The best PlanSwift alternative depends on what you need beyond desktop takeoff. Buildxact is a strong fit for residential builders who want takeoff quantities to flow into estimating, purchasing, scheduling and job costing, while tools such as STACK, Bluebeam Revu and Togal.AI suit more specialized takeoff, markup or AI measurement needs.
PlanSwift remains a capable tool for det
Learn how Precision Homes works with Buildxact and The Home Depot to estimate remodels so that the right materials and quantities flow to the right jobs.
Learn how the pros at Xpres Kitchen & Bath went from juggling multiple software tools to using the leading software in home construction management.
Find out how Keith Perez, of TXN Remodeling N Construction, has transformed his 6-year-old remodeling business using Buildxact construction management software.
Learn how the founders of VW Building Projects put an end to the large amounts of time in the office writing project estimates.
Estimating took a toll on Josh in terms of his time and health. Learn how software saves time and grows his business.
Learn how successful custom home builders use digital online estimating to get accurate bids quickly out the door so they can get back to the job site.
Hear from Jack Clough of Nook Construction has he explains how Buildxact has taken his business to the next level.
Ron of Marcella Building LLC hasn’t been using Buildxact for a long time, but he’s already noticing significant benefits.
“There really isn’t anything else in this price point that has all the functionality that Buildxact has, and that’s why we decided to go with you guys.”
“I was writing it all out on emails and it was taking forever. Buildxact was just a no-brainer for me. It was exactly what I needed.”
Los proveedores de familia hacen sacrificios grandes para poder proveer una buena vida a sus seres queridos y poder alimentarlos.
Learn from Jennie Akins on how she used Buildxact to learn about the construction industry, and started on doing job quotes.
John McBride’s world consisted of stocks, bonds, and everything in between from Wall Street. Read how, McBride, owner of BlackTree LLC, uses modern construction management software to have better control of his construction business
Blue Bexar is a small and growing residential construction company in San Antonio, Texas, with three full-time employees. Dustin Ballew is the owner and serves as the general contractor and manager of pretty much everything. As a general contractor, the company does anything from bathroom remodels to new builds to high-end decking.
Buildxact solved Matthew’s need for speed and accuracy from takeoffs to the bidding process. He’s fielding few phone calls and clarifying fewer details because Buildxact lays everything that needs to be bid. Accuracy has become more and more critical for builders because a little mistake five years ago is a huge mistake in today’s environment when it comes to material costs.
With Buildxact, Jeremy has found a way to dramatically speed up construction projects, starting with creating his own takeoffs. And there’s a lot less disconnect with suppliers. Buildxact lists everything in the takeoff speeding up the time it takes both subs and suppliers to submit bids.
Estimating is one of the most critical components of running a profitable business. It’s essential to be as accurate as possible and using software like Buildxact automates formulas you may use on a spreadsheet into a streamlined process.
“What used to take me 10 hours for a whole house estimate now takes me four hours and that’s time I can spend on scaling my business for the future,”
Cost control software in construction checks purchase orders, subcontracts, and change orders against the job’s budget before money is committed.
A job priced at 15% margin can finish at 5% if there’s no live connection between what was estimated, what’s been committed, what’s changed, and what’s been billed.
For residential builders running multiple projects without a dedica
Houzz Pro has some good lead generation and client-facing design tools.
But for many builders, it’s not finding new jobs that’s the issue. It’s making sure that every job stays on track and keeps its target margin, from estimate through to invoice.
Houzz Pro has several practical limitations that get in the way of that:
Costs paid outside Houzz Pro, like dealer invoices
Purchase order software should do one simple thing well: turn what you priced into what you actually order, receive, and pay for, without retyping numbers into a second system.
Most tools fail at that.
If you want to create a purchase order (PO), you have to manually re-enter quantities, double-check dealer prices, and check on the back-end that the estimate and the actual co
The best PlanSwift alternative depends on what you need beyond desktop takeoff. Buildxact is a strong fit for residential builders who want takeoff quantities to flow into estimating, purchasing, scheduling and job costing, while tools such as STACK, Bluebeam Revu and Togal.AI suit more specialized takeoff, markup or AI measurement needs.
PlanSwift remains a capable tool for det
More bid opportunities do not create one larger estimating task. Instead, they multiply the smaller ones: setting up plan pages, measuring areas, adapting familiar scope, applying current prices, and reviewing line items before the bid is ready.
Even when you already know how to price the work, that preparation limits how many estimates you can complete.
That is where A
AI blueprint takeoffs use AI to read construction plans and automatically calculate measurements and quantities for estimating. For residential builders, it can handle tasks such as scaling plans, identifying rooms and measuring areas, with the builder reviewing the results before using them to price the job.
Every estimate starts with the plans. And before you can price
Your bidding process is where jobs are won or lost.
For many growing builders, bidding still eats too much time. Plans get measured manually, pricing has to be checked constantly against supplier changes, and, all too often, the bid goes out days after it should have.
By the time you get it across to a client, a faster competitor has already sent theirs, and you’re already on
Residential builders use generative AI to cut estimating time by turning project information into first-pass scope and line items, measuring supported floor plans, and flagging possible omissions. You then review the quantities, labor, local material prices, risk, and markup before sending the bid.
Once you know how to price the work, much of your estimating time goes
When you’re running several jobs at once, cash flow gets harder to predict. One project needs a big material order, another has labor and subcontractor payments due and a third is waiting on the next client draw. The work may be profitable, but the timing of those costs and payments can still put pressure on the cash available to keep every job moving.
