The Complete Guide to Voice-to-Estimate Technology

What is Voice-to-Estimate?

Imagine walking through a job site, describing what you see, and having a complete estimate ready by the time you get back to your truck. That's Voice-to-Estimate.

Instead of scribbling notes on paper, taking photos to remember details, or spending hours back at the office typing everything up—you simply talk. Our AI listens, understands, and creates a professional estimate in real-time.

How It Works

Step 1: Open the App

Launch EstimateBuilderPro on your phone and tap "Voice Estimate."

Step 2: Start Talking

Describe what you see naturally:

"Okay, I'm in the kitchen. They want to replace the garbage disposal—looks like a standard half-horsepower unit. Also need to fix a slow drain in the sink, probably needs to be snaked. Moving to the bathroom... they want a new toilet installed, mid-range model, and the faucet is dripping so we'll need to replace the cartridge or the whole faucet depending on the model."

Step 3: Review and Edit

The AI generates line items from your description:

• Garbage disposal replacement (1/2 HP) - $285
• Drain cleaning - kitchen sink - $150
• Toilet installation - mid-range - $425
• Faucet repair/replacement - $95-195

Step 4: Send to Customer

Add any final adjustments and send a professional estimate directly to your customer's email.

Why Contractors Love It

Save 30+ Minutes Per Estimate

The average contractor spends 45 minutes creating an estimate. With Voice-to-Estimate, it takes under 15 minutes—including the job site walkthrough.

Never Forget Details

How many times have you gotten back to the office and thought, "What was that third thing they wanted?" Voice recording captures everything.

Create Estimates On-Site

Strike while the iron is hot. Customers are most likely to accept when you're standing right there. Send the estimate before you leave.

Works in English and Spanish

Our AI understands both languages fluently, so you can speak naturally in whichever language you prefer.

Pro Tips for Better Results

1. Speak Clearly, But Naturally

You don't need to talk like a robot. Normal conversational speech works great. Just avoid mumbling or talking too fast.

2. Include Quantities

Instead of "they need some outlets installed," say "they need four outlets installed in the garage."

3. Mention Locations

"The bathroom on the second floor" or "the HVAC unit on the roof" helps organize the estimate properly.

4. Describe Conditions

"The water heater is in a tight crawl space, so it'll take extra time" helps the AI add appropriate labor adjustments.

5. Use Your Pricebook Terms

If your pricebook has "Premium Faucet Install," use that phrase. The AI will match it directly.

Real-World Example

Here's a real voice recording from one of our users (used with permission):

"Alright, this is the Johnson residence on Oak Street. Starting in the living room—they want to add two ceiling fans, both rooms have existing light fixtures so we'll need to reinforce the boxes. Moving to the kitchen, they want under-cabinet lighting, looks like about 12 linear feet, LED strips. The big job is the panel upgrade—current panel is 100 amps, we're going to 200. It's on the exterior wall, easy access. Also adding a whole-house surge protector while we're in there. Oh, and they asked about a smart thermostat—the Ecobee, hardwired not battery."

Generated Estimate: | Item | Price | |------|-------| | Ceiling fan installation (2) with box reinforcement | $590 | | Under-cabinet LED lighting - 12 linear ft | $485 | | Electrical panel upgrade 100A to 200A | $2,800 | | Whole-house surge protector | $350 | | Smart thermostat install (Ecobee) | $275 | | Total | $4,500 |

Time to create: 4 minutes of talking + 2 minutes of review = 6 minutes total.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it work offline? You need an internet connection for the AI processing, but recordings are saved locally if you lose connection and will process when you're back online.

What about background noise? The AI is trained to filter out common job site noise—generators, traffic, other conversations. For best results, hold the phone reasonably close when speaking.

Can I edit after recording? Absolutely. Voice-to-Estimate is a starting point. You can add, remove, or modify any line item before sending.

Is my data secure? Yes. Recordings are processed and immediately deleted. We never store audio files. Only the generated text estimate is saved to your account.

Getting Started

Voice-to-Estimate is included in Pro and Business plans. Here's how to try it:

1. Sign up for a free trial
2. Download the mobile app (iOS or Android)
3. Tap "Voice Estimate" on the home screen
4. Start talking!

Your first few estimates might need more editing as you get used to the system. By your fifth estimate, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

The Future of Estimating

Voice-to-Estimate is just the beginning. We're working on:

• Photo-to-Estimate: Take a photo, get an estimate
• Video walkthrough: Record video and generate estimates from visual + audio
• Real-time pricing updates: Automatic material price adjustments

The goal is simple: spend less time on paperwork, more time on profitable work.

Ready to try it? Start your free trial today.