ConstructionOnline Blog

5 Reasons We Dig Construction Estimate Templates

Construction estimate templates, schedule templates, document templates, project templates - these only apply to certain types of builders, right? Wrong.

It's a common misconception that templates are only beneficial for spec, tract, or production builders. Because these types of builders generally structure their work around a standardized set of options with limited customization, templates do work exceptionally well for them.

However, we've found that many other types of construction teams are often surprised to learn that templates can be incredibly beneficial for nearly any type of construction project. Templates help establish standard, dependable processes in all fields of project management - a best practice that supports the growth and success of construction businesses. 

For builders working with UDA ConstructionOnline, we often suggest working with templates to improve efficiency and accuracy. It’s no secret that rising material & labor costs have had a big impact on construction companies and construction clients in recent years. Now, more than ever, construction professionals need solutions to help control costs and ensure projects remain profitable. This is where construction estimate templates come into play. 

Construction estimate templates are essential for business success. Leveraging well-designed construction estimate templates can streamline your estimating process, improve accuracy, and ultimately boost your bottom line.

Not convinced you should be using templates? Read on to learn more about why you should start using construction estimate templates today:

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Topics: Free Template Estimating Financials

Maximizing Margins: The Key to Ensuring Profitable Construction Projects

Profitability is the foundation of every thriving construction business. Yet, in an industry rife with tight margins, fluctuating costs, and complex projects, tracking and optimizing profits can feel like an uphill battle. Many builders fall into the trap of focusing solely on revenue, overlooking the detailed financial insights that separate profitable projects from those that barely break even.

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Topics: Business Building Best Practices Financials Project Health

The Cost of Chaos: 8 Expense Tracking Mistakes that can Sink Your Business

Imagine you’re building a house, but no one’s checking the plans, tracking the budget, or making sure the materials fit the design. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, right? You may be surprised to hear that when your company doesn’t have proper construction expense management, it can be just as disastrous. Inaccurate and unorganized construction expense tracking can lead to project delays, budget overruns, and even legal trouble. Let’s dive into the 8 biggest mistakes construction companies make when tracking expenses, and how to solve them.

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Topics: Best Practices Estimating Financials Project Management OnCost™ Purchasing Purchase Orders

Avoiding Cloud Technology? Here's How You're Falling Behind

The internet is not new, and neither is the cloud. Technology in construction has been around for over 20 years, but desktop solutions are causing contractors to fall behind. Switching to cloud-based construction management can be daunting, but did you know that it could be the difference between a desktop management system and the cloud that causes you to go out of business?

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Topics: UDA ConstructionOnline Best Practices Learn From the Pros Commercial Project Communication Financials Subcontractors Residential Multi-Family TrueVision™ Business Intelligence Contact Management Project Management

The Complete Guide to Commercial Construction Estimating

The success of any construction project starts with an accurate, organized, and detailed estimate, and when you’re dealing with commercial projects which tend to be more complex and involved than say other types of estimates, the stakes are often higher. There are typically more fees, more permits, more compliance, and more safety considerations that take place.

That’s why it’s crucial that you get the estimate right from the get-go. In this article, we’ll lay out exactly how you should construct a proper estimate for commercial construction projects so that you can know what to expect financially, and ultimately protect your bottom line.

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Topics: Best Practices Estimating Financials

The Complete Guide to Residential Construction Estimating

The success of any residential construction project starts with an accurate, organized, and detailed estimate. Whether you are new to residential construction estimating or experienced, it's easy to overlook small details that can cause big problems later. This guide covers everything you need to include in your estimate, from materials and labor to permits and inspections. We’ll also discuss best practices to help you stay on track, highlight free construction estimate templates, and point out common mistakes to avoid.

Preparation is key. Before estimating, research prices and understand your project's full scope. Using residential construction estimating software can make this process easier and more accurate. As the project progresses, track actual costs and compare them to your estimate to stay on budget and make informed decisions. By following the 8 tips in this guide, you can ensure your residential construction project runs smoothly from start to finish.

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Topics: Free Template Best Practices Estimating Financials Residential Builders & Remodelers

Work In Progress (WIP) Reporting Measures Construction Project Profitability

A favorite adage of mine is “you can’t improve what you don’t measure.” But you have to know what you want to determine before you can know what needs to be measured. In construction, the industry with the lowest start-up survival rate nationwide*, what most business owners need to know is as simple as this – are we going to make it?

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Topics: UDA ConstructionSuite Business Building Financials

ConstructionOnline Secret Hacks: Estimate Views

Knowing the full capabilities of your construction estimating software can have a significant impact on the success of your business, both in the short and long term. ConstructionOnline offers 5 distinct views for your construction estimates that correlate with different stages of the average construction project. Learning how to utilize all 5 of ConstructionOnline's default views will allow you to gain a greater understanding of where your company stands at any given moment, enabling you to dedicate more time and more focus to growing your construction business.

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Topics: UDA ConstructionOnline ConstructionOnline Tips & Tricks Estimating Financials

Success Spotlight: Terlin Construction

UDA Technologies is the fastest growing provider of construction management software. With over 500,000 users worldwide and exceeding $65 billion in jobs managed every day, our goal remains the same: your success. Our clients are helping to build the world and make a difference in their communities. This post is part of an ongoing series showcasing the work of UDA clients around the globe.

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Topics: UDA ConstructionOnline UDA ConstructionSuite Customer Spotlight Financials

Tips & Tricks Webinar Series: 3 Ways to Estimate like an Expert

Continuing our Tips & Tricks Series of webinars, Senior Product Specialist Ian Schaefer shows how you can find success with OnCost Estimating in 3 different ways! If you missed our live session, you can find the recording here as well as questions asked in the webinar by some of ConstructionSuite's 500,000 users.

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Topics: UDA ConstructionSuite Estimating Webinar Financials UDA Academy