Managing construction ca
You’ve got three jobs on the go at once. The framing crew is at one, the electrician just wrapped at another, and a dealer truck is somewhere between the two.
At the end of the day, you’re the one who has to know what happened at each. A construction daily log is how builders managing multiple projects stop guessing.
But if you’re not on site at each project, how do
Learn how to improve construction document management as a residential contractor, including best practices and gaps to avoid.
By the time the inspector arrives, you want confirmation that the job is ready, not a new problem that stops the next trade.
That starts with your own site inspection: a check that the work matches the approved plans and local requirements, while everything the inspector needs to see is still accessible.
When you are running several jobs, though, you cannot personally check e
Most jobs aren’t tracked; they’re reconstructed.
Receipts sit in a truck for a week before anyone assigns them to a line item. Hours get remembered instead of logged. What’s actually done on site gets pieced together from a text thread days after the fact.
Construction tracking replaces that reconstruction with hard numbers, logged as hours are worked, costs are incurred, and
You have the labor, material, and subcontractor costs in the estimate. Now you need to turn that cost into the final price the client will see.
The obvious move is to apply your usual markup, or add a few percentage points if the job feels riskier than normal.
But markup can only solve a markup problem. It can help you recover overhead and reach your target margin, but it can
A detailed estimate can still leave you blind once the job begins. You may separate foundation, framing, roofing, finishes, and subs carefully when pricing the work, only to have those categories disappear when labor, purchases, and invoices are recorded.
By closeout, you can see that the job ran over, but not which part of the estimate failed or what needs to change on the next
Winning the bid isn’t the finish line. It’s the starting point for a job that either keeps its margin or doesn’t, and that depends on what happens between the day you sign the job and the day you leave the site.
Winning on price alone is a different game from winning on a number that actually holds up. A builder running three or four jobs at once can’t personally recheck every a
You’ve bid the job, ordered the materials, and put a crew on the roof. Three weeks later, you’re looking at the numbers, and the margin you planned for isn’t there.
Nothing went wrong on the job itself, at least not in an obvious way.
What happened is your profit margin leaked out at the seams: an estimate that missed a line item, a schedule that got knocked sideways by rain,
You spent time building an accurate estimate, priced the job carefully and built in a healthy margin. As work gets underway, every cost, change order, and progress invoice needs to stay tied to those original numbers.
When they don’t, it gets harder to see whether the job is still delivering the profit you planned.
Missed change orders, billing errors and rising actua
Learn how to add quality control procedures to your next home construction project.
We’ve all been there.
Every single schedule your team produces looks different.
Different assumptions, different dependencies, and planning approaches. Getting an understanding of what’s happening across the entire firm turns into a two-hour deep dive into dozens of spreadsheets.
Meanwhile, you’ve got clients calling asking why the move-in date just moved, and you’
Every time you price a job, you’re adding markup to your costs. But the number you really care about is your margin (how much profit you’re making on the job).
Markup and margin aren’t the same thing, but they are connected. Set up your markup correctly, and you’ll hit your margin goals.
The real trick isn’t so much about getting margin right on one job; it’
Even if, like a lot of builders, you don’t have a formal change order process in place, changes are still happening.
They pop up when the homeowner asks if it’s possible to move a window location or add an outlet “while you’re at it.” Formalizing such small changes might feel excessive, but it can actually damage the relationship when the bill (and the dispute) come up l
Winning more work is only part of running a successful construction business. Keeping every job profitable is just as important.
That means knowing where your budget stands before the project is over, not weeks after you’ve closed it out. Job costing software gives you that visibility by tracking labor, materials, subcontractors, and change orders against your estimate.&nb
Residential construction management is the process of planning, coordinating and managing a home build or remodel to keep the project on schedule, within budget and on track for the planned margin.
The work you do on the building site is only part of running a successful residential construction project.
Every job also depends on accurate estimates, well-planned sch
So your project starts with a healthy margin. Then, out of nowhere, an unexpected issue appears. Maybe excavation uncovers poor soil. Maybe material prices jump before you place an order. Maybe a remodel reveals damage hidden behind walls. Suddenly, the profit you worked hard to build into the job starts slipping away.
Unexpected costs are an inevitable part of any construction
You ran the takeoff, priced the materials and labor, and applied your markup. The bid was accepted on a number that worked, the work was built as scoped, but the closing numbers landed lighter than planned.
Where the profit margin went is harder to trace than it should be. The standard answer is that overhead drifted, but that understates what actually happened.
Construction
Halfway through the job, the email lands. The lender’s inspector wants a pay application before the next draw is released.
You open the folder where you’ve been keeping the project together: photos on your phone, invoices in your email, and a change order you wrote on a notepad last Tuesday. An hour later, you’re still trying to piece together what you’ve already done, what you’
Learn how to identify, assess and control residential construction risks before delays and extra costs reduce the margin on your job.
Compare the 6 best construction quoting software tools for residential builders, with pricing, features, and a fit-based recommendation.
Find out the actual cost of starting a construction company in 2026. Includes example costs for general contractors, specialty trades, and remodelers.
Learn a step-by-step process for accurate material takeoffs and discover the digital tools that can help you protect your profit margins.
Learn how to properly price a project while maintaining a reasonable profit.
