The tight margins in residential construction leave no room for guesswork. A single missed line item can wipe out profit on an entire project, while an over-inflated allowance can cost you the job. That is why forward-thinking builders are replacing spreadsheets with accounting software for job quoting that links every material, task and labor hour to live cost data. CountBricks brings that connection to life through real-time voice capture, AI-powered takeoffs and automated pricing.
• Manual data entry leads to double handling and errors
• Supplier prices change before quotes are approved
• Invoices are recreated from scratch instead of flowing from the quote
• Site teams work from outdated budgets, risking overruns
At its core, job-quoting accounting software ties estimating, budgeting, purchasing and invoicing to one continuously updated cost database. When builders speak their scope of work into CountBricks, the platform instantly:
• Transcribes the conversation and tags trade categories
• Pulls live material and labor prices from your supplier files
• Builds a detailed cost schedule aligned with your chart of accounts
• Generates client-ready quote documents and internal cost codes in seconds
• Voice-to-estimate capture that understands trade terminology
• AI blueprint takeoffs that recognize walls, openings and finishes
• Real-time supplier price feeds
• Automatic markup and margin controls
• One-click conversion of quotes to purchase orders and invoices
• Seamless export to accounting ledgers and project dashboards
• Proprietary Natural-Language Estimator turns any onsite conversation into an itemized quote in minutes
• CountBricks CostGraph links each line item to updated regional pricing, so your numbers stay current even on extended bid cycles
• AI Takeoff Studio reads PDFs and DWG files, pushing quantities straight into the estimate—no rulers, no re-keying
• Branded quote templates pull client details, allowances and selections automatically from CountBricks.com/services settings
• Every approved quote becomes a live budget that site supervisors track on mobile—change one quantity and projected margin updates instantly
1. Start a Live Estimate on your phone or desktop and speak the scope: “Framing 1,850 sq ft bungalow, 2 × 6 exterior walls, LVL beams as per plan.”
2. CountBricks transcribes, tags assemblies and drops quantities into the estimate while pulling material prices from your configured suppliers.
3. Upload the architect’s PDF to AI Takeoff Studio; quantities sync to the same estimate, filling any gaps in the voice session.
4. Apply markup rules for overhead and desired margin, then click “Generate Client Quote.” Brand elements and allowances auto-fill.
5. Upon client approval, hit “Convert to Budget.” Purchase orders and cost codes feed straight to CountBricks Field so crews order exactly what was quoted.
6. As invoices arrive, they reconcile against the original quote, flagging variances in real time within your CountBricks dashboard.
• Quote accuracy improves by up to 30 % because live pricing replaces static cost books
• Estimating time drops from days to hours thanks to voice capture and AI takeoffs
• Markup consistency protects your profit on every line item
• Integrated budgeting prevents surprise overruns in framing, roofing, MEP or finishes
• Professional branded quotes win more jobs and justify premium pricing
• Sync supplier price lists weekly to keep material costs accurate
• Record scope meetings on-site so no detail gets lost between field and office
• Use templates for recurring project types—starter homes, infill additions, custom builds
• Leverage the Change Order module to capture client upgrades mid-project
• Review CostGraph analytics after each job to refine your labor productivity rates
Ready to quote faster and build more profitably? Explore the full feature set at CountBricks.com/services or book a demo at CountBricks.com/consultation. With CountBricks, your estimates, budgets and invoices finally speak the same language—yours.
Westview Homes, a mid-size residential contractor in Ontario, recently shifted from spreadsheets to CountBricks. Their first test project was a 3,100 sq ft custom farmhouse with complex timber details.
Traditional takeoff and quoting consumed nearly three working days, with one estimator chasing supplier pricing and another formatting the client proposal. Accounting codes were applied later, creating disconnect between the quote and job cost tracking.
• The project manager opened a Live Estimate on site, narrating room-by-room requirements into the CountBricks app.
• AI Takeoff Studio analyzed the architect’s PDF overnight, extracting framing, sheathing and roofing quantities.
• CostGraph matched each assembly with current lumber yard pricing, then applied Westview’s standard 18 % markup.
• A branded proposal was generated automatically, complete with allowances for millwork and plumbing fixtures.
• Total estimating time: 5 hours—an 18-hour reduction
• Quote accuracy variance after project completion: ±1.7 %
• Gross margin protection: projected 21 %, actual 20.6 %
Because every line item originated in CountBricks, purchase orders and invoices reconciled with zero re-entry. Westview has since adopted CountBricks across all new builds and cites faster bid turnaround as its top competitive edge.
1. Import your cost codes and supplier lists into CountBricks.com before your first estimate.
2. Use voice capture during site walks to populate scopes instantly.
3. Let AI Takeoff Studio handle repetitive measurement work while you focus on value engineering.
4. Lock in margin rules so every quote meets your profitability targets automatically.
Want to see similar results? Schedule a personalized walkthrough at CountBricks.com/consultation and start transforming the way you quote, budget and build.
