From first capture to final order, Hover helps you win more jobs, faster. Whether from your desk or in the field, bookmark this guide as your go-to for making every step simpler - design, estimate, order, and build.
Topics:
Why Hover is a smart way to work
With just 8 exterior photos (or a set of blueprints), Hover creates detailed measurements, 3D models, floor plans, and even a virtual walkthrough for interior spaces. Hover is more than measurements - it’s an all-in-one platform for every step:
Design: Show homeowners realistic previews and editable 3D models.
Estimate: Build accurate quotes in minutes.
Order: Generate material lists and send them directly to your distributor.
Inspect: Take photos, mark up damage, and create clear reports.
How contractors like you are winning with Hover:
Want to see what success looks like in the field? Discover how contractors across the country are streamlining workflows, closing more jobs, and growing their business with Hover. Hover Blog: Success Stories from the Field
New to Hover?
Here's everything you need to get your team set up:
As a Hover Admin, you’ll have access to the Team page where you can view everyone in your organization (and any sub-organizations). From this page, you can easily invite new members, edit roles, reassign users, or remove access - giving you full control over your team setup.
Note: Only Hover admins can access the Team page.
Wondering which roles to assign to your teammates? Here's what each role has access to:
For step-by-step instructions, check out these articles:
Learn how to add, edit, reassign, or remove a team member
How to create and use a single sign-on (SSO) with Hover
Not finding what you need?
Explore our App Management Tips for more guidance
Still need help? Our Hover Support team is here for you. See the contact information listed at the end of this article.
Free webinars for construction pros
Whether you’re brand-new or a Hover veteran, our live and on-demand webinars help you sharpen your skills (and maybe even pick up a new trick). Review our upcoming webinars and click on a topic of interest to save your seat.
Can’t attend live? Register anyway and we’ll send you the recap with the recording, slides, and extra resources.
Upcoming sessions (EST):
Hover 101 takes place bi-weekly on Tuesdays.
Instant Design webinars take place bi-weekly on Thursdays.
Material List webinars take place once a month.
We also have on-demand webinars:
Exterior projects made easy
Once you've downloaded the app and are ready to take pictures of a property's exterior, here's how to get started:
Tap Start a project from the home screen, or tap the + in the navigation menu
Tap Exterior Measurements
Fill in the property details
Specify what you're measuring: Roof only or Full exterior (complete)
Tap Get started
Follow the instructions to complete and upload the capture
Note: For exterior photos, try to minimize obstructions like cars or trees by experimenting with different angles and taking as many additional photos as needed.
Check out this article for more detailed instructions.
Hover for new construction
Skip the manual takeoffs. Just upload your plans and let Hover do the work.
Before You Start
Make sure your plans include:
Elevation drawings for each side (front, back, left, right).
Floor plans for each level with legible measurements.
Clear, high-resolution files (PDF, DWG, DXF).
Upload Your Files
Log into your account on web or mobile:
Web - On the “Projects” page you will see a new construction tile
Mobile - Select “Start” next to Upload Blueprints
Click choose a file to upload your blueprint(s) from your device
If using the website, you also have the option to drag and drop files
Acknowledge the terms and conditions, then click Upload and continue
Select Your Output
Everything from file: Hover builds all structures and variations (each counted as a job).
Specify details: Choose only the structures you need.
Deliverables are ready in your account within 24 hours, grouped automatically for easy tracking.
Check out this article collection for more detailed instructions and FAQs.
Change the way you sell, in an instant
If you’ve ever had a homeowner squint at a color swatch or stall on a decision because they “just can’t picture it”… Instant Design is here to flip the script.
Hover's Instant Design turns a single photo of a home into a realistic, fully editable design mockup—in seconds. It lets you:
Instantly visualize different products, colors, and styles on your customer's actual house
Inspire customers with both interior and exterior home projects
Get from "I’m not sure" to "That’s it!" in one meeting
Snap your first design-ready photo
Take a clear photo of the front of the home, or the room the homeowner wants to remodel (depending on whether it's an exterior or interior project)
Open the Hover app
Tap the + to start a new project and select Design Instantly
When prompted, tap Add photo
Label the space
If it's an interior space, select whether it's a kitchen, bedroom, etc.
Within seconds, you’ll have an editable model you can customize
Note: For exterior photos, avoid obstructions like cars or trees if you can. Review this step-by-step article for additional information.
Customize and present designs
Want instant inspiration?
Tap Inspire Me to try on trending styles instantly.
Want to customize the design?
We show you exactly how to do that in this article: Edit an image with Instant Design
Ready to download a design to include in a sales proposal?
Tap the 3 dots in the top right corner of the image
Select "download photo" from the menu - it will be saves as a .jpeg to your device
Prefer to see it in a video format? These 2 minute videos dive into how to get the most out of our Inspiration and Customization features:
How to use Instant Design's Inspire me feature
How to use Instant Design's Customization feature
Material List takeoffs in minutes
With Hover, you can effortlessly tackle siding and roofing takeoffs like never before. Just snap a few property photos (or upload blueprints), choose a template, and Hover does the rest - no tracing, measuring, or manual calculations required!
With Hover's Material List, you can:
Turn takeoffs into quotes in minutes.
Generate professional bids from blueprints
Send ready-to-go purchase orders directly to your supplier
We currently integrate with ABC, SRS, and QXO (formerly Beacon Building Products), so you can go from takeoff to order in just a few clicks.
Connect to your distributor and start ordering through Hover:
Check out this article collection for more detailed instructions and FAQs.
Note: We're in the process of updating our Material List help center articles to highlight recent enhancements.