Compare the best residential construction scheduling software to streamline scheduling tasks and manage projects from anywhere.
Every remodel starts with a margin you plan to make. Keeping that margin intact as material costs fluctuate, change orders add up, and actual costs exceed the ones you forecast is where things get tricky.
For growing remodeling businesses, taking on more jobs means there’s more at stake. A missed line item in the estimate or a cost overrun caught too late can eat into profit a
A few days after sending the proposal, the homeowner calls with a question: “The tile is included, but who’s supplying the mortar?”
Now you’re back inside the estimate, trying to work out what happened. The tile was there, and the labor was there. But the materials behind the tile were based on an assumption, not in the written scope, and nowhere in the bid did the homeowner see
The final stage of a build should be when everything comes together for a seamless handover. Instead, it often turns into a scramble.
Important project documents are lost in a mountain of emails and folders. Owners are asking questions that require digging through old messages. Small defects are still being tracked on paper or not at all.
Without a clear system to manage comm
You finish the site visit, sit down to price the remodel, and realize the estimate will take hours.
Material prices still need checking, and the labor numbers are still moving around. The homeowner wants the bid by Wednesday.
Rushing the estimate is how small misses become expensive ones later. Costs and assumptions that looked manageable during the walkthrough start tighteni
Finding work as a builder can feel unpredictable.
You can go from turning jobs away to chasing inquiries in a matter of weeks. When things slow down, the pressure builds fast. You start taking every lead seriously, bidding for everything that comes in, and hoping something sticks.
But leads go cold, and suddenly you’ve spent hours bidding for jobs you were never going to wi
Here, we will look at why proposals are important, what they should include, and how to create a construction proposal that wins you bids.
If you’ve ever invoiced a job and been paid less than what you billed, you’ve already dealt with retainage.
You finish a stage, send through a $50K invoice, and $45K lands in your account. The rest is held back. Sometimes for months.
On paper, it’s standard practice. In reality, it creates a gap between the work you’ve completed and the cash you actually have in the b
Compare the best landscape estimating software for small residential builders. Includes benefits, essential features, and reviews of leading platforms.
Spreadsheets break, whiteboards get erased, and email threads lose change orders. For residential contractors balancing estimates, schedules, subs, and clients all at once, the cracks in a manual system show up fast, and they’re expensive.
Home builder software exists to close those gaps. The right platform brings your estimate, schedule, budget, and client communication
The second a new quote request lands in your inbox, the clock starts ticking – and the builder who delivers a detailed, professional quote first has an instant advantage over the competition.
But when every quote has to be built from scratch, it’s almost impossible to be the fastest bidder, let alone the winning one.
For small home builders already dealing with admin
Compare the best construction takeoff software for small residential builders. Includes benefits, essential features, and reviews of leading platforms.
Learn how a precise quote sets the stage for a smoothly run project that helps grow your business.
Running a building business means juggling a lot, and most of it sits with you. Bids, schedules, subcontractors, dealers, clients.
It’s all happening at once, often across multiple jobs.
The real challenge isn’t the workload. It’s that everything lives in different places.
You probably already know software could help. But the idea of learning a whole new system? Not
Check out our ultimate list of construction apps for contractors. From payments to productivity, these are the apps you need in 2026.
There are ways to automate many of the functions of a typical construction project manager. Project management software allows you to save time and become more productive to handle more work and have time for yourself.
Why Aging in Place is Important to Older Adults
The U.S. population is quickly aging. It is projected that the number of Americans age 65 or older will more than double by 2040, reaching 80 million. At the same time, more older adults are choosing to remain in their homes rather than deal with the rising cost of assisted living or long-term care facilities. According to AARP
You finish a site visit, head back to the office, and open Excel to build the estimate. Material costs, labor rates, and site measurements are spread across multiple tabs. Two hours in, you adjust one formula, and something breaks.
A linked field goes blank. Now the next hour goes to tracing the error instead of finishing the bid, and the proposal goes out late.
That’
Learn how to estimate and budget with software to earn the reputation for superior service.
Learn how a proper punch list is key to concluding any successful home construction project.
Business decisions are won or lost on the strength of their return on investment. It’s no different if you’re a small builder or remodeler looking to increase profit and take your business to the next level. Investing in cloud-based construction software is a cost-effective way to help make this a reality.
Most construction rework starts weeks earlier, when the scope was never documented, a specification that was passed verbally, or a change order was agreed upon between the client and a sub that never made it back to you.
None of this is visible until the work is done. The framers built the wall to a different dimension. The electrician ran conduit where the cabinet was supp
A homeowner sends over the project specifications. At the bottom, one line says: “Please include a bill of quantities with your submission.”
Normally, you submit a bid. This time, that won’t be enough.
You start figuring out what that actually means in practice, not in theory, but for the way you already estimate jobs. How do you turn your numbers into something structured en
On paper, a project manager plans, runs, and delivers a job.
But if you’re a residential builder, you already know that’s not how it works.
You’re the one bidding for the job, lining up trades, chasing deliveries, updating the client, and fixing problems when things inevitably shift. There isn’t a separate “project manager” walking around doing that for you.
The process of bid leveling manages a variety of project information from bids in a way that the client can easily understand.
Tendering in the construction industry is the process of requesting and receiving a price for a specific scope of work.
Understand the basic building blocks for planning and executing your next home construction project.
