Possibly the most crucial part to a construction project is construction estimating. It is the process of calculating the material, labor, equipment and overhead costs associated with a building project and then creating a quote, bid or project budget with the information.
Construction estimating is a major element of construction management. The construction industry relies on accurate cost estimates for both simple and complex projects.
Money runs the building and construction industry. To be successful you have to have a lot of money coming in and not as much going out. This is where building cost estimating is invaluable, but there are tricks to getting fast and accurate estimates.
The most important part of profitable construction projects is getting the costs right. If you undervalue the price, then you are going to lose money. If you are overvaluing your estimates, then you will most likely lose bids. Either way, incorrect cost estimates can destroy a builder or construction company. It can eat away at your profit margin or damage your reputation.
The relationship between suppliers and builders needs to be mutually beneficial and how it can generate loyal customers for suppliers.
The key to a healthy relationship is communication and setting realistic expectations. Both sound very simple, but in most cases where relationships sour, these two factors have crumbled.
Custom home builders and suppliers need to have a synergistic relationship to be successful in the construction industry. Suppliers want to offer custom home builders the materials they need to complete high-quality projects quickly and efficiently. Builders rely on suppliers to provide those materials at prices that allow them to make a profit. Price volatility in the construction
It doesn’t matter whether you prefer to call it material takeoff, construction takeoff or estimation takeoff, a quantity takeoff is an essential part of any building project. Whether it is a large or a small job, accurate quantity takeoffs can mean the difference between a financial disaster and a completed project that keeps everyone happy.
Construction managers are responsible for the everyday running of a construction project. They ensure that scheduled tasks are completed, and that the contractor has all the information they need to perform the work. They use technology, like construction management software, to successfully implement the work called for on the project documents. A good and productive construc
Estimating construction costs accurately relies on many elements. It’s a necessary process and is what underscores the pricing of construction projects. The accuracy or inaccuracy of an estimate can make or break a business’ profitability. However, the elements involved can complicate the process and result in a lot of risk, whether from material price fluctuations to uncertai
Estimating construction costs starts with a careful review of the project documents to determine the amount of work in a project.
As a business owner in residential construction, you know that you need a competitive edge to win more business. While your project portfolio is impressive in attracting business, you’re only as good as your first impression, and generally, you only have one chance to get it right.
Dahlsens are reducing the time it takes to serve their customers, and helping builders quote 5x faster with Buildxact.
Mitre 10 is connecting with builders using Buildxact’s supplier integration.
L O’ Grady Constructions’ clients praise them for their ability to make quick decisions, as well as communicate and resolve hitches.
Zounis Constructions set up their business for success, using tools that make them more efficient and more profitable.
Using Buildxact has made Hagen Shaw’s life much easier as quoting is far more efficient and pricing a lot more accurate.
Streamlining the ordering process and managing projects in Buildxact has made life a lot easier for Bryce and his team.
Buildxact is an end-to-end system, it provides Jetcon efficiencies from first takeoff to the final invoice, saving countless admin hours
Building material prices will see continued increases in prices. Find out what this means for your construction costs and what to expect.
New technology in construction is advancing and with supply shortages and prices uncertain, adapting these technological trends is vital.
Listen as award-winning architect and builder David Pollard offers ways to reframe the negative thoughts customers can have about renovation 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.
With greater focus on risk management, successful builders are navigating today’s volatile business climate.
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.
The importance of a building quote
The foundation of a successful home construction project lies with a detailed construction quote and resulting contract. Clarifying, via a quote to the homeowner, the project scope, specifications, costs and timeline reduces payment delays and unfortunate disagreements. The use of a building quote template leads to a higher level of customer se
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 bee
Home builders must pay attention to their branding in order to be successful. Branding helps to set them apart from their competition.
Paying attention to the preconstruction process helps set a project schedule and budget that can be maintained and lowers the risk of hold-ups.
Custom home builders have a strong need for a complete, modern document management system.
The process of bid leveling manages a variety of project information from bids in a way that the client can easily understand.
The Federal Budget for the 2022 financial year has been announced, and there are some big changes in store. Here’s what you need to know.
