How to Add Custom Columns, Line Items, Descriptions and Images

Houzz Pro allows you to customize estimates to ensure you show all the relevant information to clients or leads. You can easily add your own custom columns, line items, line item descriptions, line item images, and even adjust the client view of your document before sending.

How to Add Custom Columns

If the current format of your estimate is missing a relevant column, you can add a custom column.

To start:

1. Open up your relevant estimate.

2. Scroll to the far right of your screen until you get to the end of all your document columns. In the column header, you will see a + icon. Click on this icon to add a new column.

3. Input the column name and the column type — Text, Check Box, Single Select, Date, Duration or Link. The column type will determine the format you can use in the column and might require you to add more formatting information (for example, naming available options for single select). Click Create once complete.

4. The new column will now show up in your document. You can add content by directly clicking on each cell, and then inputting the relevant information.

Please Note: Custom columns won’t sync to your integrated accounting platform, such as QuickBooks Online or Xero.

How to Add Line Items

Within your estimate, you can quickly add new line items as you create your document.

To start:

1. Open up your relevant estimate.

2. To add a new line item, you can either click the + icon on another line item, or you click the Add Items button on the right.

If you select Create New, you will be able to input all the details for the item to add it to your estimate.

If you select From Parts List, you will be able to select an existing item from your Library to add to your estimate.

Please Note: For items added from the Parts List, you are still able to edit details for this item once added to your estimate, but any changes made will only apply to this estimate. To permanently edit an item, you must do so in the Library section.

How to Add Line Item Descriptions or Images

You can also add custom descriptions or images for individual line items to better explain the expense to your client.

To start:

1. Open up your relevant estimate.

2. Go to the line item and click either Add a Description or the Image icon, depending on what you want to edit.

3. When you edit the description: A screen will pop up where you can input the details. Click Save, and your line item description will now show up directly in your document.

4. When you edit the image: A screen will pop up where you can upload up to five images. Click Save, and your line item images will now show up directly in your document.

How to Customize Document Settings

If you need to adjust your document's format, including adding or removing columns, item descriptions, images or numbering, select the Settings button near the top of your document.

From here, you can toggle on and off columns, item descriptions, images and autonumbering based on what information you actually need.

Your document settings are automatically saved as default for next time, including your column names and column order. It’s saved based on the last document created of each document type.

How to Customize Your Client's View

With just a few simple clicks in preview mode, you can easily adjust which details your clients can and can't see on your estimates. This feature ensures that relevant information stays on the estimate for your records, but you are still able to hide something from the client if needed.

Read this article to learn more about this process: How to Customize What Your Client Sees on Your Estimate