Writing effective AI filter instructionss

Your filter instructions is the heart of FilterWise. It tells the AI exactly what you're looking for in a property listing. This guide teaches you how to write instructions that deliver precise, reliable results.

How Instructions Work

When FilterWise analyzes a listing, it sends your instructions along with the full listing data (scanned from the property page) to an AI model. The AI evaluates each criterion in your instructions and determines whether the listing matches.

The AI returns a structured result:

Each criterion listed separately
The value it extracted from the listing (e.g., "price per m² = €6,200")
Whether it matches (yes/no/uncertain)
Its reasoning

Basic Instructions Structure

A good instructions is a list of criteria the listing must meet. Start simple:

Forward listings that meet ALL of the following:
- At least 3 rooms
- Price under €400,000
- Located in Paris
- Not ground floor

The AI understands natural language, so you don't need special syntax. Write as you would explain to a person.

AND vs. OR Logic

You can combine criteria in two ways:

AND Logic (All criteria must match)

Forward if:
- Price per m² below €7,000
- At least 2 bedrooms
- Has a balcony or terrace
- Not ground floor

A listing must satisfy ALL four criteria to be forwarded.

OR Logic (Any group can match)

Forward if the listing matches ONE of these groups:

Group 1: Price per m² below €5,000

Group 2: Has a terrace AND a view AND price per m² below €8,000

Group 3: Positive cash flow above €300/month

A listing matching ANY one group is forwarded.

Combining AND and OR

You can mix both:

Forward if:
- Located in Paris 11th, 12th, or 20th arrondissement
- AND meets ONE of:
  a) Price per m² below €7,000 and at least 50m²
  b) Has 3+ rooms with a balcony

Writing Better Criteria

Be Specific

❌ "Nice apartment" — too vague ✅ "At least 60m², 3 rooms, south-facing or west-facing" — specific and measurable

Include Thresholds

❌ "Not too expensive" — subjective ✅ "Price under €350,000 OR price per m² under €6,500" — clear thresholds

Reference Available Data

The AI can only evaluate criteria based on information that appears in the listing. Good criteria reference:

Price, surface area, rooms, bedrooms
Location (city, neighborhood, address)
Floor level, orientation
Building type and age
Energy performance ratings
Description text ("quiet", "bright", "renovated", etc.)

Handle Subjective Criteria

Some criteria are inherently subjective. The AI does its best by looking for keywords:

- Quiet street (look for mentions of 'calme', 'quiet', 'impasse', 'residential')
- Natural light (look for 'lumineux', 'bright', 'south-facing', high floor)

Adding hints about what keywords to look for helps the AI make better assessments.

The "Improve Instructions" Feature

FilterWise includes a built-in AI assistant that can help you refine your instructions. On your filter page, click the Improve instructions button next to your instructions editor. The AI will analyze your current instructions and suggest improvements — adding missing criteria, fixing ambiguous wording, and optimizing the structure for better results. See Improving your instructions with AI for details.

Example Instructions

Simple Buyer

Forward if:
- Price under €300,000
- At least 2 bedrooms
- In Lyon or nearby suburbs
- Has outdoor space (balcony, terrace, or garden)

Demanding Buyer

Forward if ALL of the following:
- Price per m² below €7,000
- Located in Paris 10th, 11th, or 12th
- At least 3 rooms (2 bedrooms minimum)
- Not ground floor and not top floor
- Building has an elevator OR apartment is on 1st-3rd floor
- South or west orientation preferred
- No major renovation needed (keywords: 'bon état', 'refait', 'rénové')

Investor

Forward if positive monthly cash flow exceeds €200:
- Revenue = (total rooms - 1) × €550/month
- Loan payment = PMT(3.3%/12, 25×12, price × 1.08)
- Cash flow = Revenue - Loan payment

Also forward if price per m² is more than 20% below the arrondissement average.

Common Mistakes

Too vague: "A nice apartment in a good area" — the AI can't evaluate subjective quality without measurable criteria
Impossible combinations: "Under €200,000, 4 rooms, central Paris" — no listing will match, so you'll get nothing forwarded
Conflicting criteria: "Must need renovation AND must be move-in ready" — contradictory
Referencing unavailable data: "Built after 2010" — if the listing doesn't mention construction year, the AI can't assess this
Overly long instructions: Stay within your plan's word limit. Prioritize the most important criteria.

Iterating on Your Instructions

The best instructions are developed iteratively:

Start broad: Begin with 3-4 key criteria
Review results: Look at matched and rejected listings in your dashboard
Check false negatives: Are good listings being rejected? Your instructions might be too strict
Check false positives: Are bad listings getting through? Add more criteria
Refine: Adjust thresholds, add/remove criteria, improve wording
Use the test panel: Before saving changes, test your new instructions against several listings

Word Limits

Each plan has instructions word limit:

Free: 100 words
Simple: 500 words
Pro: 2,000 words

The word counter in the instructions editor shows your current usage. Focus on the criteria that matter most within your limit.