Residential contractors no longer win projects on gut feeling alone. Owners and developers expect transparent numbers, razor-thin margins, and fast turnarounds. Shortlist Pricing—the process of filtering every supplier quote, labor rate, and overhead line item down to a tight, defendable range—has become the benchmark of professionalism. CountBricks brings that benchmark to life with real-time voice capture, AI-driven cost databases, and instant document generation.
In practical terms, Shortlist Pricing is the disciplined practice of narrowing hundreds of potential material and labor prices to the precise few that make sense for a specific project, location, and schedule. Instead of guessing at lumber or electrical allowances, you create a curated “short list” of vetted prices that reflect:
• Current supplier inventories and delivery charges
• Live labor rates for each trade in your ZIP code
• Project-specific productivity factors such as site access or seasonal weather
• Your target margin and risk profile
With CountBricks, this curation happens in seconds—no more manual spreadsheets or phone marathons with suppliers.
The real power of Shortlist Pricing is leverage. When you present a homeowner or developer with a crystal-clear breakdown of realistic costs, negotiations shift from “Why is it so expensive?” to “When can you start?” CountBricks amplifies that leverage by stamping every line with live market data pulled from our AI engine.
CountBricks was built by trade professionals who got tired of stale price books and bloated software. Our platform listens to your site walk-through via voice, translates each scope item into CSI tasks, then auto-populates a shortlist of costs.
• Voice-to-Estimate: Speak in plain English—“2,000 square feet of 5/8\" drywall, Level 4 finish”—and watch the line appear with market-tested pricing.
• AI Material Library: Timber, MEP components, finishes, fixtures—updated hourly across regional suppliers.
• Labor Benchmarks: Carpenters, electricians, painters—pulled from verified payroll feeds to reflect real wages and burden.
• Instant Quote Documents: Polished proposals branded with your logo, generated in PDF and e-signature format.
• One-Click Blueprint Takeoff: Upload a plan, let AI count studs and sheets, then push directly into your shortlist.
1. Capture Scope in the Field: Record voice notes on-site using the CountBricks mobile app.
2. Auto-Generate Tasks: AI matches each note to the correct CSI code and crew.
3. Curate Your Short List: Review recommended prices, lock preferred suppliers, and set margin targets.
4. Run Scenario Analysis: Adjust mark-ups or swap materials to see real-time profit impacts.
5. Publish Proposal: Export a branded quote and schedule directly to the client’s inbox.
• Keep your supplier list tight—three bids per material category is usually enough data without creating noise.
• Use CountBricks’ “regional factor” slider to test pricing in adjacent counties before committing.
• Add allowances for weather delays right inside the labor rate rather than as a separate contingency line.
• Export the shortlist into CountBricks.com/portfolio to showcase cost transparency on past jobs.
• Sync the shortlist with invoicing so change orders inherit the same vetted unit prices.
• Treating supplier quotes older than 30 days as gospel
• Forgetting to include delivery or fuel surcharges in the shortlist
• Relying on national averages that ignore local union agreements
• Rounding numbers “for simplicity” and eroding margin
CountBricks flags every one of these risks during estimate review so you stay profitable.
The market is only getting tighter. Material volatility, skilled-labor shortages, and demanding homeowners will punish sloppy estimating. Shortlist Pricing powered by CountBricks puts you ahead of those challenges. From blueprint takeoff to final invoice, a single dataset drives consistency and confidence. Learn more at CountBricks.com/services and start winning bids you actually want to build.
A three-story, 4,200-sq-ft hillside build in Oak Ridge had historically scared off local contractors because of steep access and premium finishes. Using CountBricks Shortlist Pricing, our partner builder secured the job at 18% gross margin—4% higher than their regional average.
• Geotech Adjustments: The AI engine added hillside footing factors to concrete rates, preventing a $14,000 overrun.
• Supplier Lock-In: CountBricks surfaced a regional cedar supplier $2.30 cheaper per board foot than the national chain, saving $9,700.
• Labor Sequencing: By forecasting crew overlap, the scheduler shaved five working days off framing, freeing budget for upgraded windows.
1. Layer Site Conditions Early: Voice-tag obstacles—narrow driveways, rock excavation—so AI pushes correct multipliers.
2. Compare Supplier Freight: Delivery to tricky sites can dwarf material savings. Use CountBricks freight toggles.
3. Integrate with Invoicing: The builder synced the shortlist to CountBricks invoices, ensuring every progress payment matched estimate line items.
Visit CountBricks.com/consultation to schedule a 15-minute walk-through. Bring a recent set of plans—our team will build a live shortlist while you watch. The numbers will speak for themselves.
