Posts by Marc Brady
Build costs are killing small builders – but not for the reason you think
I talk to a lot of UK builders and it’s clear that build costs are keeping many of them up at night. Materials up, labour up, margins squeezed to nothing. It’s the story every trade publication is telling right now, and it’s true. But it’s not the whole story. The build costs that are actually sinking small construction businesses aren’t the ones on site. They’re the ones happening before a…
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How long will your building company last? Watch this recording
Can you see your business going from strength to strength? Can you imagine a long-lasting, profitable future? Do you want more? Some builders are just trying to get through the week. Others are looking further ahead – and want to make a go of it – despite the best efforts of politics and economics to derail the whole construction industry! They want better control of their projects, their profit, their…
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EstimatorXpress 2026 and PlansXpress 2026: what’s changed and why it matters
The first of the 2026 software updates are designed to help you move from drawing to estimate more smoothly, price room-by-room with greater ease, and build in better protection for unknown costs – whilst making the full profit on every job. There are three key improvements to know about: PlansXpress room data now feeds into EstimatorXpress more intelligently. EstimatorXpress now includes builder and customer contingency options. EstimatorXpress now gives you…
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Material prices – how and why we track them for you
Are you undercharging your material prices? Read on to find out why it makes a huge difference to your bottom line Discover the service we provide that sorts it all out – at no extra cost Do you let customers off a few pounds or hundreds of pounds maybe? Would you go so far as to say you’ve helped finance your customers’ loft, garage conversion, knock-through, extension…? No way? So…
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The 10 pressures of running a building company
Pressure what pressure?? Running a building company isn’t just about the work on site. It’s the decisions. The responsibility. The constant balancing act behind the scenes. Most people don’t see that part.But every builder feels it. It goes like this… 1. The pressure to price it right Every job starts with a number. Too high, you risk losing it. Too low, you win it… and regret it. And once that…
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The hidden cost killing your profit
Project overrun? What project overrun? You knew the building project was running a little late. You just didn’t realise how late – until three weeks after. And by then? It’s already cost you. Cost overruns aren’t sudden. They creep. No project wakes up one morning and suddenly blows the budget. It creeps up on you. An extra day here A slightly longer groundwork phase A subcontractor who overruns Materials that…
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3D models are a gamechanger
Homeowners don’t just want a price. They want to be impressed. They want to see someone going above and beyond. Going the extra mile. Wanting the work enough. They also want to know you understand their vision. That the finished project will look how they imagine it. That’s where 3D models make a real difference. Show them the job before it’s built Plans and elevations are essential. But for most…
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Do’s and don’ts for a successful profitable building company
OK. Take a deep breath. You’re in for a ride. I’m not holding back. “My lads cost me £200 a day.” Is this what you’re telling yourself? Because they don’t. You pay them £200. They cost you closer to £230–£260 once you add: Employer’s NI Pension Holiday pay Sick days Travel time Downtime between jobs Insurance Training The van they sit in. That’s the real number. Those are your overheads.…
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What changes when a builder prices for proper profit
Most builders don’t fail because they’re bad at building. They fail because they’re not pricing properly. Or more accurately, they’re pricing to survive – not to last. They cover materials – as best they can. They cover labour – as best they can. They cross their fingers on everything else. Profit becomes an afterthought. A nice bonus if nothing goes wrong. And something always goes wrong. Proper profit changes everything.…
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Construction Cost Inflation in 2026: What it means for small builders – and how to stay in control
I grew up in a builder’s household, so none of this is theoretical to me. My dad’s business lived and breathed the knock-on effects of every labour shortage, every material spike, every change in government policy. And 2026 is shaping up to be another one of those years where external pressures will test even the most organised building firms. Industry forecasts show that construction costs will continue rising through 2026…
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We put AI to the estimating test — the result was amazing.
Generic AI Chatbots are brilliant at lots of things. Drafting emails? Yes. Summarising documents? Definitely. Translating? Oui. But general-purpose Chatbots estimating a real building project from a plan using AI? Not a chance. We recently put a popular AI chatbot, Co-Pilot, which uses a ChatGPT engine through a controlled test. We used a straightforward, clear CAD plan for a garage conversion that had all the necessary detail. The goal was…
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EstimatorXpress Update: Faster estimating, even better results
The latest EstimatorXpress update focuses on speed, accuracy, and reducing repetitive tasks – all based on real user feedback. This isn’t just about adding features – it’s about removing the everyday frustrations that slow down quoting, chip away at profit, and create unnecessary admin. Here’s what’s new. New software features Multi-Build Phase Editing Bulk edit build phases inside a single calculator Eliminates repetitive line-by-line adjustments A powerhouse for regular users.…
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