There was talk everywhere about leveraging social media in homebuilding. It is a strategy you should adopt NOW! See what I mean…

One thing I learned is the importance of “claiming your business” on Google. There is a way to enhance the listing of your business on Google including maps, pictures content and even reviews. It is part of the Local Business Center… Who Knew? Check out this link to learn about Claiming your Business.

The response to our new Groundbreaker website solution was phenomenal. If you know you need to update your website or think you may need to change see what Groundbreaker can do for you. Announced at the IBS show Groundbreaker had builder big and small talking and agreeing the unbelievable value it represents.

It was amazing to see the response to the newest product in the Constellation HomeBuilder Systems line of ERP solutions. HomeDev is a project management and job cost system developed for the small builder and remodeler. It uses Microsoft tools and works with QuickBooks. Many builders stated clearly “this is exactly what we have been waiting for”.

BuildSoft Pro was introduced at the IBS as well. Current BuildSoft users were stopped dead in their tracks when we showed them the new product and how it will help them better manage job costs and complete projects on time.

HomeDev offers a comprehensive solution for job costing, project management, budgeting, trade comparison and purchasing.   Built using familiar Microsoft tools like Excel, Project, Outlook, SQL Server, SharePoint, and .NET, the new HomeDev product integrates with QuickBooks and other accounting systems.

During this building slow-down, Constellation HomeBuilder Systems has made significant investments to bring HomeDev to the market.  All builders use spreadsheets and some use Microsoft Project and want to see a new solution that works with these familiar tools.  HomeDev uses Microsoft Excel, Project and Outlook to manage the data collection and presentation, Microsoft SQL to manage the data, and SharePoint and e-mail technology to share documents in the form of vendor and partner portals.

Builders make more money if they learn from their mistakes and avoid them on the next job. HomeDev allows builders to take any job in the system and use that as a basis for a new job. This saves time and produces more accurate estimates and project plans.  The purchasing process in HomeDev provides tools for sending out bid requests, comparing the results, and awarding contracts without manually entering the bid responses.  The builder saves money by selecting the best bid, reduces errors by avoiding data entry, and improves accuracy of budgeting and project management.

HomeDev is designed for the builder seeking a solution that is easy to learn and implement.  Builders running the software have told us “because we are comfortable and familiar with Excel, Project, and QuickBooks, HomeDev fits naturally into our operations.”  HomeDev is available under license or subscription.

Constellation is launching HomeDev at the 2010 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, NV on January 19-22, 2010.

Request an appointment, or visit one of the booths during the show for a product demonstration.  

Booth C1145                 Production Builders – Websites, Accounting, Production and Sales Systems

Booth C842                    Small Volume Builders and Remodelers – Websites, Accounting, Production and Sales Systems

About Constellation HomeBuilder Systems

As the largest home building software company in the industry, Constellation HomeBuilder Systems has helped more than 2,400 builders manage their information technology costs with integrated software solutions to run their business from dirt to warranty. From planning to homeowner services, we have land development software, new home sales and marketing software, production, purchasing, scheduling, accounting, warranty, electronic homeowner manuals, vendor portal solutions, and web site solutions designed exclusively for the home building industry.

Media Inquiries
Cathy Kotsopoulos
ckotsopoulos@constellationhb.com
(888) 723-2222

Today there is undeniable proof that more home buyers use the website of a home builder for their home purchasing decision than any other media.  Constellation Groundbreaker websites use the latest technology to help ensure prominent search results and bring the most prospective home buyers to your company.  The solution is aggressively priced and leverages our expertise in delivering powerful websites designed specifically for home builders.

Groundbreaker websites have an easy to use content management system designed to take the fear out of updating your website.  Simple tasks like adding images or copying and pasting text to update the pages are simplified using our easy to use administration capabilities.

Content management, technical proficiency of the builder, time to develop, and time to launch are all taken into account with Groundbreaker.  The content in a Groundbreaker website is so simple to modify that a non-technical person can make the necessary changes to help sell his homes in seconds. When changes can be done quickly and the results are immediate, it allows you to focus on what works and enhance the best selling points of your homes.

