Builders know that demand for home construction remains. The global shortage of new housing units remains high, according to Goldman Sachs.

Also, builders like you have noticed, in response to recent developments, many homeowners now opt for a renovation instead of a new build. In fact, 79% of homeowners say they would renovate before buying a new home, according to a recent Discover Home Loans survey reported by Better Homes & Gardens.

With new home builds and renovations still in demand, builders need to be ready to estimate and quote jobs as quickly as possible. Successful builders know that to maintain responsiveness to the customer requires them to act as an efficient project manager. They must improve their overall efficiency and focus on specialized areas such as subcontractor management.

Builders need their labor networks to be ready and able to accept work and have the agility to steadily move from job-to-job. When doing so, you keep your subcontractor relationships fresh and avoid scrambling for skilled workers amid ongoing labor shortages. 

Subcontractor management processes and benefits

There are many tasks involved with building a home. Framing, painting and installing flooring are just a few of the jobs that benefit from a specialist. 

In most cases, as a home builder, you don’t pay benefits to a subcontractor to complete this type of work done. However, you still have job management issues to consider. You need to have clearly written terms and conditions that govern scope of work, safety standards, variances, compensation and worker protections for your construction project. 

You will also likely need to discuss with an attorney any subcontractor agreements that govern payroll taxes, liability and insurance. It’s important to get the negotiations right because subcontractor expenses often total three-fourths of the cost of a home build.

Also, in today’s market you need to properly plan and schedule the work done by subcontractors. You need to confirm subcontractor availability, and project materials need to be onsite when the subcontractor needs them. Any delays in one subcontractor task can throw off the schedule for subsequent contractors and work teams. It’s also important to remember that rushing to catch up on a schedule can compromise safety standards.

That’s why it’s important to always have a high-level view of the progress each subcontractor is making on the jobs assigned to them. The sooner you know a job is slipping from the agreed schedule, the quicker you can solve the problem so that it doesn’t impact all the subcontractors on your job site.

Finally, you need a centralized place to track and store subcontractor agreements, documentation of a subcontractor’s performance and subcontractor invoices. This is vital as you track costs against your budget. Keeping subcontractor costs under control is critical to maintaining your profitability.

Use the right software to improve subcontractor management

Document control

Today, builders like you need to spend more time on the job ensuring quality work proceeds as planned. You have less time for critical administrative tasks like takeoffs and estimating. Modern software helps cut administrative time because there is less paperwork 

Imagine not having to thumb through stacks of paper and files looking for important documents. With modern software, important subcontractor management documents can be stored centrally online for easy reference. Builders can also assign work orders to specific subcontractors to document expectations and deadlines. Work orders also can be used when it comes time to review a subcontractor’s work.

Job management

Once you’ve won a job and arranged for material and labor, it’s time to schedule your project. Keeping track of multiple subcontractors can be difficult and is particularly important as the length of time it takes to complete a home increases. Because of current labor and material shortages, it takes more than eight months to complete a home.

But modern software can help you manage this. Advance software allows you to create custom schedules directly from job estimates so that nothing is forgotten and all third party vendors are considered. You can store schedules for all tasks in one place where dependencies and progress can easily be monitored at both a high level and in detail using graphical software tools.

The best software also allows you to schedule jobs to specific subcontractors and notify those subcontractors contractors by email or text from the same tool.

Cost tracking

Of course, a critical part of your subcontractor management beyond scheduling is ensuring your supplier delivers quality materials to your job site on time and under budget. In this way, you are acting as the coordinator for all the trades needed for your home build.

Modern software again helps. You can access software tools today that create budgets straight from your estimate so that you can compare actual costs to your estimates. A single tool allows you to create work orders and receipts that directly connect to your budget so that you can have real-time updates as your project progresses.

Using the right software also saves you the time and hassle of importing data into different spreadsheets by connecting to widely used accounting software such as Quickbooks or Xero.

How to quickly improve your subcontractor management process

Whether just starting out or a seasoned veteran, builders like you need to constantly reassess your relationship with subcontractors and the tools you are using to manage these important resources.

