The request-for-quote (RFQ) process can make or break your profit margin on a residential build. Slow turnarounds, outdated price books, and vague scopes inflate risk and erode trust with subcontractors and clients alike. With CountBricks, an RFQ quote becomes more than a PDF—it becomes a living, AI-driven data set that keeps every trade aligned on real-time costs, quantities, and timelines.
• An estimate is your in-house projection of labor, material, and overhead.
• An RFQ quote is the formal request you send to suppliers or subs asking them to price specific scopes, specs, or assemblies.
Handling both inside a single CountBricks workflow removes double-entry, reduces human error, and keeps margins transparent from first conversation to final invoice.
Most contractors googling this phrase want one of three things:
1. A template that meets residential compliance rules
2. A faster method to compile and send multiple RFQs
3. A way to track responses so they can lock in pricing before material volatility kills their job cost
CountBricks answers all three with automated voice-to-estimate capture, cloud-based material databases, and one-click comparison reports.
• Speak, don’t type: Use the CountBricks real-time voice interface on site to feed dimensions, spec changes, or allowance notes directly into the quote request.
• Bundle assemblies: Group common wall, floor, or roof assemblies so suppliers can price packages instead of single SKUs—this usually returns sharper numbers.
• Time-stamp every line: CountBricks auto-adds “valid until” dates for volatile items like lumber and copper to avoid surprise surcharges mid-build.
• Attach visual context: Drop AI-based blueprint takeoffs directly into the RFQ so subs see exact counts and cut lists.
• Compare apples to apples: The built-in quote analyzer flags scope gaps and normalizes units (LF, SF, EA) so you’re never caught reconciling mismatched metrics.
1. Start a new project or sync an existing estimate from CountBricks.com/services.
2. Launch Voice Capture, walk the blueprint, and let AI convert spoken dimensions to digital takeoffs.
3. Choose “Generate RFQ Quote” and select the assemblies or individual line items you need priced.
4. Pick suppliers or subs from your saved database—or invite new partners via email link.
5. Customize deadlines, allowed substitutions, and payment terms with drop-down presets.
6. Click “Send RFQ” and CountBricks dispatches branded, ready-to-sign quote requests while tracking open rates.
7. As responses arrive, use the dashboard to compare unit cost, lead time, and exclusions side by side.
8. Convert the winning quote into a locked budget line and push it straight to invoicing without retyping.
• Same-day turnaround on complex multi-trade RFQs
• Live pricing pulled from verified supplier feeds inside CountBricks
• Automated schedule updates when quoted lead times shift
• Centralized communication log for auditors and homeowners
• Seamless hand-off to field crews with bar-coded pick lists
Scope Creep: Undefined allowances make it impossible to compare quotes. CountBricks forces line-item clarity before you hit send.
Price Expiry: In a volatile market, a 30-day quote is dangerous. Our “Dynamic Refresh” option auto-pings suppliers for updates every seven days.
Manual Data Entry: Re-keying numbers into scheduling or accounting systems is a recipe for errors. CountBricks connects estimating, RFQ, and invoicing in a single database.
A framing contractor using CountBricks shaved 18 hours off admin time and captured a 4 % material discount by sending bundled RFQs to three lumber yards. The AI flagging tool highlighted a missing LVL beam that Yard B overlooked, preventing a costly site delay. View more success stories at CountBricks.com/portfolio.
Ready to see RFQ quote automation in action? Book a no-pressure demo at CountBricks.com/consultation and start winning the speed game in residential construction.
Every RFQ quote you receive is automatically parsed by our machine-learning engine. The system cross-checks each line item against regional price averages stored in the CountBricks cost library. If a number falls outside tolerance, you receive an instant alert—no manual spreadsheet auditing required.
• Leverage “Preferred Supplier” tiers in CountBricks to reward partners who meet delivery and pricing benchmarks.
• Use the Comment Thread on each RFQ to negotiate substitutions without losing the original scope traceability.
• Activate mobile push notifications so your project manager can approve or reject quotes from the field.
On a recent 4,000 sq ft infill duplex, the general contractor uploaded the architect’s PDFs and spoke measurements directly into the CountBricks mobile app. Within 45 minutes, RFQs were sent to electrical, plumbing, and drywall subs. The drywall trade responded first, but CountBricks flagged a missing Level 5 finish line. After clarification, the revised quote came in $1.20 per square foot under the next competitor, saving the GC over $3,800.
• Structured Data: Every RFQ is tied back to a unique cost code, allowing instant budget reconciliation.
• Time Savings: Contractors report up to 70 % reduction in administrative hours during pre-construction.
• Professional Image: Branded RFQ documents elevate your firm’s credibility, encouraging quicker supplier responses.
Visit CountBricks.com/services to explore customizable RFQ quote templates, or schedule a live walkthrough at CountBricks.com/consultation. Stop guessing, start counting—because every brick, bolt, and board should earn you profit.
