Let Your Software Help During the Construction Boom

Sage 100 Contractor is chock full of useful and time saving tools!  Consider implementing (or fine tuning) the following features:

• Track vendor and subcontractor insurance certificates (also good for tracking contractor license expirations and annual subcontractor agreements).
• Prepare fully executable subcontract agreements from within the system, whether each subcontract is a complete, free standing agreement, or a short form work order pursuant to an annual (or multiple year) subcontract agreement.  Include a prefilled application for payment form with the subcontract or work order.
• Prepare complete and effective purchase orders to ease materials purchasing and subsequent payables processing.
• Use Document Management to prepare and track in one place
• Requests for Proposals
• Requests for Information
• Transmittals
• Submittals
• Daily Field Reports
• Punch Lists
• Project Correspondence
• Consider using Scheduling to plan work and keep all subcontractors, staff, and clients apprised of project status.  When subcontractors and staff know when they are expected to complete their work, their satisfaction improves and subs in particular may be more willing to work with you.   Profits tend to improve drastically when projects are completed timely.

Your friendly Certified Consultant can help you put these tools to good use!

Estimating for the Construction Boom

Many contractors cut back significantly when business slowed down, which may have had a profound effect on their labor costs, production rates and overhead structure and may have caused a change in the markups used in estimating. 

What happens when things start to boom?  You may experience a sudden increase in business, and start to scramble to find workers and managers.  You may have to add overhead to support the increased volume. There have been significant labor shortages recently – will you have to pay more in wages and benefits than in the past to find qualified workers?  Contractors must carefully consider their labor and overhead structure and consider revising their production rates and overhead markup when pricing work that will be done during the boom times.  Keep an eye on your materials costs and know that a boom can cause shortages and upward price pressure.  This will help keep you profitable and competitive going forward.