Today, builders like you are more frequently turning to modern software to assist them. Buildxact offers an all-in-one platform for performing takeoffs, estimating material and labor costs and generating project schedules.

Learn more about pricing or begin working today with our friendly team at Buildxact. Book a demo or start right away with a 14-day free trial.

The post Subcontractor Management critical to profitable projects appeared first on Buildxact AU.

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 managing any job. View and allocate tasks and resources across different jobs via the Dashboard. Choose between job or resource views, select a time period and even email or SMS reminders. Everything you need to manage your business in a dash. 

Find out more about improvements to our dashboard

Accelerate quote approvals

Buildxact can help your business move from quote to contract quicker. Chose how you want homeowners to view your quote – via email or Client Portal. Better yet, give them the option to digitally accept the quote then and there. So even if you can’t get out to see the customer, the job can still progress with no hold-ups.  

Watch Dan demonstrate how to share a quote

Wanna get in on the latest features? 

The team here at Buildxact are builders too! When we create new features, we like to get feedback on our build. That’s where you can get involved! Buildxact Labs gives you the opportunity to try new features. They are concepts, but if there’s a feature you’re super keen to get your hands on, or you are a Buildxact fan who wants to have a say in the development process, Buildxact Labs is for you.

See what’s cooking in the lab and how to get access

Life’s better when you’re connected

Builders are halving their quoting time with integrated supplier price lists* (Buildxact Builder Research Oct 2021). With less time spent on emails and phone calls, they’re able to spend more time building customer relationships or spending time with their family. 

The latest suppliers to join Buildxact:

• Concrete World Industries (Central West, NSW, Australia)  
• Bretts Timber and Hardware (Brisbane, QLD, Australia)  
• Tamworth Building Supplies (New England and North West, NSW, Australia) 
• Australian Builders Network (Australia)  
• Builders World (Australia) 
• ITM (New Zealand)  
• Central Valley Lumber (California, America)  
• KBC BMR (Ontario, Canada) 

*Available to Pro and Teams subscribers.  

Find out how to connect with your suppliers

Respond to RFQs in Buildxact

This year will see a lot of enhancements to RFQ’s. Suppliers and contractors can now respond to RFQ requests within Buildxact. This gives suppliers and contractors the benefit of using Buildxact’s features to streamline the quoting process. 

How to respond to a quote request

Help when you need it

We’ve updated Buildxact to show helpful information, videos and FAQ article links on each feature screen to help guide you along. No need to search for help, it’s all right there on the platform when you need it.  

Getting help in Buildxact

Suppliers digitize the supply chain with Epicor BisTrack integration (suppliers only)

As the market continues to face supply issues, pricing continues to fluctuate with 74% suppliers reporting price lists are being updated weekly or monthly (Farnsworth research Dec 2021). Suppliers can eliminate double handling and update price plans direct from their ERP into Buildxact. Connect with market leading ERP solution, Epicor BisTrack, to automate product information from manufacturer to supplier to builder for greater efficiency and reduced transactional costs.  

Find out how you can connect with Epicor BisTrack

The post April product news: New features to streamline admin appeared first on Buildxact AU.

• Back to all eBooks

Share:

The ultimate guide to construction management software eBook

Innovation is a valuable trait of home builders, especially when facing challenges. This innovation is why builders are turning to technology to optimize their work processes and unlock more business opportunities. We’ve created this handy guide to explain the ins and outs of using construction management software to improve your business.

In this guide: 

• Discover the benefits of using software to take your home building business to the next level 
• Reduce stress with faster takeoffs and accurate estimates 
• Learn how Sabado Homes improved workflows and increased trade with software 

Download

Related content

• eBooks

How branding grows your business

Learn how to build your business by creating quality branding.

• Construction advice, Job management

• Blogs

What to expect from building material prices

Building material prices will see continued increases in prices. Find out what this means for your construction costs and what to expect.

• Construction advice, Industry insights, Job management

• eBooks

What is lean construction?

Avoid wastage and save your business money by learning the ins and outs of lean construction.

