Profit on a residential project is won or lost long before the first nail is driven. Materials, fixtures, and consumables represent up to 60 % of a typical single-family build budget, yet many contractors still rely on outdated spreadsheets or gut feel to manage them. At CountBricks we bring live marketplace pricing, AI-powered take-offs, and real-time voice estimating into one streamlined workflow so you can control every cent.
• Static price books become outdated within weeks, forcing you to pad quotes or absorb increases
• Manual take-offs risk quantity errors that inflate orders or trigger mid-build shortages
• Phone-based supplier negotiation burns hours that should be spent on site supervision
When multiplied across multiple lots, these inefficiencies quietly erode margins. CountBricks eliminates the guesswork by syncing your estimate directly with live supplier databases and automated freight factors.
1. Lock in live pricing at quote stage
CountBricks captures real-time costs during your voice conversation with the client, then tags each line item to preferred suppliers. If prices fluctuate before acceptance, the system highlights the delta so you can update the proposal instantly.
2. Automate blueprint take-offs
Upload the PDF set and our AI counts studs, sheets, and fasteners in minutes. Contractors routinely report 5-8 % material reduction compared with manual counting.
3. Bundle orders for volume rebates
Our dashboard shows upcoming jobs side by side. Combine identical SKUs across projects to reach rebate thresholds sooner.
4. Track site usage in real time
Field supervisors update delivered quantities via voice on their phone. Variances trigger alerts so shrinkage or theft is caught early.
5. Leverage post-build analytics
CountBricks stores actual versus estimated data for every project. Over time you create a custom cost curve that tightens future bids without cutting quality.
A three-home infill development in Christchurch faced tight lender deadlines and rising timber costs. By deploying CountBricks:
• Live estimate generated in 19 minutes saved a week of office work
• AI take-off trimmed 7 % of framing lumber through precise stud counts
• Consolidated cladding order across all three lots unlocked a 3 % supplier rebate
Total supplies saving: NZ$18,400, delivering a 2.7 % margin boost without altering specifications.
Variations are a margin killer when the office learns about them days later. With CountBricks, foremen simply dictate the change on site. The AI updates quantities, re-prices materials, and sends a revised change order before the concrete sets.
• Build reusable assemblies such as “90 m² timber midfloor” within the platform
• Attach preferred SKUs and labour crews once, then drop the assembly into new jobs with a click
• The system recalculates for span or joist spacing automatically, protecting margins on custom plans
Because CountBricks links purchase orders to project milestones, you can view upcoming material draws down to the week. Accurate cash forecasting means lower overdraft fees and better supplier terms.
• Treating supplier quotes as fixed: Prices may hold 30 days at best. Use live feeds or add escalation clauses generated by CountBricks.com/services.
• Over-ordering “just in case”: Data from our portfolio shows most builders carry 4-6 % excess lumber. Our variance reports flag this trend early.
• Ignoring freight: Fuel surcharges can offset bulk discounts. CountBricks auto-calculates delivered cost so remote sites stay profitable.
1. Book a 15-minute demo at CountBricks.com/consultation
2. Upload your current price list and preferred suppliers
3. Train site leads on voice commands (average learning curve: 30 minutes)
4. Start quoting with live data and watch the cost savings compound
Residential construction margins are too tight to leave material savings on the table. By embracing live pricing, AI take-offs, and voice-driven change management, building contractor supplies cost saving becomes a daily habit rather than a one-off exercise. CountBricks equips you with the tools and data to out-bid competitors, protect your margin, and deliver quality homes on budget.
The true power of CountBricks lies in the feedback loop between field performance and future bids. Every purchase order, delivery docket, and site variance is captured automatically, building a project-specific cost history contractors once only dreamed of.
• As invoices arrive, CountBricks matches them to the original estimate and flags over-runs instantly
• Salvageable off-cuts or unused SKUs are recorded and suggested for the next suitable project
• Seasonal price patterns—such as Q1 framing spikes—are surfaced so you can pre-buy when prices dip
1. Launch a new estimate and the platform proposes quantities based on historical consumption, not plan-room theory
2. Real-time supplier feeds overlay today’s pricing so you see true landed cost, including freight
3. The margin slider lets you test “what-if” scenarios in seconds, finding the sweet spot between competitiveness and profit
Contractors using CountBricks for six months or more report:
• 12 % reduction in average waste per project
• 18 % faster quote turnaround, winning more bids during peak season
• 9 % higher net margin on fixed-price contracts
These are not isolated wins—they are the natural outcome of disciplined data capture and proactive materials management. When your competitors still rely on static spreadsheets, the advantage becomes decisive.
Book your personalised walkthrough at CountBricks.com/consultation and see how quickly live pricing and AI insights translate into bottom-line results for your residential builds.