Compare 6 framing estimating tools built for residential builders. See which ones connect your takeoff, pricing, and bid in one system.
Cloud-based construction takeoff software allows you to speed up the process while not compromising accuracy. Top-notch accuracy can make a big difference for a custom home builder’s bottom line since they will have the capacity to take on more work because they have more time.
Change orders are standard in the home construction industry. Learn how construction management software makes writing change orders easier.
Digital technologies are becoming an increasingly important part of the construction sector, and companies that do not adopt them may find themselves at a disadvantage as they increasingly lack the ability to efficiently manage their workflows.
There’s only one way to improve your business’ cost estimating and that’s with fast, accurate and easy to master building cost estimator software. You’ll have a quantity takeoff produced, a cost estimate compiled, a quote written and sent all in about 80% less time than it used to take.
To put together an accurate schedule for a construction project, the best source is project data from similar jobs performed by the same crews.
Developing a solid strategy will guide your marketing efforts to help you stand out in the crowded construction industry. Marketing your residential construction business online a necessity. The process of changing the way you market your business might seem intimidating, but it is pretty easy to learn.
Learn how HomeAid Austin brings together builders, trades, suppliers, and nonprofits to create housing for people working to rebuild their lives.
A construction estimator prepares estimates for the overall cost of a proposed project. They visit construction sites and work closely with construction management teams, playing an integral part in any construction project.
Carpentry estimates rarely fail during estimation. They break after approval, when the job moves into preparation, and changes require you to reopen the numbers.
Without a single source of truth that keeps pricing, scope, and decisions aligned, your estimate no longer controls every pricing decision.
After approval, you recheck quantities, prices shift, and assumptions
Learn what a progressive design-build involves, the pros and cons, and when it makes sense for residential builders to use.
Six alternatives to Fieldwire for residential builders who need estimating, dealer pricing, and job costing connected from bid to build.
As a residential builder, you’re expected to run jobs and be the system that holds them together.
You’re the one fielding calls about delivery status, tracking whether changes made it to the budget, chasing subs for updates, and remembering which client approved what. On top of that, you’re expected to be on-site for the building.
And most build management tools don’t fix
Midway through a build, materials arrive at a higher price than the estimate. No one flags it, so the job keeps moving.
A few weeks later, someone approves a change on site, but it never makes it back into the estimate. A few small items get handled “later” and never reconciled.
At closeout, the margin comes in lighter than expected. Nothing blew up on site, so the job ra
When you’re running one or two jobs, construction planning often happens in your head, your phone, or in a notebook. And for a while, that works. But as soon as you add more subcontractors, more clients, and overlapping timelines, things start to feel chaotic.
Construction planning won’t stop surprises, but it does stop them from wrecking your week. The real goal i
Looking for a monday.com alternative built for residential construction? You’re in the right place.
Most builders don’t leave monday.com because task tracking stopped working. They leave because residential jobs depend on quantities, unit costs, and scope changes that a board doesn’t carry forward.
Monday.com coordinates crews and deadlines. However, residential building requ
On paper, managing subcontractors sounds simple: book the trade, give them a date, move onward, and get the job done.
In reality, it’s a constant juggle. One trade forgets to confirm, a date shifts, a single change isn’t passed on, and suddenly the whole schedule starts wobbling.
It’s tempting to lay it all at subcontractors’ feet, but the real source of the s
Learn what construction procurement really is, why it matters for builders, and how to avoid delays and budget overruns on residential jobs.
Learn what construction reporting is, which reports matter most, and how builders use connected reporting to control costs, schedules, and risk.
Compare the best drywall estimating software for residential builders. See which tools prevent missed materials, price drift, and fragile estimates.
Learn the types of construction cost estimates, what affects accuracy, and how builders create estimates that hold up as jobs change.
Construction admin compounds between stages. Learn where it breaks down and how connected workflows reduce the workload.
Compare the best estimate management software for residential builders. See which tools keep estimates aligned with real costs once work begins.
Learn how material takeoff software helps residential builders quote faster, reduce errors, and choose the right tool for their workflow.
Learn how to order from The Home Depot using Buildxact to track pricing, material stock and receipts without switching between multiple systems.
Discover the top home construction software and how it helps residential builders estimate faster, manage jobs better, and stay in control.
Learn how RFPs and RFQs work in construction and why pricing breaks down as scope, allowances, and selections change.
Learn how cost-plus building contracts work, when to use them, and how they compare to fixed-price contracts.
BIM can be powerful, but it’s complex and expensive. This guide explains when BIM makes sense and when simpler tools deliver better results.
Compare custom home builder software for 2026. See pricing, key features, and which tools help you protect profit margins on custom builds.
Compare the best flooring estimating software for residential builders. Speed up takeoffs, reduce under-bidding, and manage changes with confidence.
Not sure if you need OSHA 10 or OSHA 30? This guide breaks down the differences and explains what each course involves, so your team gets the right training.
This month’s Toolbelt features Steve Yates on what’s ahead for the new year, a snapshot of customer achievements from 2025, faster estimating with Blu, plus a customer spotlight, upcoming events to find us at, and the latest industry news.
A practical guide to material estimates for small home builders. Learn how to build estimates and win more work with digital estimating software.
A complete guide to job safety analysis (JSA) for small home builders. Includes the steps for performing a JSA and how to identify hazards.
Compare the best construction management software for residential builders. See which tools keep estimates, jobs, and costs connected to profits.