• Construction advice, Job management

• eBooks

How to improve your construction company’s profit margin

Learn strategies you can implement to improve your profit margin.

• Construction advice, Job management

• Blogs

Focus on new technology in construction to improve home building

New technology in construction is advancing and with supply shortages and prices uncertain, adapting these technological trends is vital.

• Construction advice, Industry insights, Job management

• Blogs

Break through customer renovation fears 

 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..

• Customer communication, Job management

• Blogs

Learn how new construction materials impact today’s custom home projects

Custom builders better manage new material purchases using online tools. Today, many homeowners look to sustainable materials in their custom home projects.

• Construction advice, Job management, Supplier integration

• Blogs

Custom home builders earn homeowner trust with estimating templates

Builders can grow homeowner trust using estimating templates and multifunctional custom home building software.

• Customer communication, Estimating

The post The ultimate guide to construction management software eBook appeared first on Buildxact AU.

Juggling multiple jobs is difficult as a residential builder but with Buildxact, you can manage your scheduling seamlessly. Using Buildxact’s scheduling features, you’ll be able to manage all areas of your job effectively, helping you confidently direct your team and subbies. Build your schedule directly from your estimate, or use a template, meaning nothing is missed and no more double-handling. Make changes as the job moves along, and access your schedule anywhere using Buildxact’s cloud-based scheduling software.

The post Manage your jobs seamlessly appeared first on Buildxact AU.

To build a successful construction business you must consistently research, plan, finance and complete jobs that satisfy your customers. Here, we will look at how to achieve these requirements from the start and successfully grow your building company.

What area of construction will you focus on?

One issue new construction companies or contractors face is spreading themselves too thin. If you try to do everything, then chances are you won’t be great at anything.

By choosing an area to focus on you can hone your skills and become the best at what you do. Perhaps you have experience in a certain building sector or there is a shortfall of a specific building type within your local community, and it’s a need you can fill.

The three focus areas are residential, infrastructure and industrial builds.

Residential buildings

If you focus on the residential sector your clients can range from home buyers, investors, co-ops, to developers. It all depends on the types of residencies you build. You could concentrate on building houses, apartment buildings or duplexes. Within this sector you also have remodels and home extensions.

Small builders to large construction companies serve this sector.

Infrastructure

This sector focuses on roads, bridges, waste and water systems and other heavy engineering that is constructed to improve a city or town’s liveability. These projects are usually government-funded and can often take many years to complete from planning to final build.

A large construction company is more suited to the infrastructure sector.

Industrial

The industrial sector is wide-ranging and can include retail and manufacturing facilities, industrial plants or refineries. Your clients may be investors, developers or individual business owners.

This sector is served by medium to large construction companies.

Identifying your niche

A good way for custom home builders to stand out from competitors is to specialize, or become an expert in a niche. Perhaps you could be a specialist in old home restoration, you could be an expert in eco-friendly buildings, or on an infrastructure level, a plumbing contractor can specialize in serving high-rise apartments.

Research your local market

The best place to start your niche research is with your local area and its demographics. What sort of customer base is there? Find out their age, status and interests. This can give you an idea of what kind of construction is needed.

Now, look at the businesses that are already there. What are they? Are there a lot of one type and few of another? Is there a need that isn’t currently being filled? Another thing to consider is the prices others charge in your area. Can you compete? Look at the reviews and the reputation of the companies. Again, can you compete?

From the above information, you can get an understanding of the construction needs of the locals and of the area. However, you can’t just consider now, you must think about how the area may look in 10 years time. Is it still going to be growing or will construction have slowed?

The local market is a great place to begin your research, but you still need to take it a step further to help ensure your construction company won’t be one that fails in its first five years.

How to do construction market research

Start with free resources like Google, construction industry reports, builder’s websites, commercial directories or local phone books. You can also try industry magazines, government reports and look at historical data and bids as well as proposed projects coming to the area.

Customer feedback is an excellent way of knowing your local customer base. Through surveys, questionnaires, focus groups or face-to-face interviews you can find out:

• How often they have used a builder;
• What were their biggest issues with the building process;
• Their most important factor that makes them a happy customer.

