News
Why Crystal
Crystal Direct PVC-U providers Pick Crystal Direct as your PVC-U manufacturer Our partnership with Crystal Direct means EstimatorXpress and PlansXpress users can now choose from 7,000 top-quality PVC-U products in 15 different colour and wood grain finishes. We’ve added brand new pickers to EstimatorXpress and increased the drawing tools available in PlansXpress to make incorporating Crystal Direct into your estimates and plans fast and easy. Who are Crystal Direct With…
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Crystal Installation Service
PVC-U installation made simple To install or not to install that’s the question!? Doing it yourself is a whole lot easier with Crystal Direct products thanks to their clever user-friendly Cav-Crystal fittings. Plus, their partnership with Which? means they can even help you become a PVC-U installation Which? Trusted Trader. And if you want to leave it to Crystal Direct, they’ll team you up with their Which? Trusted Traders team…
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Pointers to success with building projects; Sticking to budget on a new build
The first piece of advice on sticking to budget on a new build would be to make sure that your initial budget is as realistic and comprehensive as possible. Complete Budget Make sure that not only do you properly account for the physical build costs, but that you allow for all of the hidden expenses. The legal fees, site surveys and stamp duty not to mention local authority charges, insurance, site…
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Pointers to success with building projects; Assessing building costs in the ground
Calculating the cost of getting your house out of the ground is probably the trickiest part of any estimate. Above ground it is possible to define almost exactly what materials and labour you require for the construction. Below ground is a potential minefield for the unwary. Nevertheless, by taking a step-by-step approach you can reduce the possibility of unexpected surprises! General Ground Conditions The best way to assess the site…
Read morePointers to success with building projects; The hidden costs of building part 2
The hidden costs of building Part 2 As well as basic build costs involved in the actual construction of a new build there are a number of “secondary “ costs that are often forgotten or miscalculated during the budgeting stage such as connection to services and insurance. Design costs Architects fees can cost as much as 15% of the total build cost for a full design and supervision service. However…
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Pointers to success with building projects; The hidden costs of building part 1
The hidden costs of building Part 1 Previously we have suggested that using typical square foot/metre costs as they can be extremely misleading unless you have previously built a particular style and quality of house, in the same area with the same labour force. Experience shows there are very many variables that can significantly affect your costs. In addition to the basic build costs there are a number of significant…
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Pointers to success with building projects; Building a New Build to budget
Building a New Build to budget Undertaking a new build to sell at the end requires costing as accurately as possible at the outset to avoid over extending yourself financially – and of course to ensure you walk away with a tidy profit. The problem is that there are so many variables within the building process; If you overlook a costly item or assume that you can utilise cheaper materials…
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Why ContractsXpert 2016?
Software that enables builders to quickly and easily produce watertight, easy-to-understand contracts when undertaking work on behalf of clients has been upgraded. Called ContractsXpert 2016, the software has been developed by HBXL, the award-winning construction software company, and helps produce contracts in minutes. With two contracts included they cover small work contracts for consumers and business-to-business* and subcontractor contracts. It also includes other documents required by law such as notice…
Read moreMeet Charles OKell of UK Pro Build
Everyone has different goals, but whether it’s looking to make fewer errors, win more work or tighten up health and safety, HBXL can help with it – and more. Our goal? To become the go-to software for any part of the building process – and we like to think we’ve succeeded. We’re the UK leaders in domestic construction software. But don’t take our word for it. Check out Charles OKell’s…
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Discover X-Connex Data Sharing Technology
Exclusive to our software is X-Connex data sharing technology which exchanges information about a job between software products. You can only get this type of technology with HBXL and means that from drawing a set of plans right through to producing the estimates, health and safety and contracts you only need to enter the project information once! Watch the video below to see the X-Connex in action!
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CDM 2015 Frequently Asked Questions: Our Top Ten
Hand picked top ten CDM 2015 Frequently Asked Questions from the HSE specifically for SME building firms Don’t say we never do anything for you! Always happy to help, the sharp support team at HBXL have sliced through the HSE’s FAQ on CDM 2015 to cherry pick out the issues that most apply to our users. Here we have collected our top ten CDM 2015 Frequently Asked Questions specifically for small…
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What’s the fastest time we can produce an estimate in?
What’s the fastest way to produce an estimate? The sales team recently set Adrian Wild, founder of HBXL Building Software, an estimating time trial to find out the fastest way to produce an estimate… They asked him to see how quickly he could put together a quote for a rear extension to a 4-bedroom house using three different estimating methods? We think you’ll be amazed at the results. Trial 1: Manual estimate…
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