A preliminary estimate lets you respond same-day with a defensible ballpark before committing hours to a full takeoff. Learn what it is, when to use it, and how to build one.
Compare the best software for remodeling contractors. See how top remodeling tools handle estimates, changes, and job profitability.
Quick hires lead to missed deadlines, poor craftsmanship, and turnover. Learn a strategic hiring process that finds the skilled contractors that grow your business.
Learn what lean construction is, the 8 wastes it identifies, and how residential builders can start applying it to protect margins and reduce rework.
This guide shows small residential builders how to reduce the time spent estimating using an 8-step estimating process.
Compare the best builders’ estimating software for small residential builders. Learn key features, benefits, and how top tools stack up.
Understand the concept of invisible buyer loss and how builders can convert more visitors to their web sites into valuable leads.
A complete guide to residential remodeling estimating software. Learn how to cut admin and improve accuracy with digital estimating tools.
An effective construction project timeline helps current projects succeed and serves as the basis for the smarter estimating of future jobs.
Learn how AI tech can serve as a digital assistant to speed up the entire process of writing estimates and winning more business.
Learn how to become a contractor, including licensing requirements, state rules, and the systems you need to build a profitable business.
The process to join the construction industry involves gathering the experience and skills for the job, applying for a contractor’s license, getting funding, marketing your new business and gathering referrals once you start winning construction projects.
Learn how home contractors achieve consistent profitability using the MAPS method to better organize how they do business.
Read how a more dynamic and adaptable approach to Gantt charts has become a competitive edge for builders.
In construction, a quantity takeoff is a list of all the physical materials necessary to complete a job and their costs. It does not consider labor costs, permits, overheads, equipment, or other incidentals.
Work smarter to consistently hit net profit targets. This blog shows how a series of small activities bring the right financial results.
Learn how the construction RFI
helps home builders avoid costly errors.
Learn how a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) aligns project estimating, scheduling, and cost control.
Construction project estimators, whether that’s you or an estimator on your team, use material takeoffs as ingredients for their project estimates.
A comprehensive guide to construction planning for residential building projects, including what to include, project phases, and project management software.
Time inefficiencies are costly for construction management professionals and builders too. If you are a general contractor, you are likely carrying added costs from overtime/second shifts on most of your construction projects due to project schedule slippage.
Learn how to start and grow a construction company with smart planning, funding, and the right tools to win jobs, manage teams, and stay profitable.
Compare the best painting estimating software for small residential builders. Includes benefits, essential features, and reviews of leading platforms.
Compare the best construction site management software for small residential builders. Includes benefits, essential features, and reviews of leading platforms.
Compare the best residential construction software for small to mid-sized home builders. Discover benefits, features, and reviews of the leading platforms.
Compare the best home builder software for small to mid-sized construction companies. Discover benefits, features, and reviews of the leading platforms.
Compare the best roofing estimating software for small residential builders. Includes benefits, essential features, and reviews of leading platforms.
Compare the best residential construction CRM software to streamline client communication, improve lead generation, and secure more jobs.
By Dustin Elliott, Products and Customer Insights Analyst, Buildxact
After running more than 1,400 trainings with builders across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States, plus countless webinars, events, and one-on-one calls, I can say confidently that these five metrics separate the builders running a successful business from the ones just trying to keep the
Compare top construction software platforms for residential builders. Find the right tools to boost efficiency, cut costs, and win more jobs.
Discover our comprehensive guide to construction project management software, including features and pricing for top construction project management tools.
Switching to construction management software can be challenging. Learn a few simple steps that get you on the path to the right choice.
Learn to grow a construction business with advice from Buildxact’s Dustin Elliott. In this blog, he discusses cost tracking and purchase orders.
Often overlooked: the cash flow from working capital keeps even profitable jobs running smoothly.
For builders and contractors, maintaining alignment between the home office and the job site is essential. Learn to make your site efficient and effective.
Relationships matter and are key to thriving a shifting market. Learn how networking enhances your ability to source more advantageous pricing and opens doors to new projects.
A home builder must showcase their work, and a standout website makes it happen. Learn the importance of visuals and compelling stories to engage a prospect.
Learn how to manage rising building costs using modern software for accurate cost estimating.
Explore the significance of to-do lists for home construction teams and how digital software makes them more useful.
Learn the value of providing a formal, professional proposal and how digital bid templates make writing proposals easier.
Learn how Buildxact catalogs and item assemblies form a powerful duo that streamlines estimating.
Builders know a schedule in hand closes a customer faster.
Buildxact’s estimate scheduling feature is a powerful tool for any construction business looking to improve project management and efficiency.
Learn how custom home builder software streamlines projects and operations while boosting profitability.
Learn how to use social media as a way to engage consistently with customers.
Remodeling projects require strong management skill. Find the complete software that makes your skill shine.
To better compete, builders and renovators turn to software to create outstanding estimates.
Find out how custom home builders have made a leap forward in construction scheduling using digital technology.
Innovation is more than grand technological changes. Learn how the little things count in your home construction business.
The 2024 SORCI report shows custom home construction pros maintaining a positive outlook for the year even amid ongoing challenges to how they do business. Learn how construction management software can help keep things on track.
Many builders and contractors “wing it” when pricing. Don’t compromise your profits. Avoid these mistakes.
Increasingly builders turn to construction technology to qualify customers. Learn how software can improve your next project.