Whatever your questions are, there’s no one better to ask than those who may potentially become your customer.

It doesn’t matter what your research sources are as long as they help you get an accurate overview of your customers, their needs and how you can find your niche in the construction industry.

Draft your business plan

Now you’ve done your research and found your specialty, it’s time to start making plans. Specifically, your business plan. It needs to include:

• Your business and management structure;
• The service you provide;
• What kind of jobs you will bid on;
• Your target market;
• How many employees you will have;
• What your estimated income for your first year and the KPI’s you need to achieve to reach it;
• Whether you will be a cash or accrual business and what your billing terms are;
• How you are going to market yourself;
• What your lending sources are;
• And, what your estimated startup costs are.

To ensure you don’t forget anything, we recommend you use a construction business plan template.

Writing a construction business plan

Good research and accurate information is an important part of the startup stage, but writing a solid business plan is the most crucial. Knowing how to create professional and accurate construction estimations is a crucial part of your business planning process.

As your business plan is so crucial, don’t be afraid to get help. There are people who write up business plans for a profession.

Register your business

The next step is to register your business to ensure you pay the proper taxes required to operate. Contact your local government to find out more information on registering your construction business.

Get the right licenses and permits

Your state and local governments will have permits and licenses that you will need to run your company. As the business owner, it is up to you to ensure you comply with the laws and regulations. So, contact the regulatory authorities in your area to find out what you need to comply with your local government.

Find an insurance provider

Shop around and find the best insurance for your own company. You will need vehicle and equipment, risk, injury, personal and general liability insurance.

Find the funding you need

The cost of business does not end when you start up, depending on the job you are doing, you may have to lay out a great deal of money before you start generating cash and profits. In the meantime, you still have to survive. So, decide whether you can secure funding by yourself, whether a bank loan will do or if private lenders offer a better choice. Many turn to government loans or grants.

Work out what equipment you’ll need

Whether you are a general contractor or you have your own construction company, any new business will need construction equipment. Some tools you will buy and some equipment you will rent.

What will you do yourself, and what tasks or site labour will subcontract for?

One of the main lessons business owners need to learn is to delegate. To grow your business, you will need to learn how to share as much workload as possible. You can use subcontracted labor, general contractors, bookkeepers and other tools to save you time.

You also can turn to software tools to help manage your business. For instance, creating quantity takeoffs and estimations are time-consuming; so using construction management software, you can get them done 80% faster. Software also can help you schedule work and manage subcontractors.

Who will look after your company’s bookkeeping?

Bookkeeping is one job that should definitely be delegated to a good professional. Good quality construction management software can integrate with your bookkeeper’s accounting software, making the financial side of your business easier to manage.

Growing your construction business

Of course, quality construction, good materials, great customer service and being able to complete jobs are critical to a successful construction business. However, growing one takes good management, planning and marketing.

Let’s have a closer look at what it takes to grow your construction business.

Build a great team

Your employees are a reflection of you so make sure your workers and other contractors offer the same quality services as you do. Again, you need to share the workload as much as you can; so build a team you can rely on.

Invest in your business 

Next, you need to invest in your company. It’ll need your time, money and devotion to be a success. Whether you need to pay for new trade tech, undergo more training, or finance your marketing, it is all about growing your business by reaching more satisfied customers.

Focus on quality

The best way to build your reputation and grow your business is to produce quality work. Don’t cut corners and rush through the process. And if you don’t perform an accurate construction estimation, then you won’t know the project viability or how much time the project will take.

The post How to start and successfully grow a construction business appeared first on Buildxact AU.

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 construction manager has some key qualities. 

1. Communicative 

The sharing of information is key on any construction project. Construction managers need to be able to communicate with everyone on the project, including field workers, subcontractors, designers, and owners. The ability to translate information so that everyone can understand is not universal. Good construction managers ensure that everyone has the information they need to do their job correctly and efficiently. 

Collaboration and cooperation are also key during a project. Good communication ensures all parties have the information they need so they can efficiently work together.

