There's a belief that the homebuilding industry likes to stick with what works. When it comes to communication and organization within a company, sometimes that means pens, pencils and scraps of paper. But homebuilders are recognizing the importance that technology can have on the bottom line, whether it is partnering with a custom electronics installer when selling a home or using organization software to control the communication and information flow between everyone working on a project.

Finding the right software is an investment in both time and money. When a homebuilder has committed to a program, that software can normally manage nearly every aspect of a project, from scheduling what is worked on next to alerting a subcontractor when he is needed on the jobsite. Some software is designed for smaller builders, while others focus on large builders; others separate custom builders from production builders. The three software programs featured here are by no means all that is available for a homebuilder to choose from, but they provide a basis from which to start.

Corecon

Corecon Software's estimating and project management software is Corecon 4.0, a Web-based program aimed at small to mid-size builders. The software allows for managing building schedules and price estimates as well as creating customizable proposals and documents.

Spanjer Construction Corporation of Fort Collins, Colo., uses Corecon to manage their business. Steve Spanjer, president of Spanjer, says that he recognized a need for software to oversee his company's projects. After using a different product that ultimately failed, they converted to Corecon. "Construction management software was integral to our growth," says Spanjer.

Spanjer Construction builds one-of-a-kind custom homes as well as production homes. They needed a software program that was receptive to different business models, could support many users and didn't only do commercial building management. "I needed software that understood residential," he says. Spanjer says that being able to set up contracts is important and that flexibility is crucial for a builder who doesn't build only one type of home. "The software helps you manage those procedures," he says. "Managing that process to be dynamic ... takes a flexible software."

Using the software is fairly easy, Spanjer says, relating it to using Microsoft products. But its ease-of-use doesn't mean it isn't powerful. "It's much more powerful than we ever realized," he says. The program can manage lots of information, and since it is all in one place, it all "talks to each other," Spanjer says. "It's a resource for every piece of information that could be associated with the job."

Spanjer says that Corecon's training helps with his company's specific problems. When they aren't sure how to do something, they can log on to live Web training where a Corecon support staff member takes them through the steps of using the software -- all onscreen. "Corecon is pretty big," says Spanjer. "I'm impressed with their training."

Many builders have close relationships with their software providers, and Spanjer says that Corecon will listen to requests for extra features in the software. "They're very receptive about adding [them]," he says. The learning curve for the software is small -- it is "very Microsoft intuitive," Spanjer says -- but it takes time at the beginning to assemble the necessary documents and project-specific add-ons.

The software has enabled Spanjer Construction to increase efficiency as well as document control, causing fewer mistakes and miscommunications. "With Corecon, it eliminates a lot of those errors and omissions," says Spanjer. "We're really glad we purchased it."

BuildLinks

BuildLinks is a Web-based software program that is aimed at small to medium-size builders and their customers. Cameron Bradford, a custom homebuilder and owner of Bradford Building Corporation in Orlando, Fla., has only been using BuildLinks for seven months but has already seen a difference. "I haven't seen anything in my career that has made me this excited to be a builder," says Bradford.

Bradford points to BuildLinks's real-time, Web-based graphical interface as a selling point. In construction, he says, "The difficult part is explaining and communicating expectations." With the software, his customers can log on to the Internet, view the schedule of the new home, see pictures of the progress and view photos of the products going in the home, including faucets, doors and kitchen cabinets. Because everyone has access, everyone is on the same page -- and when that page changes, whether it's a new cabinet or a scheduling change, the information is instantly available because it is updated real-time. "If anything has changed, as of that second [the changes] are there," says Bradford.

Bradford is able to compare the difference that the software makes on his business first-hand. Since the company has only used BuildLinks for seven months, some of their projects that started earlier aren't utilizing the software. He isn't sure of the profitability differences yet, but the software has made a "remarkable difference," he says. "It can't do anything but increase productivity."

The software has also hit well with clients, who don't need to meet at the store to pick out products, Bradford says, but can choose accessories at home on their own time. "It's so much easier for them," he says. "If you can navigate to a Web site, you can do this." More than half of the clients are not locals, so the online access is key.

Bradford supplies a list of options that the client can choose from -- he says that vendors help by supplying graphics and updating prices -- which makes the customer happy and eliminates stress in the product selection process. "They feel like they have infinite customability," he says. "[Clients] stress out about keeping track of it all. They don't have to remember anything. There's no more drama."

Bradford also has an employee on staff whose job it is to communicate with clients about the software. "His salary is paid for in savings," says Bradford. With the customer choosing exactly what options they want, there's no miscommunication that results in having to rip things out and re-do them. BuildLinks's customer service has been very responsive, he says, and they are always holding webinars to train users. "I think this will become the standard," says Bradford. "I feel that this gives me a huge competitive advantage."

IHMS by Mark Systems

Mark Systems' Integrated Homebuilder Management System (IHMS), developed for residential homebuilders, has a database that includes accounting, scheduling, contract management and traffic analysis. Yardley, Penn.-based DeLuca Homes, a production builder mainly serving the Philadelphia market, has been using IHMS for 12 years. Ed Bobrin, director of corporate and home systems technology, says that they use IHMS to manage sales agreements, accounting and operations, including work orders and scheduling.

Bobrin says that when processing orders, the software saves money and time. "It's significant savings," he says. "With [everything] set up the right way, it's push button." He says that he can go from a contract to a work order in as little as 20 minutes. The learning curve for the software varies, he says. "You have to consider the breadth of the user."

One of IHMS's features is the Internet Toolkit, which when developing Mark Systems took into consideration some of DeLuca Homes' requests. "The Internet Toolkit piece has been the biggest boon to the business," says Bobrin, calling its development a "win-win situation" for both companies. The toolkit allows work orders and schedules to be delivered to subcontractors, who can log on anywhere, anytime to check in. Bobrin says that the Internet Toolkit also has a homebuyer piece to it, allowing the client to see the stage of the house and track what has been purchased, but he hasn't used that function yet.

For workers who are out in the field, IHMS requires dialing into the system via Terminal, which Bobrin says can be an issue. "That's not my favorite thing about the software," he says. He has been asking Mark Systems to switch the access to be Web-based, but they haven't made that change yet. "They're kind of limited," he says. Bobrin also feels that the software's database could use an upgrade, but Mark Systems doesn't want to bump up the price. "The tools are somewhat dated," he says. "It needs to be brought up to [today's] standards."

DeLuca Homes has had good rapport with Mark Systems' support technicians, Bobrin says, and they consider input from the builder when upgrading or developing the software. However, when the software does get upgraded or patched, he says he feels less control when he has to "turn [the] keyboard over" to the remote installers. "It works for now," says Bobrin, but depending on someone else to install the program is tough. "It's more difficult when you have to rely on someone else."

Adopting Software

Bobrin says it's a misconception that the homebuilding industry wants to stick to pencil and paper instead of using technology. "They have a computer," he says, giving them the ability to log on to the Internet. "They're already doing it."

According to Bobrin, some software companies have a fear that no one will get on board with new software but that homebuilders are beginning to realize the importance of software. "I think it's getting better," he says. "And I think that we're getting there."