Data-driven project scheduling is a must-have to combine historical and real-time updates to your job management. With both, project scheduling becomes more precise, adaptable and efficient
Prepare for the unexpected by creating project schedules quickly and easily using project management software.
Failure to communicate daily progress often leads to overdue projects. Learn to avoid this critical builder mistake using the right software tools.
Time is money — you could easily waste too much of it behind the desk. Learn how construction estimating apps make you more efficient.
Editors at U.S. News & World Report evaluated Buildxact’s ability to handle multiple tasks, giving it a best overall rating.
Buildxact users rank the software highly in overall quality and four key factors.
Change orders loom larger in today’s market. Handling change orders effectively maintains customer satisfaction and profitability.
A guide to RFQs in construction, including steps to create an effective RFQ and how to streamline your bidding process with intelligent estimating software.
With Buildxact software, you establish a high-level of customer service and demonstrate you can finish a home on time and on budget.
Bidding is one of the most challenging and time-consuming parts of a builder’s job. Find out how Buildxact software gets it right, while saving time.
Review the different ways contractor management software can benefit your business.
Takeoffs go by many names. No matter what you call it, counting materials and assigning costs should ensure your next custom home project runs smoothly.
Tracking building projects is a challenge. Keep on top of all the moving parts with construction management software, an essential tool for the custom home construction businesses.
Accurate construction plays a crucial role in a successful
custom home construction project. Learn how construction estimation software speeds the bidding process.
Successful home construction pros stay competitive by mastering the art of bidding to bring in their share of work.
Learn how centralized project management using construction management software allows builders to react and adapt to changing circumstances.
For the second year running, Buildxact continues to earn accolades from users of software review web sites provided by Gartner Digital Markets.
The smart builder takes the time to create detailed estimates because accurate estimates save money. Learn how to consider all the factors that go into an accurate home construction estimate.
Learn important tips for growing your home construction business in a challenging economy.
Learn how supply chain management in custom home construction requires collaboration with subcontractors and material dealers.
Learn about federal and state energy efficiency rebates builders can use toward home remodel and construction projects.
Learn how to manage the different business risks presented by today’s custom home construction industry.
Home construction budgets help you maintain financial control of your projects. Learn more how budgeting helps your business grow.
Rising costs demand an accurate framing takeoff. Learn the basics and how estimating software can help.
Construction and demolition activity produces 600 million tons of waste each year. Learn how to reduce waste on your job site.
Housing demand is on the rise, with new home builders always looking for a way to break into the market. So what trends are in store, and what do they mean for construction costs?
Recently, intense demand has led to an uptick in building materials prices, but the market is changing. Rising interest rates and price growth declines are stressing buyer demand and what it costs to b
Are you looking for the latest trends in design and construction? We’ll explore the latest information to help strategize your goals.
New technology is advancing amid supply shortages and pricing uncertainty. Adapting the right technology helps you keep with the times.
Listen as award-winning architect and builder David Pollard offers ways to reframe the negative thoughts customers can have about remodeling.
Custom builders better manage new material purchases using online tools. Today, many homeowners look to sustainable materials in their custom home projects.
Builders can grow homeowner trust using estimating templates and multifunctional custom home building software.
In a tough economy, it’s important to learn new ways of planning custom home projects. Learn how lean construction can grow your business.
Learn what Subcontractor Management is and why its critical for construction company success.
By bringing stakeholders together to review project scope, schedule and budget, you avoid potential issues and delays down the road.
No matter rising costs, for many home builders construction cost forecasting proves too time consuming. Others find forecasting difficult and don’t know where to begin. This doesn’t have to be you. Today, tools exist that make forecasting a simpler, more predictable process.
A recent study found that, on average, sustainable construction practices save project owners and contractors up to 4% of the total construction cost.
Check out these top tips to get the most out of the Florida Home Builders Association’s SEBC 2022.
For the best customer experience, custom home builders know that good planning, coupled with proper management of homeowner expectations, is critical–especially in a tough construction industry experiencing potential cost fluctuations that make every dollar count.
By the time a home construction project is ready to break ground, months and tens of thousands of dollars have been
Paying attention to the preconstruction process helps set a project schedule and budget that can be maintained and lowers the risk of hold-ups.
The most successful dealers are working more efficiently to carve out the time sales representatives need to consult with their customers.
Custom home builders have a strong need for a complete, modern document management system.
Builders headed to Dallas for the Texas Association of Builders 2022 Sunbelt Builders Show July 12-15 know the yearly event offers a lot to see
It’s critical that you always submit competitive, complete bids if you are to win the amount of work required to grow your business. To do this, you must have accurate estimates of labor costs and material costs‑especially during the current economy.
Welcome to our June edition of Product News! The Buildxact team are excited to share the work we’ve been doing to help dealers and sales reps deliver value add services to their builders. Through simplifying the sales process, dealers can continue to grow a loyal customer base.
Let’s jump straight in!
Respond to quote requests in Buildxact
When responding to quote re
Wondering how to best help your builder while also nailing your own sales strategy? Consider SaaS software for better customer collaboration.
Buildxact’s latest features deliver an end-to-end platform for dealers to work collaboratively with builders throughout a job.
Welcome to our first product update for the year!
We’re super excited to collaborate with you and share our exciting new features, helping you save time and win more jobs. Let’s kick it off with the latest releases that will help give you more time to do the things you love most!