2. Experienced

Construction managers who have worked on similar projects have the knowledge that is necessary for an effective project. They can draw on their experience on other projects to make better decisions in developing ideas for the current project. Their experience helps them know what can be done on a project, as well as what can’t. 

Managers that have “been there and done that” are valuable resources to the project team. The more experienced they are, the more experience and knowledge they have to draw from.

3. Organized

Productive construction managers have clear processes and procedures for getting the work done. Over time they have developed the necessary processes for completing the work needed to build a project. They rely on the effective execution of these processes to ensure the project stays on time and on budget.  

Good construction managers are able to define tasks to develop the schedule for the project, delegate them, and confirm that they are completed each day.

4. Detail-oriented

It’s important that construction managers are able to see not only the big picture but the details that make up that picture. Managers give attention to lots of data during the project. Budgets and schedules are reviewed regularly to determine their accuracy and if changes need to be made.  

Managers that are detail-oriented track budgets better and understand that the small details of the project are often the most critical.

5. Flexibility

Construction managers must be able to manage several priorities at the same time. Field conditions are always changing and there are often multiple issues competing for attention at any one time. Managers must be flexible and able to change priorities and handle problems as they come up.  

They must also be able to evaluate and prioritize problems so those critical to the schedule and budget are addressed first.

6. Team player

Managers must be able to work with teams and delegate tasks to other members. Projects require several groups working together, and managers must cooperate and collaborate.  

Leadership skills are also key as managers are often in charge of several crews and direct the work being done on site. Delegation is key to getting tasks done, and managers must know when to send a task on to someone else. Leaders focus on efficiency and getting the job done.

7. Solution-oriented

Problems almost always arise on construction projects, and managers must be ready to tackle them at any time. They must work with team members to find and implement solutions to multiple problems each day. They can’t get stuck in the problem, so managers must be focused on listening to their teammates and finding a solution. 

If a conflict arises on a job, managers are often called on to mediate and help resolve the issue. Having conflict resolution skills and an ability to assess the situation and find a common solution is beneficial to construction managers.

8. Visionary

Construction managers must be able to see the completed project at the beginning, and then break that project down into phases and tasks. Being able to envision the completed project and what has to happen to get there is a skill that is only learned with experience. Then the manager needs to communicate their vision to the team, so everyone has a shared goal.

9. Responsible

Managers must take ownership of each project, ensuring that problems are solved, disputes are resolved, and that the project reaches its goals. By taking ownership, the manager takes responsibility for everything that happens on the project, ensuring that someone is watching out. 

Construction managers need to have a “the buck stops here” attitude to ensure that owners are happy with the project outcome and team members are working together.

10. Ethical

Construction managers should follow a code of conduct that ensures ethical dealing with the owner and other team members. Questions of integrity and ethical behaviors do not belong on a construction project. That being said, mistakes happen, and managers need to deal with them quickly and fairly. 

With open communication on a project, questions of ethics should not come up. If they do, they should be addressed openly and swiftly. 

When assessing whether a construction manager is right for your project, look for these qualities. They will help ensure that you have a successful project that meets your needs and runs smoothly. Construction management software, like Buildxact, helps project teams communicate, collaborate, and complete projects successfully. 

The post Top 10 qualities of a productive construction manager appeared first on Buildxact AU.

Detailed coordination is crucial, and when one stage of a project experiences a delay or unexpectedly shifts ahead of schedule, it impacts each phase that follows. This “domino effect” caused by insufficient scheduling can be costly. It is important to create an accurate schedule that will assure a completion date that was agreed upon with the customer. Nailing your construction schedules will go a long way, especially with complex projects, to ensure the completion date matches what was promised.

Unfortunately, some home construction and remodelling professionals have developed a poor reputation. These days, contractors and sub-contractors are telling homeowners to expect their construction project to take longer, and cost more than originally estimated.  This is especially true if it is a complex project. Still, it is important to stay organized and schedule tasks ahead of time to complete critical activities to end sure you finish projects in a timely manner.

The scheduling “situation” is not only frustrating for homeowners. 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.

