> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.x.build/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Estimating and publishing

> Build an estimate in the project's chat and publish the proposal from your phone

## From a description to a published proposal

Describe a job in plain language in the project's chat — your site photos are the context — and XBuild builds a line-itemed estimate, then a proposal you can publish before you leave the driveway. The first draft is a starting point you refine.

### 1. Open the project's chat

You'll need to be **signed in**, under the right **company** in the drawer, and holding **tokens** — estimating and scanning consume them ([How tokens work](/plans-billing/how-tokens-work)). Open the project from **Home** or **Projects** and tap **AI Estimator** in the pill row (the row beneath offers **Create an estimate**, or **Pick up where you left off** once you've chatted). For a brand-new job, **Create an estimate** on Home opens the **New project** sheet from [Getting started](/mobile-app/getting-started), then the chat (project page underneath for **Back**). Creating a project and opening its chat for the first time need a connection.

The chat header shows the project name — tap it to rename or delete the project — with buttons for the team activity thread, **Project Files** (the folder), and the proposal **Preview**.

### 2. What the estimator can see

Pinned at the top of the chat, the **What the estimator can see** card lists the project's **photos**, **documents**, **checklists**, and **linked connectors** under one line: *Everything on this project is used automatically — you don't need to re-attach it in the chat.* Tap a photo tile to open it (**+N** for the album), a document to read it, or a checklist for its status; the welcome message repeats it with live counts. See [How the AI works](/introduction/how-the-ai-works).

### 3. Describe the job

The more specific the description, the better the first draft. Use the microphone to record a voice message instead. The **Add** button (paperclip) attaches photos, videos, and documents from your phone; **Connect** pulls from a connector like [CompanyCam](/connectors/companycam) or [EagleView](/connectors/eagleview); a camera button shoots a fresh photo.

### 4. Watch it work

The AI shows its progress in the conversation — a thinking indicator, then steps like **Scanning images** and **Building estimate**, checked off as they finish. A **proposal card** appears when it's done, and every saved version gets its own card. Timing depends on how much you attached — see [Processing times](/features/processing-times).

### 5. Review and edit

Tap a proposal card — or **swipe left** — to open the **Preview**, exactly as the homeowner sees it. Swipe back for the chat.

* **Ask in chat.** "Add gutter guards to the whole house." XBuild makes the change and saves a new version.
* **Edit directly.** In the Preview, enter edit mode to change sections, line items, and pricing. The chat composer locks while editing — **"Exit edit mode to continue chatting"** — and saving creates a new version. See [Editing estimates and proposals](/features/editing-estimates-and-proposals).

### 6. Project Files

The **folder** button in the chat header opens **Project Files**:

* **Versions** — the proposal's version history; tap one to view in the Preview or edit it.
* **Photos** — the project's [album](/mobile-app/albums-and-sharing).
* **Documents** — uploads plus everything publishing generates, including insurance deliverables.
* **Claim activity and invoices** — on submitted insurance jobs: claim correspondence and supplementing invoices ([Insurance supplement flow](/features/insurance-supplement-flow)).

A version tapped on the project page opens in the chat's Preview.

### 7. Publish

Publishing produces a **shareable link** the homeowner can view and sign and a **PDF** — plus the Xactimate files on insurance jobs. Tap **Publish**:

| Step                          | What you do                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| ----------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Publish**                   | Recap of what you'll get                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| **Property Details**          | Confirm the address and **Who needs to sign** — owner name (required), email (optional), additional signers. Insurance: owner name and a valid ZIP required. Retail: also sets who gets the signing link. |
| **Email**                     | **Send email to homeowner** — recipient, subject, message, and signature prefilled from the project and your branding; off to share the link yourself                                                     |
| **Team**                      | Teammates to notify; admins can invite someone new (uses [member seats](/features/member-seats))                                                                                                          |
| **Checkout** (insurance only) | Exact token cost next to your balance, before anything is deducted                                                                                                                                        |
| **Publishing → Published**    | Retail almost immediately; insurance longer ([Processing times](/features/processing-times)). Copy the link, view, download the PDF, or share.                                                            |

Afterward the proposal's actions stay on the project: **Download**, **Print**, **Send email**, **Share**, **View proposal**. Publishing again after edits creates a new version — see [Publishing your proposal](/features/publishing-your-proposal).

### 8. Share the link or sign in person

The published screen and the proposal's actions share one set of controls:

* **Link row** and **Share** hand out the **customer's own signable link** (tap the row to copy). It reads **Loading link…** until XBuild has confirmed who signs; on **Couldn't load the link**, tap to retry.
* **View** / **View proposal** is your own look — it doesn't count as the homeowner viewing and never opens deposit checkout on your device.
* **Sign in person** — retail only, while a homeowner signature is outstanding — opens the proposal in your phone's browser at the signature; the signer list refreshes when the phone comes back, and the button disappears after the last signature. **Manage signers** (retail) adds or edits who signs and shows each one's status — add a signer there if **Sign in person** isn't offered.

Insurance proposals have no signature step — neither control appears, and **View claim** replaces **View proposal**. Signer rules: [E-signatures and authorization](/features/e-signatures-and-authorization). Deposit checkout never runs on your device — the customer is emailed their own payment link, so their email must be on the signer list ([Deposits and getting paid](/features/deposits-and-getting-paid)).

### 9. QuickBooks invoicing status

With the [QuickBooks](/connectors/quickbooks) connector, the chat shows a read-only **QuickBooks Estimate** or **QuickBooks Invoice** card per sync — **Queued**, **Review**, **Needs attention**, or **Created**, with the reason for any hold; matching items, resolving holds, and generating or sending the invoice happen on the web.

### 10. Submit to insurance

On a published insurance job, the wizard offers **Submit to insurance** — the scope and report go to the carrier and XBuild's supplementing starts, ending on **"Sent to insurance!"**. See [Publishing to Xactimate](/features/publishing-xactimate), [Publishing to Symbility](/features/publishing-symbility), and [Insurance supplement flow](/features/insurance-supplement-flow).

### 11. Troubleshooting common issues

* **"You're offline" or "Connect to the internet to start this project's chat."** Creating a project, opening its chat for the first time, and publishing need a connection. See [Offline and syncing](/mobile-app/offline-and-syncing).
* **"No contractor selected."** Open the drawer and pick your company or Location.
* **Insufficient tokens at checkout.** Checkout shows how many more you need; top up and continue — see [Manual top-ups](/plans-billing/manual-top-ups).
* **A QuickBooks card says "Needs attention."** On hold for the reason shown; resolve it on the web, where the retry lives — see [QuickBooks](/connectors/quickbooks).
* **"Failed to build estimate."** Send again; the retry is safe. If it keeps failing, contact [support@x.build](mailto:support@x.build).

For further assistance, contact XBuild Support at [support@x.build](mailto:support@x.build).