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PlotPacer is the homeowner’s file for an Irish self-build: a 74-step schedule under Plan, a planning cost number, Money (budget, stage payments, and drawdowns), Documents, and optional Services and Electrical sketches.

The goal is simple: one place for the sequence, the euro figure, and the evidence your lender will ask for. It does not message contractors, and the cost figure is a planning estimate — not a quantity-surveyor takeoff.

After you sign in, you'll see Set up your build. Upload your plans, builder quote or contract, costings or other project PDFs. PlotPacer will organise them and show you the details to check.

Choose Start my project when you're happy. PlotPacer loads the standard 74-step build plan, saves your current stage and approved build cost, and shows Your project is ready.

No documents handy? Choose I don't have them handy and enter your current stage. County, floor area and build cost are optional.

You can start at any stage. Choose the stage that best describes your site now. PlotPacer focuses the plan around it and marks the earlier steps as done during setup, without assuming completion dates. If it assumed too much, Plan lets you reopen a stage.

You do not need a full budget or a task-by-task cost breakdown to start.

PlotPacer is a web app that works on your phone browser. Open plotpacer.ie on your phone and add it to your home screen for quick access on site. A dedicated iOS and Android app is on the roadmap.

The agent lives in the blue Ask button in the bottom-right corner after you finish setup. There is no separate dashboard card for this.

1. Log in to PlotPacer in your browser (phone, tablet, or desktop).
2. Open the right project — the agent uses whichever project is active. If you use multiple projects, switch first so answers match the site you mean.
3. Tap the blue Agent button in the bottom-right corner.
4. Enable once — read the short banner and confirm. That records consent for your account so the agent can read project context.
5. Ask in plain language. It may propose updates (tasks, expenses, library notes, and similar); anything financially sensitive should ask you to confirm first.
6. Review activity — from the dashboard use Review agent activity to spot-check or undo changes.

For you. WhatsApp messages only reach your PlotPacer workspace after your phone number is verified and linked to the same login you use in the browser. PlotPacer routes replies using that link so messages cannot drift into someone else's project.

Open WhatsApp settings while logged in (use the project switcher first if you manage multiple builds). The page walks you through four steps: confirm project → register number → verify from your phone → try commands.

Agent consent. Web agent consent is separate from WhatsApp linking: verified WhatsApp can save photos or PDFs to your routed project and accept simple commands such as add task … or note … once your host enables those flows. Full conversational agent features stay in the browser.

Photos and documents. Images or PDFs you send are stored in Documents. Caption them with an evidence tag (for example tag last material invoice) so drawdown checks can use them. A bare invoice is not enough for both materials and labour — use invoice materials or invoice labour. Documents shows a WhatsApp view and a Needs tag state for untagged files.

Quick task capture. Once your number is verified and linked, you can send a plain message starting with add task followed by a short title — for example add task Chase solicitor. That creates a task on the project this WhatsApp number is routed to (not “whatever tab was open last” in your browser). It does not use the build agent; anything richer stays on the web agent. attach last to Chase solicitor links the last WhatsApp file to that task.

Site notes. Send note followed by short text on the first line (you can continue on further lines). Text is appended to the project’s Site Notes reference page on the same routed project — again not tied to whichever browser tab is open.

Open tasks snapshot. Send tasks or list tasks alone on one line to get a short read-only list of open tasks for that routed project (completed tasks are omitted).

Command summary. Send help alone on one line for a compact reminder of what you can text.

Optional replies. Whether PlotPacer texts you back after photos or commands depends on settings your host controls.

To protect accounts, PlotPacer may briefly cap how many tasks or notes you can add from WhatsApp per minute. If that happens, wait or continue in the browser.

Open Plan → Build estimate. Use your county, floor area and specification to prepare a planning figure. The room walkthrough and the calculator use the same cost engine.

If you've already approved a contract or build total, Overview can use it without a task breakdown. Preparing an indicative breakdown is optional.

A calculated estimate is not a quantity-surveyor takeoff from your drawings. Check any changes before applying them to your project. Money category targets also require confirmation.

Plan → Services is for marking pipes and ducts on your drawing before you pour. The review is a coordination sketch — it is not a construction-ready CAD pack and it does not replace your Assigned Certifier.

Plan → Electrical is for marking sockets, lighting, and circuits on a floor plan. Same honesty: your working layout, not a certified design.

They nest under Money: Budget (category targets and bills), Payments (stage agreed / requested / paid), and Drawdowns (lender cash versus the facility). Those three ledgers will not automatically match — the cashflow note on Money is the join.

PlotPacer provides stage-by-stage evidence checklists based on common Irish self-build lender practice. You can record your lender (Bank of Ireland, AIB, PTSB, Haven, EBS, ICS, Finance Ireland, or other) for reference — exact submission requirements still vary by lender.

• Checklists — generic stage evidence guidance (certificates, photos, invoices, insurance, compliance)
• Lender selection — label your project; confirm requirements with your lender

Per-lender checklist variants and support for additional lenders are in development. If your lender isn't listed, use the generic task library — many core evidence requirements are similar across lenders.