Tackling the problem of wasted time 

It may be surprising to learn that only about half of construction businesses utilize digital tools to help them manage tasks like construction scheduling, and less than one-third use software to help them handle critical project management functions like tracking invoices or expenses.

If you are among those looking for cloud-based construction scheduling software that will help bring efficiency and visibility to your operations, you are in the right place. It is a tool that will help you tackle numerous activities, even with lean scheduling, with an effective construction plan. The key features Buildxact provides for construction project management will help your project teams stay on task and on track to meet deadlines. Construction scheduling does not have to be a tedious task. It helps builders keep their project schedule organized and construction projects running smoothly, whether you have many resources or limited resources.

Getting started with construction scheduling software

Start by using a construction project scheduling software, like Buildxact and create a critical path construction schedule. Building this type of detailed plan will outline all the tasks, timelines and resources necessary to complete the project; and will specify what gets done, when.

An effective construction project schedule details:

• What construction tasks need to be completed
• How long the tasks will take to accomplish, start-to-finish
• What resources – materials or personnel – are required to complete the tasks

In other words, create a construction plan, tackle your work with your project teams.

What are the advantages of construction scheduling software?

Every home builder and general contractor wears many hats and looks for ways to manage their projects more efficiently.

A well-defined plan puts you in a position for successful, on-time project completion. This is especially crucial for companies with back-to-back deadlines or those who are managing multiple projects at once, with limited resources.

The benefits of project management and construction scheduling software include:

• Fewer surprises: Well-planned construction projects using construction scheduling software help to eliminate the element of surprise. Working through the fine details before the start helps to prevent eleventh-hour changes and gives you more control over the outcome of the construction project.
• More quality control: Project quality and therefore, client satisfaction, only gets better with a well-thought-out project schedule. Using construction project scheduling software allows advance planning to ensure that the right materials are on-hand when they are needed.
• Improves planning and productivity: Construction scheduling software helps to organize resources like labour, financing, and equipment more efficiently, so everyone involved in the construction project — from subcontractors and laborers to suppliers — can collaborate to better plan their activities and complete each phase of the project on time.
• Decreases risks: The well-being of everyone on site is a major concern in any construction project. Using a construction project scheduling software helps to identify who should be on the premises at any given time and when personal protective equipment like hard hats, boots, goggles, and earplugs should be worn eliminating any unnecessary risks to your business.
• Quickly adapt to disruptions: The unexpected happens in construction, whether it is a dramatic change in the weather directly affecting the job site to sudden changes in staff or sub-shifts. Using construction project scheduling software will allow you to create a contingency plan, respond to unexpected disruptions, and communicate any sudden changes quickly without relying on a phone tree.

Why construction project scheduling is a must-have

Convinced and ready to get started creating your project schedules using the software? Here are the top features to consider when looking for your construction project schedule software:

Better resource allocation: A preview of how your team is tracking — employees and subs — using scheduling software for construction crews gives you more control to better allocate resources. Buildxact offers easy-to-use residential construction scheduling project software for scheduling and project management. Successful project management execution goes a long way in growing your business. It helps keep track of the construction project schedule, from the project planning phase all the way through project completion.

Real-time detail tracking: Residential construction scheduling software offers a bird’s eye view of each project phase and the opportunity to prepare a comprehensive schedule, make as-needed updates, and track progress at a glance or view the step-by-step specifics along the way.

The flexibility of Buildxact’s project scheduling software makes it possible to connect dependent activities, add new items and maintain a precise plan. Color-coded progress tracking makes it easy to see how each phase of your project is advancing.

Detailed reporting: residential construction project scheduling software, like Buildxact, gives you the power to generate as much or as little data as you need. Easy to read Gantt charts of your schedule enable you to view the progress or final project reports, which give insight into how well your projects performed on cost, manpower, and profitability.

Efficient project modeling: Construction estimating and scheduling software allows you to use repeatable project templates, which makes it possible for you to execute planning more efficiently.

Once you have saved a project schedule, Buildxact allows you to use that same schedule as the model for future projects of the same type. For instance, once the schedule for a townhouse build is complete, that same timeline can easily be used again to guide similar projects in the future.

