Creating Estimates Without Photos: Text-Only Items and AI Value Suggestions

When You Don't Have Photos

Sometimes you need to create an estimate before you have the items in hand. A consignor calls and describes what they want to sell. A client sends a handwritten list. You're doing a walkthrough of an estate and taking notes, not photos.

Estimint's text-only items let you build estimates from descriptions alone, with AI-powered value suggestions.

How Text-Only Items Work

Adding Text-Only Items

When adding items to an estimate, you'll see two tabs in the Quick Add form: With Photos and Text Only.

Switch to Text Only and you'll see:

• Title (required) — A clear name for the item
• Description (optional) — Any additional details you have
• Value Range — Min and max fields, with a Suggest Value button

AI Value Suggestions

Click Suggest Value and Estimint's AI will analyze your title and description to estimate a market value range. The more detail you provide, the better the estimate.

For example:

• "Oak desk" → Broad range, lower confidence
• "Antique roll-top oak desk, circa 1890, 48 inches wide, original hardware" → Tighter range, higher confidence

The AI will tell you its confidence level. Low-confidence estimates include a note suggesting you adjust the values.

When to Use Text-Only

• Phone consultations — A consignor describes items over the phone
• Estate walkthroughs — You're noting items before a pickup date
• Quick estimates — A client wants a ballpark before committing
• Historical records — Items you've already sold but want to track

Adding Photos Later

Text-only items aren't permanent. When you receive the actual items, you can add photos from the item detail page. Once photos are attached, you can run the full AI analysis to get a proper description and updated values.

After receiving items via the estimate's Receive Items flow, Estimint will prompt you to add photos to any items that don't have them. You can do this immediately or come back later.

Accuracy Considerations

Text-only value suggestions are inherently less accurate than photo-based analysis. The AI can't see condition, maker's marks, or materials. Use text-only values as starting points:

• For formal estimates, add a disclaimer like "estimates are preliminary and subject to physical inspection"
• Regenerate with photos once items are in hand for final values
• Compare with research links after AI processing

Best Practices

1. Be specific in titles — "Tiffany sterling tea set, 5 pieces" beats "silver tea set"
2. Include dimensions — Size significantly affects value
3. Mention provenance — "from a Park Avenue estate" or "purchased at Sotheby's" helps
4. Note condition — "excellent condition" vs. "needs restoration" changes values dramatically