Manual take-offs, endless price checks, and spreadsheet gymnastics once defined pre-construction life. AI estimating changes the rules. By blending natural language processing, computer vision, and real-time cost databases, CountBricks turns casual conversation or a PDF plan into a ready-to-send quote in minutes. For residential contractors racing from site meetings to supplier yards, that speed is a competitive weapon.
Voice-first workflow – Open the CountBricks mobile app, talk through room dimensions, finishes, or scope changes, and watch line items populate instantly.
Live material feeds – CountBricks pipes in up-to-the-minute lumber, roofing, and appliance pricing from partnered merchants so every estimate reflects today’s market, not last quarter’s catalog.
Task libraries for residential trades – Framing, cladding, plumbing rough-ins, painting touch-ups; each task carries labor hours, crew size, and overhead factors vetted by CountBricks estimators.
Automatic blueprint takeoffs – Drag-and-drop a PDF plan into the browser. The AI reads walls, windows, and square meterages, then links them to material lists and labor assemblies.
One-click documents – Export a branded proposal, progress claim, or final invoice without re-entering data. CountBricks keeps every figure synchronized across documents.
• 75% faster take-off turnaround, winning jobs before competitors hit “reply”
• Transparent material escalations shown line by line, reducing client disputes
• Fewer supplier runs thanks to purchase orders generated alongside the quote
• Margin control via automatic markup rules and labor burden tracking
• Sharper scheduling with labor hours feeding straight into project calendars
1. Start a voice session on site and describe the build: “130 m² weatherboard renovation, new kitchen, tiled ensuite.”
2. Snap photos or upload the architect’s PDF. CountBricks detects wall lengths, door counts, and floor areas.
3. Confirm suggested assemblies. For example, timber stud walls auto-populate with nog spacing, insulation type, and drywall thickness.
4. Review live pricing. Swap a product, tweak labor rates, or add contingencies in seconds.
5. Hit “Generate Quote.” A branded PDF, accompanying bill of quantities, and acceptance link are ready for the client.
6. Upon approval, convert the estimate to a project budget and schedule inside CountBricks without duplicate entry.
• Speak naturally but specifically: “Color-bond roof, basalt finish” yields sharper matches than “metal roof.”
• Keep supplier codes updated on your CountBricks profile so the AI aligns every SKU to your preferred merchant.
• Use the in-app laser measurement integration for irregular spaces; dimensional accuracy boosts material ordering precision.
• Set default markups per trade. Carpentry might be 18 %, electrical 25 %. The AI applies them automatically yet keeps them editable.
• Leverage CountBricks.com/services training videos to fine-tune blueprint recognition for unique regional plan styles.
A Christchurch homebuilder using CountBricks cut average estimating time from eight hours to ninety minutes across 42 projects. The saved 238 labour hours redirected into site supervision netted an additional NZ$74,000 in revenue. Meanwhile, pricing accuracy improved material order variance from 12 % down to 3 %, eliminating costly over-purchasing.
Supply volatility, labour shortages, and ever-higher client expectations make 2025 a tough landscape. CountBricks’ AI estimating doesn’t just reduce keystrokes; it creates a live data loop from design through hand-over. As regulations evolve and sustainable products enter the mix, the platform’s materials database updates automatically. Builders who adopt the tech now position themselves as agile partners rather than reactive contractors.
Visit CountBricks.com/consultation to schedule a 15-minute demo. Bring a recent plan set, and our team will show how quickly AI can turn it into a winning proposal. No spreadsheets. No delays. Just better bids, faster builds.
When Harbour Homes landed a two-storey villa extension on Auckland’s North Shore, they turned to CountBricks to tame a complex scope: seismic retrofits, custom joinery, and heritage façade restoration. The team uploaded the architect’s 16-page PDF, and within 12 minutes the AI identified 7 load-bearing wall upgrades, 124 m² of weatherboard replacement, and 46 heritage-grade sash windows.
• Original manual estimate time: 11 hours 40 minutes
• CountBricks AI estimate time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Cost variance on completion: +1.8 % versus +9.6 % historical average
• Client approval received 48 hours earlier than scheduled, accelerating start-date cash flow
1. Real-time cedar weatherboard pricing flowed from CountBricks’ merchant feed, catching a mid-week price spike that would have erased margin.
2. Automatic labour allocation adjusted crew hours for restricted-access scaffolding, preventing a costly variation later.
3. Generated purchase orders aligned perfectly with phased delivery, reducing on-site material storage and damage.
• Scenario cloning – Duplicate an estimate, swap materials (e.g., LVL beams for steel), and present clients with price comparisons instantly.
• AI change-order tracking – Voice-log site instructions, let the system cost the change, and send a digital approval link before extra work begins.
• Green-grade recommendations – The AI flags lower-carbon alternatives that meet New Zealand standards, helping you upsell sustainability.
CountBricks onboarding takes less than a morning. Our implementation team uploads your historical assemblies, aligns supplier accounts, and trains staff on voice workflows. Within the first week, most builders recover the subscription fee simply by redirecting office hours to chargeable site tasks.
Ready to modernise your pre-construction process? Visit CountBricks.com/services or book a live walkthrough at CountBricks.com/consultation. The future of residential estimating is already talking—make sure it’s talking for you.