Communication efficiency: Collaborating and communicating with subs, suppliers, and your staff is made easier with construction project scheduling software with automated reminders that can be sent via email or text message.

More control: With Buildxact construction estimating and project scheduling software, developing your project plan can ̶   and does  ̶  start with the estimate. While creating your estimate you can select which items should be part of the build schedule; doing so enables you to work more efficiently and, organize and save all project details in one location.

Buildxact provides a better scheduling solution (and then some!) 

Our cloud-based construction project scheduling software helps to bring transparency to every job, optimize resources and create efficiencies that help building professionals avoid common (and costly) scheduling mistakes.

Buildxact enhances communication and project collaboration among team members, and with partners. Easy-to-access, real-time project schedules and alerts allow users to monitor progress, address hurdles, make updates and connect dependent tasks to build each project phase automatically.

“So, across the board, we just become more efficient, and the transfer of information is a lot easier,” said Jeremy De Paz, project manager at Waterloo City Construction in Austin, Texas. “Data and information are not lost in translation or as we are transferring it from one person to another.”

More than just a powerful scheduling tool, Buildxact’s comprehensive construction management software enables residential building and remodelling professionals to:

• Complete takeoffs
• Provide accurate estimates
• Create accurate, branded quotes
• Track and control costs
• Manage budgets and invoicing

Still have questions? 

We have made it easy for you to do a deep dive and get all details about each of these Buildxact features and functions. Visit our video tutorial page to see first hand how to put Buildxact to work and see if it is the best construction scheduling software for your business.

Ready to take control of your project management, instead of your projects running you? 

Try Buildxact for a 14-day risk-free trial. Or perhaps you would prefer to talk with one of our expert team members, schedule a no-obligation one-on-one demonstration.

The post The easiest way to get started with construction scheduling software appeared first on Buildxact AU.

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.  

While the Australian building industry has boomed through the global pandemic, the extreme pressure this has placed on the supply of materials and availability of labour has resulted in many frustrating delays for builders and clients. 

While there will always be factors beyond the control of builders and project planners, here are 5 simple ways to help forecast and manage your construction time estimates. 

Plan well ahead with job management software

It may seem obvious but allowing for an ample planning phase is the crucial first step if your proposed project timeline is to stand any chance of becoming a reality.  

Scheduling various stages, finalising building plans, budgets, applying for relevant permits, sourcing materials, labour and a host of other complex elements each take time and attention to detail. This is also the time to plan for contingencies and build additional slack into the schedule – ideally in your job management software – where possible/appropriate. 

Given the high demand currently being experienced in the building industry, booking any subcontractors as far in advance as possible is also a must. Lock these collaborators into a contract – as early as possible – with scheduled start dates and milestone timeframes. This is a vital step in ensuring they turn up when you need them and that their part of the project is completed on time for the next phases. 

While you and your clients may be in a rush to get cracking, taking adequate time to pre-determine as much as possible, and plotting all of this into estimating software like Buildxact, will save you more time down the track and avoid delays. 

Get a bird’s eye view

Until you can see all the moving parts of your project at once, you can be guaranteed there is something in the shadows waiting to sabotage your schedule. 

While recent news of the extension of HomeBuilder construction deadline is likely to reduce some pressure on builders, timelines will continue to be affected by the volatile industry climate. 

Being able to schedule, view and move all the elements of your build around on a timeline, in a construction management software that suits your projects, allows you to clearly see how each stage relates to – and may cause headaches for – those around them. 

Buildxact’s calendar scheduling feature makes this possible in an intuitive quick reference layout where you can plot and assign tasks, track completion and anticipate what’s next. Without a bird’s eye view of your entire project and the time you need to allow for each element, you’re effectively flying blind. 

Use construction management software to learn from your experiences

Unless this is your first build project, you have a lot of previous data to draw on when sitting down to estimate construction time. For the well-organised builder using job management software, this can be simple. For those with only a pile of invoices, receipts and scrawled notes to refer back to, it can be extremely difficult. 

