During our implementation, your technical account specialist will work with your group to configure schedule templates, selection templates, and other aspects of the system. For this reason, BuildLinks does not offer a 'trial' version because the configuration is the key to success for our customers.

A web-based application is an application that operates over the Internet. Information is stored on BuildLinks' servers and the access is obtained via secure logins. The benefits of a web-based application are:

1. You can access the information anywhere you have an Internet connection.
2. The information is 'real-time' so you are not waiting for critical information.
3. The information is more secure than it would be on your own computer.
4. Upgrades containing new functions and enhancements are free and automatically applied there are no CDs or software to install on your PC.

Yes. You can access BuildLinks with any device that can access the Internet. BuildLinks is available via wireless technology that lets you view critical project information on the small screens of wireless PDAs and phones.

Your information is stored on the BuildLinks servers, which are housed in secure facilities with 24/7 monitoring and highly restricted access to personnel. All transactions are backed-up instantly and then shipped on a weekly basis to an underground data storage facility. Your data is therefore more secure than it would be on your own computer. If your computer is infected by a virus, it will not affect the information on BuildLinks. Also, if you could not access your office due to weather, you could easily work from your home computer and keep your projects going smoothly.

Part of the BuildLinks implementation process is to work with a technical account specialist to configure schedule templates, selection templates, and other aspects of the system to match your current business processes. However, our technical account specialists have worked with many different builders and can offer valuable insight on how to streamline your operations.

We currently have over 500 builders that range in size from two homes a year (highly custom, 14,000+ square feet, etc.) to hundreds of homes a year (production builders). Because we can configure BuildLinks to work for builders large and small, we can make the system successful for everyone.

When starting any new business a key factor to consider is your processes and how to streamline them to keep costs low and maximize profit. BuildLinks is a tool that drives greater efficiencies and provides you, the owner, with the organization needed to easily maintain your business and prepare for growth. With BuildLinks you avoid the expensive "he said, she said" miscommunications and surprises builders typically experience using paper and older technology. And, since BuildLinks is web-based, you get upgrades and improvements at no additional cost. Another key factor is the highly competitive nature of the homebuilding industry. BuildLinks provides an exceptional home buying experience for your homebuyers via discretionary access to schedules and selections through your website. You can stand apart from your competition by showing interested prospects how they will be able use BuildLinks and your initial homebuyers will likely bring referrals to your door.

BuildLinks increases homebuyer satisfaction by providing proactive information on the building process through an easy-to-use, web-based portal. Your homebuyers receive usernames and passwords when their project begins. They can then login to their new home's web page 24/7 to see information you choose to provide. Examples are: upcoming scheduled events, selections decide-by dates, documentation of phone calls, meetings, messages (both to and from the homebuyers), electronic documentation such as contracts and specifications, photos, and other important information. They can also approve change orders online. This information eliminates unnecessary phone calls and provides peace of mind all the way to closing, as well as more referrals.

BuildLinks allows real-time access to schedules from the field that can be easily updated and communicated to those individuals that need critical scheduling information. Schedules are configured to match your processes and are set up on a critical path that can provide automatic shifting of dates when tasks are moved. The BuildLinks schedule also lets you track resources (subcontractors, etc.) and provide automatic notifications (via email, text message, or fax) of upcoming events, changes of dates, and task completion. You can also share schedule information with your homebuyers or agents.

With BuildLinks, builders can select which events or tasks their homebuyers can see on the project schedule. In most cases, they choose to share high-level tasks and events to avoid confusion. Builders who share the schedule with their homebuyers save a great a deal of time because unnecessary phone calls regarding the status of the home are eliminated.

Builders have different needs regarding integration with their accounting systems. There is some integration and we must first understand your needs so we can apply what is available through the system.

BuildLinks serves as a repository for all selection choices you want to offer your homebuyer, as detailed or as broad as you choose. You can increase profit by creating an online design center with upgrade packages that homebuyers can easily review and select. The key to eliminating do-overs is the document trail within BuildLinks. If the homebuyer wants something that is not listed they can request it through BuildLinks in the email forum. You can then relay the request to different vendors/subs in a variety of ways. Finally, you can use a simple posting mechanism to get the change order to the homebuyer who can then approve or disapprove electronically.

Yes. We can create the categories of selections you want to offer. If you have any standards, we can populate those accordingly. The rest can be handled as you do today with a couple of unique advantages: instead of receiving pieces of paper, all correspondence from vendors, etc. will come electronically. You can then simply post these selection choices in the right category with your pricing for the customer to approve. (If you have a relationship with the vendor, you can even grant them access to post it for you!) If you use allowances, BuildLinks will automatically reconcile the homebuyer's choice with the allowance. If everything is an upgrade, BuildLinks shows the homebuyer any overage in real time (and when you expect payment for the overage).

Our target is to have you up and running with templates built and your live projects on the system within 30-45 days. This timeframe depends on how quickly you can get data about your business (schedule & selections info primarily) to your BuildLinks technical account specialist and then your availability for training & implementation activities.

We have designed BuildLinks so that it is easy to use. Our experienced technical account specialists have successfully implemented hundreds of builders and subs with different levels of experience ranging from "techie" to novice. Whether it is by leveraging fax & text messaging capabilities, to providing alerts to the foreman, there are a variety of ways we accommodate those who are either unfamiliar or uncomfortable with technology.

BuildLinks support is available by phone or email from 7:30am-8pm Eastern time, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Call 888.700.9470, send an email to support@buildlinks.com, or access Support online through the Help Center in BuildLinks.

No. Upgrades are loaded automatically at no additional charge to you.

As the technology is web-based, we are able to constantly update BuildLinks with enhancements generated from builders like you at no additional charge.

All BuildLinks customers are upgraded automatically, you don't need to do a thing. Major updates that offer new features and enhancements are announced well ahead of time and we strongly recommend you and your staff attend an orientation webinar (online seminar).

We can certainly accommodate small builders, and the technology is flexible to grow with you.