The phrase “build off” gets thrown around on job sites and inside estimating software, but it can feel vague. At CountBricks, a build off is the jump-off point where your plan set, measurements and material lists become a real, costed residential project. It is the moment you build off the blueprint data to create a live estimate, schedule and purchase list—without copy-pasting spreadsheets or chasing price sheets.
• First cost accuracy: A clean build off anchors every subsequent revision to real-time supplier pricing inside CountBricks.
• Labor clarity: Tasks are linked to production rates and crew costs, so your bids reflect actual site hours.
• Change-order control: When owners pivot mid-design, your build off estimate updates instantly, protecting margins.
• Professional image: Clients receive branded CountBricks quote documents that read like polished proposals, not raw takeoffs.
1. Talk, don’t type: Open a voice session in the CountBricks mobile app and walk through the plan. The AI assigns rooms, zones and construction assemblies as you speak.
2. AI-powered blueprint takeoff: Upload PDFs or photos. CountBricks extracts dimensions, wall lengths and openings, tagging them to CSI cost codes for residential trades.
3. Real-time material pricing: The platform checks current dealer catalogs and regional indexes, then applies your negotiated markups.
4. Task & crew matching: Every assembly is matched to trade-specific production rates—framers, drywallers, finish carpenters—so labor is always right-sized.
5. Instant build off estimate: In minutes you have a line-item budget, scheduling logic and a client-ready quote.
6. One-click revisions: Need an alternate for fiber-cement siding? Replace the assembly and the build off refreshes across schedule, cost and invoice forecast.
• Verify plan scale inside CountBricks takeoff viewer
• Confirm supplier regions for accurate freight calculation
• Upload any custom assemblies—specialty millwork, custom stair systems, niche HVAC components
• Sync your accounting codes so approved build offs flow straight to your ledger
• Use voice tags like “wet area” or “exterior deck” while scanning plans to auto-apply waterproofing or treated-lumber assemblies.
• Save common residential templates—bathroom reno, 2-car garage, basement finish—to jump-start new build offs.
• Apply escalation factors to labor lines when quoting projects scheduled more than six months out.
• Generate supplier comparison reports directly from the build off screen to lock in the best material package.
• Attach client notes and 3-D render screenshots; everything rides along with the estimate so communication stays clear.
A Seattle builder approached CountBricks for a 2,100-square-foot Craftsman remodel with extensive structural and finish upgrades. Using the workflow above, the superintendent completed the build off in 42 minutes.
• 756 linear feet of new framing was captured via AI takeoff, cross-checked with voice-tagged wall calls.
• Material pricing updated live from three regional lumber yards—CountBricks flagged a cost-saving engineered joist swap worth $4,300.
• Labor was scheduled in five phases, automatically sequencing the crew calendar and reducing idle days by 11%.
The homeowner signed the CountBricks digital quote the same day, crediting the speed and clarity of the build off presentation.
Once a client approves the estimate, CountBricks pushes the build off data directly into procurement and field tracking dashboards. Purchase orders, delivery milestones and invoice schedules all stem from the single source of truth established during build off. Superintendents can compare actuals versus the original quantities in real time, ensuring the project stays profitable all the way to punch-list.
Ready to convert your next plan set into a winning proposal in minutes? Visit CountBricks.com/services or book a live demo on CountBricks.com/consultation and experience the fastest build off workflow in residential construction.
The true value of a CountBricks build off emerges after the contract is signed. Because every quantity and cost in the estimate is tied to dynamic data, your field team never loses sight of the original benchmark.
• As deliveries hit the job, foremen scan packing slips with the CountBricks mobile app. The system instantly reconciles received quantities against the build off baseline.
• If lumber prices rise mid-project, the variance report highlights the cost delta and suggests immediate scope adjustments or change-order pricing.
1. CountBricks reviews crew productivity daily, comparing installed units to the build off production rate.
2. When a trade falls behind, the software recommends resequencing tasks or reallocating labor before delays cascade.
3. Contractors report an average two-day reduction on 3-month remodels—without resorting to overtime premiums.
• The build off database stores alternate assemblies—premium flooring, smart-home packages, energy upgrades. Present upsells to homeowners with accurate price impacts in seconds.
• Because the financial ripple is calculated instantly against the original estimate, clients feel confident approving add-ons, boosting average project value by up to 18%.
• Completed project metrics feed back into your personal template library. The next build off incorporates refined production rates and supplier performance scores, steadily sharpening your competitiveness.
When you can track every stud, tile and labor hour back to the initial build off, surprises vanish and profits rise. Explore CountBricks.com/portfolio to see more examples of builders who transformed their residential operations with CountBricks.