Taking the time to sit down and review each job once complete will help reveal all the things you did wrong, the missed opportunities that may have saved you time or money and the long list of things you did right. 

With all your project notes, plans, schedules and costs together in the one place, Buildxact’s construction management software lets you see all this very quickly. 

So you can replicate your wins without repeating your mistakes. 

Don’t reinvent the wheel

The long-term benefit of a robust review process is the ability to compare the insights you garner from your projects over time. This allows you to identify where and when to apply certain approaches, and see the speedbumps you’re likely to encounter well before you’re on top of them. 

One of the great features designed into Buildxact’s job management software is the ability to save projects as editable templates. This is an especially useful planning timesaver in instances where you may be replicating a project concurrently, such as townhouses, or when taking on a similar build further down the track. 

With the bulk of the scheduling work already taken care of in your construction management software, based on actual build timelines that have worked in the past, you’re now free to focus on the specific and minute details of the project and tweak the schedule as appropriate. 

Use reliable 3rd part collaborators that understand your needs

Every build is different, but to be successful you’ll always be relying on multiple stakeholders. From suppliers to trades, sub-contractors, architects and others – everyone has their own quirks, methods, challenges, and competing priorities. 

While having contacts in place may protect you financially if things go south, having a solid relationship with your network and understanding their timelines, and the factors likely to cause them delays gives you far more realistic expectations on which to base your plans. At the same time, they can develop a keen understanding of your project needs and the way you work. 

All this puts you in the best possible position to update and manage your clients’ expectations – especially when factors beyond your control cause unavoidable delays that are not your fault. 

As your project progresses, having open efficient communication channels with the people you’re relying on, is most often the single most important factor in hitting your project completion deadline. 

No time to lose – trial estimating software today

Learn more about how Buildxact’ estimating software features can help you implement these steps toward streamlining the way you plan construction time on your builds. 

Or, if you’re keen to dive in, take a free 14-day test drive and experience our simple to use, fully integrated software designed for residential builders and trades like you. 

The post How to estimate construction time for your project appeared first on Buildxact AU.

The post The ultimate guide to construction management software appeared first on Buildxact AU.

Connect your email inbox, included in Pro and Teams

That’s why we are introducing the ability for all users on our Pro and Teams subscriptions to connect their email inboxes to Buildxact. This will allow you to see all emails sent to/received from Customers and Suppliers right within Buildxact, regardless of who sent them. Note: Pro and Teams are part of the new subscription plans that will replace the old Value Bundle, Estimates Only and Jobs Only plans by 1 July 2019. If you are on an old plan, read more about the new plans here or of if you’re ready to move now, call us on 1800 965 597 or contact us via this form.

Connecting your inbox also means you can choose to send quotes, purchase orders and other items from within Buildxact using your own email inbox. These emails will appear in the sent items of your regular email client. Finally, you can specify an email signature for each inbox you connect.

Easy to get started

Connecting an email inbox is easy. Simply navigate to the Integrations page (My Account -> Integrations) and click Connect. We support connections to all the major email providers.

Once connected, whenever you send an email from within Buildxact, you will be able to select how you would like the email to be sent: 

1.  by Buildxact on your behalf
2.  by using an email inbox you’ve connected 

Simply select your inbox, review your message and hit send. The email is sent from your inbox and will appear in your sent messages.  The signature you configured will be automatically included and you can adjust it if needed.

There are several other benefits to using your connected inbox, including:  

• You can now include Copy (CC) and Blind Copy (BCC) additional emails when sending via your inbox 
• It improves email delivery. These emails are far less likely to get caught in spam filters 
• Shared email inboxes are visible to your team in Buildxact (e.g. Info@AcmeBuilding.com.au or Sales@AcmeBuilding.com.au)    

 
If managing your communications to customers and suppliers is challenging, have a look at our new connected inboxes capability so you can get ahead and stay ahead.  

Got any questions about Buildxact or need help? Email, chat or call us for all sales and support enquiries. We are available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (AEST).

Please check out our subscription plans, to help you save time by staying on top of your job and estimations.

The post Email integration – all your customer and supplier communications in one place appeared first on Buildxact AU.