How you estimate and conduct your project management can affect the accuracy of the budget for construction costs and that budget can reveal as early as possible if the job will deliver a satisfactory result for the homeowner and turn a profit for you, the builder.
It’s critical that you always submit competitive, complete quotes 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 suppliers and sales reps deliver value add services to their builders. Through simplifying the sales process, suppliers can continue to grow a loyal customer base.
Let’s jump straight in!
Respond to quote requests in Buildxact
Whe
Tendering in the construction industry is the process of requesting and receiving a price for a specific scope of work.
Buildxact’s latest features deliver an end-to-end platform for suppliers 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 th
This blog explains how to maximize the benefits of job management software and how an integrated accounting system improves your business.
Learn how to reduce construction costs effectively to boost revenue and optimize business costs with Buildxact.
Conceptual estimating is an estimate of the construction costs based on the designer’s preliminary sketches and specifications.
A construction estimate is the most crucial part of winning building jobs and is key to any successful project completion.
The construction industry is one of the top start-up business sectors, but it is an industry where well over half of new businesses don’t make it through the first five years. However, if you can successfully manage your construction company, you can avoid this pitfall and be set up for long-term success. Keep in mind that despite cyclical industry downturns, often sparked by ex
When you are part of the construction industry, winning bids and tenders is vital to the success of your business. This makes the construction estimate a crucial step in creating a building company that earns profits, has high customer satisfaction and continues to grow.
The effects of COVID have been felt across all industries including the construction industry, and it has never been more critical for builders like you to focus on your long-term financial viability.
To make cash in the construction industry you must ensure that your outlay is covered and profit margins maintained. The trick is knowing how to set the project price. To set a price you need to know what the entire project costs are, including the material cost, direct labor pricing, equipment and the indirect cost of the complete job. Big construction companies often have expert c
It’s easy to imagine the effect construction management software will have on you and your construction firm. Imagine having more time, wasting less money, and having happier customers, all while growing your construction industry business. You don’t have to just imagine it though. Let’s have a look at how construction software benefits construction businesses of all sizes.
Many large construction companies understand the importance of a construction proposal, but it is often overlooked by smaller builders and remodelers. That is usually because they don’t understand what a construction proposal actually is.
A material takeoff involves estimated counts of material supplies, material costs, labor costs and equipment by itemised prices and also can include a project completion date estimate by computing delivery times and building hours.
Managing a carpentry business is no easy feat. There are plenty of details to consider. How will you communicate with clients? What will your customer onboarding and administrative processes look like? How will you keep track of important records and information?
Estimating is an important factor in many industries. The local grocer wants to order enough stock to satisfy their customers yet have the goods on the shelf for as little time as possible. For the construction industry, it is no different. Without a detailed estimate, profit margins can suffer. However, estimation is not a process of guesses. An estimate is calculated through knowl
Possibly the most crucial part to a construction project is construction estimating. It is the process of calculating the material, labor, equipment and overhead costs associated with a building project and then creating a quote, bid or project budget with the information.
Construction estimating is a major element of construction management. The construction industry relies on accurate cost estimates for both simple and complex projects.
Money runs the building and construction industry. To be successful you have to have a lot of money coming in and not as much going out. This is where building cost estimating is invaluable, but there are tricks to getting fast and accurate estimates.
The most important part of profitable construction projects is getting the costs right. If you undervalue the price, then you are going to lose money. If you are overvaluing your estimates, then you will most likely lose bids. Either way, incorrect cost estimates can destroy a builder or construction company. It can eat away at your profit margin or damage your reputation.
The relationship between suppliers and builders needs to be mutually beneficial and how it can generate loyal customers for suppliers.
The key to a healthy relationship is communication and setting realistic expectations. Both sound very simple, but in most cases where relationships sour, these two factors have crumbled.