Organize your week in a dash
Seeing what tasks are coming up for the team is crucial for
Knowing how to reduce construction costs can help you revolutionize your business model so that you run more cost-effective processes and maximize returns.
Using conceptual estimating, you can use current and historical data to anticipate cost demands before beginning work on a project.
A construction estimate is the most crucial part of winning building jobs and is key to any successful project completion.
Project management software helps deliver the accuracy and professional touch needed to impress your clients.
We will discuss the steps in the cost estimating process and offer some strategies to help you win more tenders and bids, and greater project success.
By using construction management software everyone involved can find out real-time job costing information, communicate effectively, stay on track and complete projects.
Here is why construction takeoffs are used to create a cost estimate and why it is an essential part of any construction project.
By keeping your finances under control, you’ll be in a better position to build your carpentry business and seek new work opportunities. You’ll also find it easier to navigate tax time and the financial responsibilities of business ownership.
Estimation is not a process of guesses. An estimate is calculated through knowledge, experience and accurate data. An estimate can be performed manually or with the aid of estimating software.
No more spreadsheets or paper. A construction estimator is the budget or contract bids maker of a building project. The person who keeps things on track, running on budget and on time.
The construction industry saves money by using only one package to produce quotes, keep track of actual, produce reliable cost estimates, schedule in your project hours, and integrate all accounting.
Learn about the four under-utilized tools in Buildxact which will help you save time and money. Discover Tax Profile, Client Portal, Redistribution & Allowance Items and Customizable Quote Letters.
Supply chain managers, builders, and contractors must be aware of current trends and issues to communicate with their clients and set the right expectations effectively. People get upset when they are surprised, and custom home builders can significantly diminish the element of surprise with effective and constant communication.
Pro dealer integration in the platform makes life easier for both custom home builders and pro dealers. It provides transparency into pro dealers so builders can make informed decisions and communicate directly with their pro dealers whenever convenient to them.
Once a builder and pro dealer establish a strong relationship, most builders continue purchasing with that specific pro dealer, becoming a customer for life. Pro dealers like nothing more than having a solid and consistent customer base they can rely on to sell their materials.
Productive construction managers have clear processes and procedures for getting the work done.They rely on the effective execution of these processes to ensure the project stays on time and on budget.
Projects running over budget? Read our guide to construction soft costs and learn how to track expenses more effectively with construction budgeting software.
Knowing your construction costs helps ensure that you take on profitable jobs so you can get ahead and compete with other construction companies in a very competitive construction industry. It takes a lot of time, and if you’re still creating them by hand or Excel, there’s more potential for costly errors.
Discuss changes within the industry and the forces impacting pro dealers and builders such as the increase of home building demand across the United States and a decrease in available supply.
The best construction takeoff software can streamline your estimating process, setting your residential construction business up for success.
Now more than ever, it’s essential to keep your business alive throughout the economic recovery and into the future by ensuring you’re making a profit and reaching your goals.
There are many reasons why this may not happen — in good times and not so good times — such as poor money management, no marketing strategy, inactive quotes, and inaccurate estimates.
Estimating is one of the most challenging — and time-consuming— yet essential elements of the job. The accuracy, or lack of it, can make or break a business’s profitability. Accurate estimating takes time, practice, skill, and reliable data because not every job is the same. An accurate estimate helps boost your construction business’s average profit margin.
For most small builders, remodelers, and contractors, the owner does all the duties of a project manager and a whole lot more. There are ways to automate many of the functions of a typical construction project manager, achieves. Project management software allows you to save time and become more productive to handle more construction projects and have time for yourself.
While the industry continues to expand, technology remains a catalyst for crucial industries, including the built environment and one of the largest and most influential groups today: millennials. Not only are they able to adopt new technology quickly, but they are also ready to buy a home.
The hardest part of being a successful builder and business owner is not the craft of building. It’s the day-to-day running and growing your business. The issues facing the construction industry affect large and small companies alike
Creating an accurate construction estimate takes practice, skill and reliable data because each job has different variables. It remains one of the most challenging yet most important skills in construction. A recent study by Quickbooks determined that just two or three inaccurate estimates can be detrimental to a business.
There are several estimating software systems on the market today, and many specific to the residential construction industry like Buildxact. Designed for the small builder, remodeler, and contractor, Buildxact offers an easy-to-use construction estimating software, as an integral part of an affordable construction management platform.
While the construction industry is considered an essential business, it hasn’t been immune to change and work productivity. As a result, many construction business owners, both large and small, have a newfound resource: time.
This blog explains how home builders can win more work in a competitive marketplace by focusing on accurate quoting and marketing
This blog explains the critical steps for growing your custom home construction business and operate with a business-development mindset.
The pandemic is forcing the construction industry to evolve now more than ever, and that includes technology, whether its new or enhanced. No matter what size business you own, make a plan to change how you do business because your customers expect it.
This blog explains the different features and benefits of Buildxact construction management software including takeoff and scheduling.
Project management software will increase efficiencies across the board in your business, help you work smarter and not harder, and give you back time and money to concentrate on your company’s growth. Now is the time.
The best construction estimating and project management software is the one that addresses the needs of your business. If your construction business needs help with project management, there are programs, like Buildxact, that offer project management tools to help employees work more efficiently.
Buildxact’s end-to-end software is deliberately designed to help small builders and remodelers easily commence, plan and complete projects all in the one system, without having to jump back and forth between different types of software.
