An update tells your client how their job is going. It goes on the client portal straight away and is emailed to every client following it, so they don't have to chase you.
Write and post an update
Open the project and click Client portal in the project's menu.
On the Updates tab, click Send an update.
Give it a Title, such as "Kitchen first fix done".
Fill in the parts that matter this week, and leave the rest empty:
Done this week: what got done, in plain words.
Coming up: what's next, and roughly when.
Needs your decision: anything your client needs to choose or approve.
Anything unexpected: surprises or delays, and what you're doing about them.
Under Photos, click Add photos, tick the photos that show the progress best and confirm. Add a caption under each if you like.
Under Documents, click Add documents to attach a new drawing, an approval or a certificate.
Leave Also make a PDF of it ticked to give your client a printable copy, and pick a Photo size: Large photos (one a page), Standard (two a page) or Compact (four a page). Untick it if you don't want a PDF.
Click Post update.
The bottom of the window says how many clients it will be emailed to. Photos and documents you pick for an update go on the portal with it. Check the photos don't show neighbours' homes, or people who haven't agreed to be in them.
Let AI draft it for you
At the top of the Send an update window, click Draft it for me. Buildscout writes the update from the photos, finished tasks and walkthroughs since your last update (or the past week, for your first one), and picks photos to go with it. Read it through, change anything you like, and swap or take out photos before you post it.
What happens after you post
The update is on the portal straight away.
Your clients are emailed a few minutes later, so a correction you make straight after posting goes out with it.
If you asked for a PDF, the update shows Making the PDF report…, then a PDF report link. The PDF is also saved in the project's Documents and put on the portal.
When a client opens it, the update shows Seen and when.
Change or delete an update
Click … next to an update:
Edit: change it. The change shows on the portal straight away, and nobody's emailed about it.
Make a PDF of it, or Make the PDF again with a different photo size. A new PDF replaces the last one as a new version.
Delete: confirm with Delete update. It comes off the portal for good. Anyone already emailed about it keeps the email.
Why is Post update greyed out?
An update needs a title, and either something written in one of the four parts or at least one photo or document.
Why didn't Draft it for me work?
"Nothing's been added since the last update to draft one from." There are no new photos, documents, finished tasks or walkthroughs since your last update. Add some photos or tick off some tasks, or write it yourself.
If you see a button to get Projects instead of Draft it for me, your plan doesn't include AI drafting, for example because it has ended. You can still write updates yourself.
Why does it say "No clients to email yet"?
Nobody is following the portal, so the update only goes on the portal. Add your client on the Clients tab and they'll be emailed from then on.
Why did the PDF fail?
If you see The PDF couldn't be made. Try making it again from the menu., click … next to the update and choose Make the PDF again.
Why can't I post an update?
On a complete project, nothing new can go on the portal. Reopen the project to post again.