Custom home builders and suppliers need to have a synergistic relationship to be successful in the construction industry. Suppliers want to offer custom home builders the materials they need to complete high-quality projects quickly and efficiently. Builders rely on suppliers to provide those materials at prices that allow them to make a profit. Price volatility in the construction
It doesn’t matter whether you prefer to call it material takeoff, construction takeoff or estimation takeoff, a quantity takeoff is an essential part of any building project. Whether it is a large or a small job, accurate quantity takeoffs can mean the difference between a financial disaster and a completed project that keeps everyone happy.
Construction managers are responsible for the everyday running of a construction project. They ensure that scheduled tasks are completed, and that the contractor has all the information they need to perform the work. They use technology, like construction management software, to successfully implement the work called for on the project documents. A good and productive construc
Estimating construction costs starts with a careful review of the project documents to determine the amount of work in a project.
Estimating construction costs accurately relies on many elements. It’s a necessary process and is what underscores the pricing of construction projects. The accuracy or inaccuracy of an estimate can make or break a business’ profitability. However, the elements involved can complicate the process and result in a lot of risk, whether from material price fluctuations to uncertai
As a business owner in residential construction, you know that you need a competitive edge to win more business. While your project portfolio is impressive in attracting business, you’re only as good as your first impression, and generally, you only have one chance to get it right.
The construction takeoff process when done manually with paper plans and a scale ruler is time-consuming and frustrating. It’s a process that often requires repetitive work while still resulting in inaccuracies. Because construction takeoffs are a necessary part of the construction industry, having a takeoff process that is efficient and accurate, is essential.
Residential construction projects rarely seem to go precisely as planned. Each new build or home renovation has a wide range of moving parts – and people – each with dependencies upon another.
Creating quick and accurate estimates is one of the necessary essential functions to winning jobs and running a successful residential construction business. It takes a lot of time, and if you’re still creating them by hand or Excel, there’s more potential for costly errors.
After the rollercoaster of 2020, predicting anything in 2021 can often feel impossible. At a time of flux, the ability to accurately estimate construction time for building projects is never more vital.
Searching for the right construction management software or assessing your current software? Here’s our in depth guide to help you.
It is undeniable that the global pandemic has taken a toll on businesses and our economy. And that includes the construction industry.
Estimating software streamlines your entire estimating process, from takeoffs, to estimates & sending quotes, set your construction business up for success.
We live in a rapidly changing world where technology is advancing at a groundbreaking speed. And with the rise of social media, remote work and online communication tools, everyone is migrating to researching and purchasing online. It is essential that if you own a small construction company or are involved in the construction industry in any way, that you take construction marketin
Learn how to be successful as a builder or renovator, highly accurate and delivered to the customer in a short timeframe with our guide.
Construction takeoffs sometimes referred to as material takeoffs, are an essential piece for almost any construction project. No matter the size of the job, takeoffs play a critically vital role in providing an accurate estimate for the builder or trader and their customer. It is even helpful for those in the electrical field since it will help them determine the quantities requ
Job management software is quickly becoming essential for small builders and trades who want to accelerate growth and reach their business goals. This is true for those that work on one job at a time, as well as builders that manage multiple jobs simultaneously.
If you are looking to grow your construction business, the best time to start is right now. It can feel like a daunting task and you may not know where or how to begin, so we thought we would give you hand, and list some basic strategies that you can start putting in place. These are some take-outs from our webinar ‘The Biggest Future Growth Opportunity in the B
Strategy, leadership, goal-setting and game-changers – these were just some of the topics covered in our webinar How to Win More Work in a Competitive Marketplace.
Buildxact partnered with Xact Accounting to deliver a very informative webinar centred around Expert Financial Tips to Protect your Business.
Discover some of the key features of Buildxact’s construction estimating and job management software. learn how to save time & reduce costs.
In the era of digital tools, you have more options now than ever before; especially when it comes to managing your work in the construction industry. Cloud-based construction software can help you control scheduling, provide accurate estimations, generate job costings, invoices, quotes and much more.
The adoption of estimating software for small builders in Australia has soared in recent years. As the construction industry continues to evolve its digital capabilities, builders are embracing estimating software as a backbone of their business.
Level up your construction business and streamline your operations with these nifty apps and top platforms to make your job more efficient.