A hold point is a task that must be completed before you can progress to the next stage. They exist because certain sign-offs and inspections are legal or lender requirements — skipping them isn't optional.

Common hold points include:

• Assigned Certifier inspection sign-off at foundations
• Engineer interim certificate at roof level
• BER assessment at completion

If a hold point is blocking you, it means the task genuinely needs to be completed before you proceed. It's not a PlotPacer restriction — it reflects what your bank and BC(A)R compliance require.

Allow at least 3–4 weeks before you intend to request a drawdown. In practice:

• Engineer certificates can take 1–2 weeks to arrange and issue
• Solicitor confirmation adds further processing time
• Bank valuation (if required at your stage) needs to be booked in advance
• Once you submit, banks typically take 5–10 working days to process

PlotPacer's task list flags these dependencies so you can see them coming before they become urgent.

Lenders vary. If your bank uses a different number of stages or different terminology, use the stage that most closely matches your current build progress. The underlying tasks and evidence requirements are largely consistent — the stage names are the main difference.

If your lender is significantly different, email us at [email protected] with your lender's stage model and we'll look at adding support.

The default self-build task library contains 74 tasks across all build stages, from planning permission through to snagging and final completion. They are sequenced in the correct build order with dependencies and hold points built in.

The library is based on Irish self-build requirements including BC(A)R compliance, SEAI requirements, RECI certification, and standard lender stage models. It was built specifically for Irish conditions — not adapted from a UK or generic construction template.

Yes. Every build is different and you can add custom tasks to your project. Custom tasks don't affect the sequencing of the core library — they sit alongside it.

You can also name who a live task is waiting on. Completing a task can start the next one. PlotPacer reminds you to chase; it does not message the contractor. Mark I chased them, drop their reply, or record a promised date on the task.

Yes. Click on the task and toggle the status back to incomplete. If you're having trouble with a specific task, email us at [email protected] and we can sort it.

PlotPacer uses three levels for outstanding items:

• ⛔ Hard block — You cannot request drawdown. A mandatory sign-off, cert, or legal requirement is missing.
• ⚠️ Warning — Recommended action before proceeding. Won't necessarily stop your drawdown but could cause delays.
• ℹ️ Info — Something to be aware of. No action required immediately.

PlotPacer accepts the following file formats:

• Images: JPEG, JPG, PNG
• Documents: PDF

Maximum file size is 15MB per upload. For large photos, compress or resize before uploading. iPhone HEIC photos must be converted to JPEG first.

Yes. Files are stored in EU-based cloud storage and are only accessible to you when you're logged in. No other user can access your files — not even by guessing a URL.

File links are time-limited and expire after 1 hour. If you share a link with someone, it will stop working after that window.

PlotPacer does not sell, share, or analyse your uploaded files. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

A few things to check:

• The upload may have timed out on a slow connection — try uploading again
• Make sure the file is under 15MB and is one of the supported types
• Refresh the page and check the documents section again

If the file still doesn't appear, email [email protected] with the filename and which project it was for.

You get 14 days free with full access to all features. No credit card is required to start. At the end of your trial you can subscribe to continue — or not, with no obligation.

You'll receive a reminder 3 days before your trial ends.

PlotPacer has two plans:

• Solo — €14.99/month: One self-build project. For homeowners managing their own build.
• Contractor — €29.99/month: Multiple projects. For self-builders managing multiple sites or contractors supporting clients.

Both plans include the task library, cost estimator, evidence uploads, Money (budget, payments, drawdowns), and the Services and Electrical sketches.

You can cancel any time from your account settings page. Your access continues until the end of the current billing period — you won't be charged again after that.

If you have any trouble cancelling, email [email protected] and we'll sort it within one working day.

This occasionally happens when there's a brief delay between a payment completing and our system receiving the confirmation. Try logging out and back in — this usually resolves it.

If your account is still showing incorrectly after 15 minutes, email [email protected] with your account email and we'll fix it immediately. We don't hold payments without activating access.

If you've been charged and feel it was in error, or you're unhappy with the product, email [email protected] within 14 days of the charge. We'll review it and issue a refund if appropriate. We'd rather sort it fairly than argue about it.

On the Sign In page, use Forgot password?. We’ll email a reset link if an account exists for that address. The link expires after one hour.

If the email doesn’t arrive, check spam, then email [email protected] with the subject line “Password reset”.

All PlotPacer data — your account, projects, tasks, budgets, and uploaded files — is stored on EU-based infrastructure in Frankfurt, Germany. Your data does not leave the European Economic Area.

Yes. Go to Account Settings → Export Data to download a JSON file containing your account details, projects, tasks, and budget items. This is your right under GDPR (data portability).

If you can't access the export feature, email [email protected] and we'll send you your data within 30 days.

Go to Account → Delete account (you will need your password and a confirmation phrase). Or email [email protected] with the subject line "Delete my account". We will permanently delete your account and associated data — projects, tasks, budgets, uploads, and payment records — within 30 days.

This is your right to erasure under GDPR and we will confirm once it's complete.

No. PlotPacer does not sell, share, or monetise your personal data. Your build data is yours. We use it only to provide the service. See our Privacy Policy for the full picture.