when applicable

Set these up in Settings → Preferences for better estimates.

Continuing Past Conversations

All your chats are saved automatically. To continue a previous conversation:

  1. Open Chat with Tallie from the sidebar
  2. Your recent chats appear in the left panel
  3. Click any conversation to continue where you left off

This is useful when:

  • A client calls back with changes
  • You need to create a follow-up estimate
  • You want to reference a previous project

Linking Estimates to Projects

When Tallie creates an estimate, you can link it to a project:

  1. In the estimate view, click Link to Project
  2. Select an existing project or create a new one
  3. The estimate is now organized under that project

Linked estimates:

  • Appear in the project’s estimate tab
  • Inherit the project’s client information
  • Can be converted to invoices easily

Tips for Better Estimates

  1. Include measurements - “400 sq ft” is better than “medium-sized room”
  2. Mention access issues - High ceilings, tight spaces, or difficult locations
  3. Specify quality - Budget, standard, or premium materials
  4. List existing conditions - Damage, old materials to remove, or prep work needed
  5. Be specific about scope - Include vs. exclude certain areas

Troubleshooting

”The estimate seems too high/low”

  • Check if the markup percentage is correct in Settings
  • Verify the square footage or quantities
  • Look for items that should be adjusted for your market

”Tallie is missing some items”

  • Add them manually in the estimate editor
  • Or continue the chat: “You forgot to include the primer"

"I want to start over”

  • Click New Chat to begin a fresh conversation
  • Your previous chat is still saved if you need it

Mobile and Desktop

AI Chat works the same way on all devices:

  • Desktop - Full chat panel with estimate preview
  • Mobile - Full-screen chat with swipe to view estimate
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Your First EstimateOverview