Introducing the Quotr Prompt Library: Ask Your Plans Anything
Meet the Quotr Prompt Library: 41 ready-to-use prompts that turn your plan set into answers.
Quotr’s AI agent reads your drawings, so you can ask it anything, in plain English, and get an answer traced back to the exact sheet it came from. The prompt library is a running list of the questions our own estimators ask most, from “which trade covers exterior wall waterproofing?” to a full rebar extraction. Every one has a copy button, ready to drop into your project.
Here’s a taste of what you can ask.
Review the scope
“I need to take off and price the [trade] scope on this project. Summarize the project basics, the [trade] scope, the material list, and where each item is on the drawings.”
“Which trade usually covers exterior wall waterproofing and insulation?”
“Is the flashing under the windowsills and at wall corners part of the masonry scope?”
“Check the geotechnical report. What are the soil conditions, and do they need special treatment?”
“Read all the bid documents. Pull out the service scope, contract term, basis of award, required licenses, addenda, and open questions, with the file and page for each. Mark anything unclear as unconfirmed.”
Find it in the specs
“What size, material, and spacing are the exterior and interior wall studs?”
“What material, size, and spacing are the floor joists? What about the roof rafters?”
“What drywall specification and size do the drawings require for standard areas? And for wet areas?”
“Does [material] have special shapes or specs? For example, CMU stretcher, single corner, or double corner blocks.”
Count and measure
“Find [item] on the drawings and describe exactly where it is on the page.”
“The schedule and the floor plan show different sizes. Which one should I follow, and why?”
“Extract the rebar by area, element, and sheet. For each record, give the bar size, grade, spacing, direction, layer, element repeats, bar dimensions, hooks, and laps. Use decimal feet. Mark unclear fields as TBD and don’t fill in values yourself.”
Build the estimate
“Create assemblies and items for the material list above, priced from my material library, RSMeans, or Home Depot.”
“Create Exterior Wall, Interior Wall, Floor, and Roof assemblies based on the drawings.”
“What is the price of [item] based on, and what does it include? Why is it measured in [unit]? Show the calculation.”
“Add [material] to [assembly]. Combine [items] into one assembly. Move [item] to [assembly].”
Check the estimate
“Check the [trade] items for duplicates or missing materials. Check for data anomalies and major missing items.”
“Do the excavation, backfill, and haul-off quantities account for the swell factor?”
“Check the concrete estimate for items with no markup, overlapping volumes, unit mismatches, double-counted waste, zero unit prices, and outdated sheet markups. List issues by sheet and item name.”
Three tips for better answers
Name the sheet. “On A-301, …” gets a faster, more precise answer. Say what you want back. Ask for a list, a count, or a table. Follow up. “Where is that on the plans?” traces any answer straight back to the drawing.
Browse the full prompt library, or book a demo to see the agent answer your questions live.
FAQ
Can I use ChatGPT for construction estimating? A general chatbot can’t see your plan set, so it can’t count quantities or point to a sheet. Quotr’s AI agent reads your actual drawings and keeps every answer traceable.
Do these prompts work for any trade? Yes. The library covers masonry, roofing, site work, concrete, framing, drywall, and more. Fill in the bracketed placeholders like [trade] and [item] for your scope.
Will AI replace estimators? No. The AI does the fast first pass, reading, counting, and drafting prices. The estimator reviews and owns the final number.
About Quotr.ai
Quotr.ai is an AI-powered construction estimation, takeoff, and procurement platform built for subcontractors, general contractors, and developers. Backed by Llama Ventures and based in San Francisco. Learn more at quotr.ai. The platform has three parts: Quotr Software (AI takeoff, estimating, and bidding, including the AI agent that reads your plans), Quotr Service (done-for-you cost estimates, takeoffs, and pro formas), and Quotr Procurement (factory-direct materials delivered door-to-door).
