Residential construction clients expect the same 24/7 digital access they receive from banks and airlines. A branded portal lets homeowners review estimates, approve change orders and track schedules without endless calls or texts. For trade contractors and custom builders using CountBricks, the portal is more than a document dump—it is the live window into your AI-driven estimating engine, materials data and invoicing workflow.
When we say “portal,” we are talking about a secure, browser-based hub that pulls real-time data from your CountBricks account. The moment you finish a voice-driven takeoff or update labor costs, the information appears in the client’s view—no double entry, no version confusion. Your portal can show:
• Interactive line-item estimates generated by CountBricks AI
• Material selections, images and supplier lead times
• Gantt or calendar views of upcoming site activities
• Change order approvals with e-signature
• Progress payment status tied to milestones
• Secure message threads that archive directly to the project record
• Fewer phone calls: Clients self-serve answers in the portal
• Faster approvals: Digital sign-off shaves days off project timelines
• Transparent margins: Itemized costs justify pricing and reduce disputes
• Marketing edge: A modern portal differentiates your company in competitive bidding
Identify every role that will log in—client, architect, designer, subcontractor and internal project manager. In CountBricks, create role templates so you can toggle data visibility with one click.
Trace the journey of information from a voice estimate to invoice. Decide which items are client-facing and which stay internal. Clear flowcharts prevent scope creep in later development.
Most builders pair the CountBricks Portal Kit with a lightweight CMS such as Webflow or WordPress. The kit supplies pre-built React widgets that surface estimate tables, schedule timelines and payment trackers. Hosting remains under your control, preserving brand ownership.
Add your logo, color palette and typography. A consistent look reassures clients they are still dealing with your company, not a generic app.
Use your CountBricks API key to stream live pricing, tax, wastage and margin calculations. Any voice-dictated changes you make in the field sync to the portal within seconds.
Clients love at-a-glance insights. Popular widgets include:
• Budget Meter – visualizes approved spend versus actual
• Weather Overlay – pulls local forecasts to explain potential delays
• Material ETA Tracker – shows order dates, shipping status and onsite arrival
CountBricks uses token-based authentication and 256-bit encryption. Add two-factor authentication for clients handling six-figure budgets. Schedule weekly backups to an off-site server.
Before inviting clients, let your foreperson pretend to be a homeowner. Collect feedback on navigation, loading speed and mobile responsiveness. Adapt quickly—small tweaks here avoid big headaches later.
Record a 2-minute screen share that walks through each tab. Email log-in credentials and embed the video. Early guidance reduces support tickets.
Inside CountBricks analytics, track metrics such as average time in portal, number of approvals per week and message response time. Use the data to refine features and justify ROI in leadership meetings.
• Slow load times – Compress image assets and leverage CountBricks caching
• Conflicting numbers – Confirm that every team member is entering changes in CountBricks, not side spreadsheets
• Client login confusion – Offer single sign-on via Google or Microsoft accounts
Building a portal is an investment, but much cheaper than manual admin labor. Typical breakdown for a mid-size builder:
• CountBricks Portal Kit license – 0.5% of annual project turnover
• Web developer integration – 40 hours at local market rate
• Branding, copy and training – 10 hours in-house marketing time
Because the kit is modular, you can launch a Minimum Viable Portal in a week and add advanced widgets later.
CountBricks users report:
• 38% faster estimate approvals
• 22% reduction in unbilled variations
• 4 fewer phone calls per project day
Compound those gains across a year and the portal pays for itself multiple times.
If you are ready to stop emailing PDFs and start delivering a premium digital experience, visit CountBricks.com/services to schedule a portal strategy session. Our implementation team handles the heavy lifting so you can stay focused on laying bricks and framing walls.
Greenwood Custom Homes builds six high-end residences each year. Before adopting CountBricks, the owner juggled spreadsheets, email threads and printed schedules. Clients frequently asked, “Is my tile on order?” or “Did we approve that lighting allowance?”
1. Week One – CountBricks onboarding, voice takeoff training and portal kit installation
2. Week Two – Branding and API connection for live estimate data
3. Week Three – Internal testing on a renovation project
4. Week Four – First client invited; feedback gathered and small UI tweaks applied
• Estimate approval time dropped from 11 days to 5
• 0 unbilled variations; every change order captured through the portal
• 26% decrease in inbound client calls, freeing the project manager for site supervision
• Launch with a single flagship feature, such as live estimates, to avoid overwhelming users
• Schedule a 15-minute weekly portal check-in with the client to keep engagement high
• Use the portal’s photo upload function to share end-of-week progress shots—clients love visuals
You do not need a full-time developer to replicate Greenwood’s success. The CountBricks implementation crew can configure permissions, embed widgets and migrate past project data in as little as three business days. Visit CountBricks.com/consultation to request a tailored roadmap for your company. From AI takeoffs to portal dashboards, CountBricks keeps your residential projects moving—and your clients delighted.