Hover for Restoration
Shaping the workflow for the modern restoration professional through the storm and beyond.
Engage with carriers efficiently:
From a few smartphone photos, Hover helps you communicate project scope more effectively with adjusters throughout the claims process.
Handle more claims:
Enable your team to gather and submit information quickly and accurately using Hover; doing more with less to maintain profits margins when a storm hits - even when labor is limited.
Build credibility:
Don’t just tell, show. Inspire trust and stand out from the competition by helping homeowners understand their claim packet and select products and colors via an interactive 3D model of their home
Hover is designed with flexibility in mind, so you can use the platform whenever and however it fits your workflow. Some of our features you may find most convenient are highlighted below:
Submit photos, and pay later.
No cost until you're ready to submit the project! Follow the steps below to complete a Photos Only submission.
1) Start a new project
Tap Start a project or the '+' at the bottom of your screen
Tap Exterior measurements
2) Enter property details
You will be directed to add details about the project, such as:
Name of the property
Address of the property
The 'Bill to' (if more than one wallet is on file)
Toggle the switch to Save photos now. Order later.
If "on", the deliverable will auto-fill as Photos only
3) Take photos
Our in-app photo guide will pop up first with some "best practices" and safety reminders. Once you've reviewed them all, click Continue and Start capture.
Simply tap any spot on the grid to get started!
4) Order the Hover 3D data
When you are ready to order, you can do so from either the web or mobile app.
From the web app:
From the mobile app:
Hover integrates with Verisk and Cotality.
We’ve spent years developing our partnership with two of the top estimatics platforms in the industry: Verisk and Cotality. We are proud to offer robust integrations with both Xactimate and Claims Workspace - free of charge.
Once the integrations are set up, you can seamlessly import Hover property data directly into your claim with just a few clicks.
This data package includes:
A detailed sketch - for both exterior and interior claims
The full measurement report (including opening deductions)
And any photos taken - including damage
Click the links below for more information:
Article: How to take photos onsite and order later
Blog post: How Hover Can Help Restoration Pros Weather Any Storm
Ready to set up the Verisk + Hover integration? Start here.
Ready to set up the Cotality + Hover integration? Start here.
Hover for Retail: impress homeowners, close more deals
Turn every appointment into a polished, confidence-building experience.
From the very first impression to closing the deal, Hover equips you with the tools to win - Whether they’re looking to repair damage or simply refresh the look of their home.
First impressions: Arrive with innovative tech that sets you apart from the competition.
Show options clearly: Preview materials and colors on their actual home thanks to Hover's instant photo mockups and 3D models.
Build trust with accuracy: Deliver accurate measurements and transparent material costs.
Review the resources below for additional best practices so you are prepared for anything:
This 10 minute course walks through everything Instant Design has to offer.
This 2 minute video walks through Instant Design's inspiration feature.
This 2 minute video shows how to customize an instant design.
This article contains best practices for exterior property submissions.
Virtual appointment tips
Invite others to Hover the property.
Hover makes it fast and easy for contractors and homeowners to capture everything needed before the job even starts. Send a Hover Invite directly to a homeowner or professional partner via the mobile or web app, and in-app guides will support the recipient as they complete the photo documentation.
They’ll get a guided experience in the app - and you’ll get fast, organized results.
No expensive equipment or certification required
Easy for anyone to use
In-app guides support invitees as they Hover the property
No need to perform manual measurements onsite
Messaging is key. Here are some best practices when sending an invite:
Confirm the recipient has a smartphone or other compatible device and the ability to safely navigate around the property.
Position Hover as a simple way to kickstart the project virtually.
Explain the benefits: Faster, more organized project planning, shorter onsite visit - or NO onsite needed at all
Send the invite while on the phone and confirm receipt
Ask when they plan to complete the Hover so you can keep the project moving
Review this article for FAQs and best practices when sending an invite.
Pro tips from the field
With Hover in hand, you can turn a standard appointment into an interactive, visual experience that gets homeowners excited about their project - and confident about working with you!
Here are some field-tested tips to help you get the most out of every onsite appointment:
Set the stage early: Explain what Hover is and how it works - it builds confidence and gets homeowners excited to see their home in 3D.
Capture with care: Walk around the property together while taking photos. It shows transparency and lets you highlight details they might have missed.
Show, don’t just tell: Use Hover’s 3D model or Instant Design tool during the appointment to help the homeowner see their options instead of just imagining them.
Bring the numbers to life: Review measurements, estimates, or material lists with them onsite - it helps connect the visuals to real project details.
Close with clarity: Before leaving, recap next steps and let them know how they’ll receive their Hover design options, or estimate - so they stay engaged after the visit.
For the best report results, follow our Exterior Capture Best Practices to ensure your photos are spot-on and your reports come back faster.
For more troubleshooting tips, check out the following resources:
Hover plays nicely with your tools
We’ve spent years building partnerships with the industry’s top construction platforms - all to make your jobs simpler and faster. By leveraging our integrations, you can seamlessly import property data right into your preferred systems; eliminating repetitive work and reducing errors.
Below are guides for some of our most popular, partner-built integrations. Want to see everything we connect with? Check out our full integration suite.
Note: Admin-level access is required to initially set up a Hover integration.
Still have questions?
If you already have a Hover account manager, reach out to them for more help. Don't have a Hover account manager? No problem - our support team can help!
Call us (+1.844.754.6837). We're real people and ready to help!
Email us ([email protected]) We'll usually reply in about 30 min.
Chat with us. We generally answer in less than 3 mins. Click the chat icon in the bottom right of your screen.