You need easy to use software, and that’s what we’re famous for, but we also know that you may need a hand getting set up and comfortable with the Buildxact. So every subscription includes 3 hours of training, just for you, one on one.
Managing communications with your clients is critical… one missed email can be the difference between a happy client and a headache. Keeping on top of emails is difficult enough when using a single email account. As soon as you have more than one person in your business, it’s almost impossible to know exactly who has emailed whom and when.
Buildxact is TradiePad’s preferred partner for estimating and job management, free builders and trades from traditional paper-based systems.
Estimating software designed for builders and trades specifically allows you to cost up your jobs and feed those costs into a pre-templated, professional looking quote, ready to send out to your prospective clients.
Need to improve the construction efficiency of your business? Here are best tips and tricks to get your business running more efficiently.
Construction cash flow is something that’s on everyone’s mind at the best of times. Non-payment is maybe the worst case, but it’s not just that, what about late payment? Non-payment and cash payment have the biggest impacts when it comes to causing construction cash flow headaches for a large construction company or a custom home builder. Learning how to manage cash flow will
If you are a builder in the construction industry we have your back – take a fresh approach to your job in 2019 with our three easy tips to make your construction admin simpler and improve construction efficiency. The right software solution can be a great tool to fill in the gap if you do not have access to a project manager, or would even enhance the abilities of an actual proje
If you’re an experienced builder you may be able to estimate the cost of a small one-off job in your head, but generally, most builds and renovations start with a takeoff which will form the basis of your quote.
Your input and comments continue to help us develop new features and improvements and we’re grateful for your feedback. Over the past few months, we’ve launched a number of features that have been high on many of your wish lists. Here’s a quick overview.
We’re proud to announce Buildxact will be an exhibitor at Sydney Build this year! Sydney Build is the Leading Construction Show for Sydney and New South Wales. It’s a completely Free Expo and Conference with a huge range of daily workshops. So why not meet us there?
Here’s how you can get Buildxact on your home screen for easy access on your smart phone or tablet! Follow the instructions below from HowtoGeek.com and you’ll have Buildxact at the tips of your fingers in no time.
The most common problem every builder faces is how to attract customers and effectively win their business. You might have your estimating software like Buildxact all sorted and your accounting is syncing seamlessly but there’s not enough business or quotes been creating. Here’s a proven system to create your sales funnel that any builder can follow
The onboarding process of new employees in the construction industry can be a little different from how other industries do it. In some cases, construction companies often ignore or overlook new employees after they are hired. It is not intentional, by any means, it is mostly due to how busy construction workers are that there is not a formal onboarding process in place.
Becoming a Buildxact Partner could be the perfect side business for you if you are a builder, tradie, accountant or financial adviser. Buildxact is the complete software solution for Builders and Tradies that’s being rapidly adopted in Australia which is why we need people like yourself to help us spread the word. Whether you’re an existing customer, builder or accountant we wou
Roofing estimating software makes estimating the roof of a residential or commercial a much simpler task for builders and tradies. There is the pitch, materials, multiple measurements and not to mention the weather, to take into consideration. The number one tool any builder or tradie will need is a simple and easy-to-use estimating software like Buildxact and it is so simple to u
Estimating for a builder is now a dream and so simple every builder is getting estimating software. It’s not hard to see why, when estimating a job is faster, cheaper and easier than ever before. If you’ve ever been caught out with inaccurate estimates, budgets that blow out and unhappy customers then an estimating software is for you. So here are the benefits of using an esti
The most common myth about estimating software is that it’s too complicated and hard to learn. That used to be true before well designed cloud software became available in the last few years.
Xero is the fastest growing new breed of accounting software in Australia/NZ that’s cloud based, low cost and easy to use. Bookkeepers and accountants seem to be keen for their clients to move to Xero for good reasons.
Quoting by builders and tradies takes a lot of time. It’s the main reason tradies complain about working every night and not having enough time to run their business or get time to finish jobs on schedule. Families miss out. Quality checking of work suffers, so rework is a risk. Errors in estimating can eliminate job profit in a flash. No wonder that software for estimating that c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql8Ks3ac2UE
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.
