> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://learn.withessential.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://learn.withessential.com/customers-and-work/scheduling/create-a-new-visit.md).

# Create a new visit

A visit usually belongs to a job at a customer's property. You can schedule it immediately or leave it in the Backlog to plan later. Your business can also define no-property visit types, such as Tech Unavailable, for blocking technician time without a customer, property, or job.

![Create visit form](/files/tHIV2E30esMsg3CAb2aF)

## Create the visit

1. Open the Scheduling page.
2. Click Add next to the Backlog heading.
3. Choose the work to be done. For property-based work, choose the customer and property; if you start from a job or task, the job can already be filled in. Once a property is chosen, an Additional Context panel appears to the right of the form and stays visible on both steps. It is organized into Customer (overdue-invoice alert, customer notes, every non-empty customer custom field), Property (open jobs at the property with their visit types and dates, Property Access Info, Property Notes, every non-empty property custom field), and Asset Groups (the equipment groups on site, grouped by type). Long notes and custom-field values show three lines until you click **Show all**. Rows with a chevron expand in place; the Open Customer, Open Property, Open Asset Groups, and individual job links open in a new tab so the half-filled form is never lost. The panel can be collapsed with the arrow in its corner, and that choice is remembered on your device (shown by default). On smaller screens this context appears below the property selector instead. This context is view-only in the scheduling form.
4. Enter the estimated duration. Essential uses it to calculate the visit end time.
5. Add a start time and technician if you already know them. Leave the time empty to place the visit in the Backlog.
6. Add contacts if they should appear for the technician or receive visit reminders.
7. Add notes or instructions.
8. Save the visit.

## No-property visits

If every selected work order uses a visit type that does not require a property, the form hides the property and contact fields. These visits are for technician availability blocks and similar scheduling holds. They cannot be mixed with property-based visit types on the same visit, and an existing visit cannot be changed between no-property and property-based by editing its work orders.

## Notes and instructions

Technician Instructions are shown to the crew in the mobile app and to the back office. Scheduling Notes (Back Office) stay internal and are not shown to technicians.

A visit can also be created from the New menu or straight from a task on the Tasks page. The New menu carries context from customer, property, contact, and job pages when available. The Create Job / Visit quick action on Recurring Services, Quotes, and Deficiencies tasks opens the same visit form, prefilled with the task's customer, property, and job. On Jobs tasks, use Create Another Visit.

Many visits are created automatically from recurring service schedules, so the backlog often fills in on its own and your job is mainly to place those visits on the calendar.

> **Where to find it:** Scheduling page, the Add button next to the Backlog heading

## Related guides

* [Add work orders (visit types) and contacts with reminders to a visit](/customers-and-work/scheduling/add-work-orders-visit-types-and-contacts-with-reminders-to-a-visit.md)
* [Exact time vs. estimated, duration, technician count, and due date](/customers-and-work/scheduling/exact-time-vs-estimated-duration-technician-count-and-due-date.md)
* [Reserve inventory, flag expected asset group inspections, and two kinds of notes](/customers-and-work/scheduling/reserve-inventory-flag-expected-asset-inspections-and-two-kinds-of-notes.md)
* [Set a visit's arrival window](/customers-and-work/scheduling/set-a-visits-arrival-window.md)
* [Deleting a scheduled visit is permanent](/customers-and-work/scheduling/deleting-a-scheduled-visit-is-permanent.md)
* [Add, edit, or disable visit types](/administration/settings/add-edit-or-disable-visit-types.md)


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