Learn how to complete a cubic feet takeoff in Buildxact.
This video covers what a client portal is, how to set it up and invite people to it, notifications your client gets and notifications you get as changes are made in Buildxact.
This video covers how to use item assemblies for decking and flooring.
How to manage wall framing and junctions using Buildxact item assemblies.
This video will take you through how to set up a drywall and insulation item assembly.
This video will show you how to load your own price catalog into Buildxact.
This video covers completion percent invoicing
This video covers cost plus invoicing.
This video is for people who’ve just been invited to a project via the Buildxact Client Portal.
Learn about creating invoices and refundable deposits, go through what your invoices look like and how to print, edit invoices and change orders.
Learn to process change orders (settling allowances) in Buildxact. You’ll learn about over and above change orders, how to fill out details, as well as printing and accepting change orders.
Send your work orders and manage internal costs with Buildxact. Learn what work orders are for, how to use them, and your timesheeting options.
Learn how purchasing functions work within Buildxact and see how to manage your receiving costs. We’ll also go through the three types of purchase orders.
See how scheduling works in Buildxact. This includes structuring your schedules, methods of creation, easiest setups, and the various views and functionalities available with the scheduling feature.
Learn how to use daily logs in Buildxact.
Create a job within the Buildxact platform, see the different types of jobs and default invoices, as well how job acceptance works.
Make your quotes look amazing while meeting your client’s needs using the different options available with the Buildxact custom quote letter tool.
Learn how to use specifications in Buildxact.
This video takes you through how to add markup to your Buildxact custom quote letters, based upon category or items.
Look at what recipes (assemblies) are, how they work, and how to build them in Buildxact.
Count individual items on plans using the Buildxact takeoff tool.
See the entire process from requesting the quote, to accepting the quote, and what the client views. Learn a few tips and tricks to help you get the most out of Buildxact.
See the most common lineal feet takeoffs you can do with the Buildxact takeoff tool.
Learn pitched SF, such as a roofing or raked ceilings takeoff using the Buildxact takeoff tool.
Learn to complete SF takeoffs on vertical surfaces from a top view plan using the Buildxact takeoff tool.
We’ll explain redistribution, the moving of a markup, and how you can use specifications or job timeline in Buildxact.
Learn to make the most of the Buildxact takeoff tool by reusing takeoffs. See how to add wastage and rounding to measurements.
Learn the most common square-feet takeoffs using Buildxact. We’ll show you the best ways to use the Buildxact takeoff using tips and tricks to save time.
Learn to load and scale your plans in Buildxact to create takeoffs.
Learn to load and scale your plans in Buildxact to create takeoffs.
Begin an estimate in Buildxact in the correct and most efficient way. Enter information such as customer details, work location and uploading documents.
Learn the main parts of Buildxact, capture client leads, and start an estimate.
Setup your account with your business details and logo, add users and edit your Buildxact subscription.
This Buildxact video gives you an overview of the software, what you can find inside and how to get the most from the entire video series.
Ready to learn how AI impacts residential construction? With this eBook learn the basics of AI-based tools and how home builders of all sizes can in minutes fully understand the size, scope and cost of their projects.
Ready to learn how AI impacts residential construction? With this eBook learn the basics of AI-based tools and how home builders of all sizes can in minutes fully understand the size, scope and cost of their projects.
Looking to become a residential builder? Check out our latest eBook to learn how to get started and established in the industry.
Looking to become a residential builder? Check out our latest eBook to learn how to get started and established in the industry.
Looking to become a residential builder? Check out our latest eBook to learn how to get started and established in the industry.
Learn how to improve your home construction management with these six key tips and tricks.
Learn how to accurately estimate construction project costs with our eBook.
Learn how to build a winning construction proposal with this helpful guide.
Learn how tendering works for home building, and how your business can use Buildxact to win more work.
Learn how to estimate quicker and more accurately with our ultimate guide to accurate estimates for home builders.
Learn construction bidding secrets you can use right now to revitalize your construction quotes and win more work.
Learn the essentials of a great preconstruction estimate and quote
Learn how to build your business by creating quality branding.
Avoid wastage and save your business money by learning the ins and outs of lean construction.
Learn strategies you can implement to improve your profit margin
Learn the six ways dealers can boost the success of their builder customers.
Download this eBook to learn three steps to having a profitable relationship with your dealers
Download this infographic to understand the mistakes pro dealers are making that’s costing them customers.
Download this infographic to get a deeper insight into how material delays are impacting builders’ profits.
Learn how top dealers are using SaaS to create deeper relationships with builders.
Learn how to estimate faster with your construction takeoffs with cloud-based construction management software. Download the ebook now!
Learn how to maximize your profits by using cloud-based construction management software. Download the ebook now!
Social media, remote work, and online communication tools — and today, companies and consumers alike are researching and purchasing online.
The right construction management software can save you loads of time and help you be more profitable. This guide will take you through the ins and outs of construction management software, key features to look for, and what a quality software can do for you and your business.
When estimating the costs of a construction project, it’s important to include all of the costs in order to stay profitable. These are typically split into hard and softs costs. Check out our guide where we explore the difference between these two types of costs, give some examples of soft costs, and explain why soft costs need to be included in project budgets.
Estimating software helps streamline the bidding process, reduces errors, and makes pricing more accurate. Learn more with this helpful guide.
