How to Do a Quote for a Job | CountBricks Residential

Understanding Construction Quote Costs

Accurate quoting is essential for construction professionals. Typical costs for residential projects can range from $650-$1200 per opening, depending on materials and labor rates. Staying updated with current pricing is crucial to maintain profitability.

Why Accurate Quotes Win Residential Work

For builders involved in new homes, extensions, or major renovations, providing a precise quote is crucial. It not only protects your profit margins but also builds trust with clients and subcontractors. CountBricks offers a solution with real-time voice capture, live materials pricing, and AI-driven take-offs to streamline the quoting process.

The Four Pillars of a Profitable Quote

• Scope clarity
• Precise quantities
• Current material and labor rates
• Professional presentation

CountBricks automates the last three, allowing your team to focus on scope clarity and client communication.

Step-by-Step: How to Do a Quote for a Job with CountBricks

1. Open a new project in your CountBricks dashboard and name the job.
2. Speak through the scope on site or in the office—the software converts your words into structured line items in real time.
3. Upload PDFs or photos of drawings. The AI instantly performs a residential take-off, generating accurate quantities for walls, slabs, roof area, joinery counts, and more.
4. Select assemblies from the CountBricks cost library. The platform auto-applies current supplier prices and regional labor rates.
5. Review the autogenerated build program and profit margin. Adjust mark-ups, contingency allowances, or optional extras with a single click.
6. Generate a branded PDF quote, complete with inclusions, exclusions, and payment schedule. Send directly to the client or architect.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Guessing quantities off the plan instead of using digital take-offs
• Relying on outdated price lists
• Ignoring preliminaries such as site fencing, toilets, and temporary power
• Omitting realistic allowances for waste and weather delays
• Forgetting GST and local permit fees

How CountBricks Eliminates These Errors

• Live price feeds from major suppliers update every 24 hours
• Waste factors and preliminaries are built into every assembly
• Voice-to-item capture reduces manual data entry mistakes
• Margin guardrails alert you if profit drops below your preset threshold

Balancing Speed and Detail

A detailed quote may impress a client, but it can consume valuable time. CountBricks allows you to toggle detail levels at export, providing flexibility in presentation.

Five Pro Tips for CountBricks Power Users

• Sync your supplier accounts so trade discounts pull through automatically
• Record site notes from your phone; the audio becomes billable variations
• Use conditional pricing for prime cost items like appliances
• Tag each line item to cost centers for easy financial reporting
• Archive winning quotes as templates for repeat-style builds

Case Study: 48-Hour Turnaround on a Complex Extension

A Sydney builder needed to quote a two-storey rear extension with curved walls and a cantilevered deck. Using CountBricks, he recorded the scope walkthrough on Friday morning, uploaded the revised drawings Friday afternoon, and delivered a detailed quote by Sunday evening. The client accepted on Monday, praising the builder's professionalism and speed.

What Goes Into a CountBricks Quote Document?

• Executive summary of the project
• Detailed inclusions and exclusions
• Itemized cost table with GST
• Provisional sums and PC allowances
• Construction timeline and payment stages
• Digital signature fields for fast acceptance

Next Steps

If you're ready to enhance your quoting process, explore CountBricks for a streamlined, professional approach to construction quoting.

Deep Dive: Turning Quotes into Signed Contracts

Even the most accurate estimate is only valuable once the client signs. CountBricks streamlines the transition from pricing to contract, ensuring your projects move forward efficiently.

The Conversion Workflow

1. Quote Accepted
2. Generate Contract
3. Allocate Cost Codes
4. Sync to Job Management

Once a homeowner approves your quote, simply hit 'Convert to Contract' inside CountBricks. The system carries all cost codes, allowances, and schedules directly into your project dashboard, eliminating double data entry.

Why Speed Matters in Residential Construction

• Holding prices: Lumber or copper can jump 5% in a week. Faster acceptance locks in rates.
• Client confidence: Rapid response signals professionalism, reducing the temptation to shop around.
• Cashflow: A day saved in pre-construction is a day earned on site.

Integrating Subcontractor Quotes

CountBricks allows you to invite trades—plumbers, electricians, roofers—to upload their own quotes into your master estimate. Compare multiple bids side-by-side, apply your mark-up, and update the client price instantly.

Variation Management

• Voice-record site changes while walking with the client
• CountBricks converts the audio into a priced variation
• Client receives a mobile approval link within minutes

This is how to manage quotes, changes, and final invoices in one connected workflow.

Ready to Level Up?

Residential builders using CountBricks report increased quote-to-contract conversion rates. Explore how CountBricks can enhance your quoting process today.