How to convert square metres of wall into numbers of bricks, cubes of sand, bags of cement using recipes.
How to use recipes to work out cladding and insulation in Buildxact.
This video covers how to use recipes for decking and flooring.
How to manage wall framing and junctions using Buildxact recipes.
This video will show you how to load your own price catalog into Buildxact.
Learn how to connect Deputy with Buildxact.
This video covers completion percent invoicing
This video covers cost plus invoicing.
Learn how to respond to an RFQ using the Client Portal.
Learn how to respond to an RFQ in Buildxact.
This video is for people who’ve just been invited to a project via the Buildxact Client Portal.
Learn all about the Buildxact email integration feature.
See an overview of the entire accounting connection process, where you can integrate your accounting software into the Buildxact platform.
Learn the different aspects of contract invoicing such as altering stages, refundable deposits, as well as handling billing variations
Learn about over and above variations, how to fill out details, as well as printing and accepting variations.
Understand how to use work orders and manage internal costs, what work orders are for, and timesheeting options in Buildxact.
Learn purchasing functions and how to manage receiving costs as well as review the three types of purchase orders.
See how scheduling works in Buildxact. This includes structuring your schedules, methods of creation, the various views and functionalities.
Create a job within the Buildxact platform, including the types of jobs you can run, default invoices available, and job acceptance
Make your quotes look amazing and sort through the different options on offer to determine what the client sees using the Buildxact custom quote letter tool.
Generate specifications from the Buildxact costing screens, how to edit and add images, and what to do about exclusions.
Learn and understand what recipes are, how they work and how to build them in Buildxact’s construction management platform.
Learn the entire process from requesting the quote, to accepting the quote, and how the response appears. See a few tips and tricks to help you get the most out of Buildxact.
Here we’ll explain how to use the takeoff tool to complete a basic cubic metre takeoff in Buildxact.
Counting individual items on plans in Buildxact using the takeoff tool.
Understand the use of the most common lineal metre using Buildxact’s takeoff tool.
Learn to do pitched M2 for tasks such as roofing or raked ceilings takeoffs using Buildxact.
How to do M2 takeoffs on vertical surfaces from a top view plan using the Buildxact takeoff tool. This is commonly used when working with plaster, paint or tiling.
Learn how moving markup works, how you can identify PC/PS/Allowance items, and how to separate detailed costings from client specifications.
Learn to add markup to your Buildxact custom quote letters, as well as how to view and alter tax and understand how markup and tax impact customer price in Buildxact.
Make the most of the Buildxact takeoff tool by reusing measurements, as well as learn to add wastage and rounding to measurements.
Learn about the most common square metre takeoffs you can complete with Buildxact. Go through the Buildxact takeoff tool and see some tips and tricks.
Learn about the estimate costing screen, basic editing, adding price items to your quote, and exporting a bill of quantities.
0:05 Overview
Learn to load and scale your plans for use in your takeoffs.
Download and upload demo plans into your Buildxact environment.
Begin an estimate in Buildxact in the correct and most efficient way. Enter information such as estimate details, work location and notes.
Learn the main parts of Buildxact, how to capture client leads, and how to start an estimate.
Setup your account with your business details and logo. Learn how to add users and edit your Buildxact subscription.
Learn about what will be covered and how to get the most out of the entire video series on the Buildxact construction management platform.
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.
Download this eBook to learn of 6 ways suppliers can boost business success for their builder customers.
Download this eBook to learn three steps to having a profitable relationship with your suppliers.
Download this infographic to understand the mistakes suppliers are making that’s costing them customers.
Learn how suppliers are using SaaS to create deeper relationships with builders.
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.
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.
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.
Social media, remote work, and online communication tools — and today, companies and consumers alike are researching and purchasing online.
Learn how to maximize your profits by using cloud-based construction management software. Download the ebook now!
Learn how to estimate faster with your construction takeoffs with cloud-based construction management software. Download the ebook now!
Stay in touch, and we’ll show you how construction management software helps you get the job done so you can get back to what truly matters in life.