Constellation is launching Groundbreaker at the 2010 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, NV on January 19-22, 2010, and is available for delivery spring 2010.

Request an appointment, or visit one of the booths during the show for a product demonstration.  

Booth C1145        Production Builders – Websites, Accounting, Production and Sales Systems

Booth C842          Small Volume Builders and Remodelers – Websites, Accounting, Production and Sales Systems

About Constellation HomeBuilder Systems

As the largest home building software company in the industry, Constellation HomeBuilder Systems has helped more than 2,400 builders manage their information technology costs with integrated software solutions to run their business from dirt to warranty. From planning to homeowner services, we have land development software, new home sales and marketing software, production, purchasing, scheduling, accounting, warranty, electronic homeowner manuals, vendor portal solutions, and web site solutions designed exclusively for the home building industry.

Media Inquiries
Cathy Kotsopoulos
ckotsopoulos@constellationhb.com
(888) 723-2222

Constellation will be at the 2010 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, NV from January 19-22^nd 2010.  Please request an appointment, or visit one of the booths during the show.  All solutions will be available for demos and product experts will be available for detailed discussions.  

Booth C1145        – Production Builders – Websites, Accounting, Production and Sales Systems

Booth C842          – Small Volume Builders and Remodelers – Websites, Accounting, Production and Sales Systems

Booth C740          – Sales1440 Sales Software Suite

With over 100 employees dedicated to supporting customers and enhancing products, Constellation is by far the largest and most trusted software provider in the home building industry.  Constellation is uniquely positioned to provide mission-critical software to virtually all sizes of home builders, with solutions for websites, new home sales, customer relationship management (CRM), accounting, purchasing, estimating, scheduling, warranty, home owner portals, and vendor portals.

Throughout 2008 and 2009, Constellation customers have been able to focus on their businesses building and selling homes, without worrying about their software and the stability of their software provider.  In 2009, Constellation welcomed an unprecedented number of new builders to the Constellation family.  Many of these builders were coming from neglected systems, provided by at-risk software companies, with very few resources to provide minimum levels of customer service.  Others joined the family with our recent acquisitions.  In any case, customers can rely on the full resources and dedication of Constellation, to run their business successfully, now and in the future.

Websites and Online MarketingWebsites are a critical application for home builders and the acquisition of Constellation Web Solutions brings Groundbreaker™ home builder websites and built-in industry best practices to the Constellation family of solutions and services.  With hundreds of home builder customers, our experts at Constellation Web Solutions know what it takes to build a website specifically for home builders with proven techniques for generating leads, creating referral sales and delivering the information needed by home buyers before and after they purchase a home.  Optimized for search engine results and clean designs, Groundbreaker™ websites can help you establish or re-establish your online presence quickly.

Sales and CRM SolutionsWhen a prospective buyer enters their contact information on your website, or visits your sales office, all Constellation sales and CRM solutions are designed to help you turn that prospect into a buyer, maximize upgrade sales, complete selections, generate contracts and reduce errors.  With automatic website integration, all prospect information is captured and available in your sales system for fast follow-up and the assurance that no lead is lost.  Can you say that about your current sales follow-up process?  Did you know that 64% of agents don’t follow-up? Read the case study here.

Production and Accounting SolutionsOnce you have a sale, you need to make the most of it and avoid mistakes.  All of our production and accounting systems have been enhanced with more modern user interfaces to make them easier to use, with powerful purchasing and forecasting functionality to reduce errors and improve margins. Many other enhancements are designed to quickly get the information you need to run your business. If you are a current customer, an old friend, or interested in a better system, be sure to visit one of our booths to see the future of home building software.

Field Scheduling and Vendor Portal SolutionsA vital component of your home building business extends from the back office to the field and your superintendents need to know just as much about the job in order to maintain your margins and avoid mistakes and delays.  With our web-based and handheld scheduling and vendor portal solutions, your back office information is available virtually anywhere with the security you need.  Trades can be contacted, options and upgrades confirmed, tasks can be completed, payments approved, and quality monitored in real-time without having to make phone calls.  Job status and problems are instantly available in the back office and tracked to help you evaluate staff and vendors.

Warranty and Customer ServiceWhen the home is complete and the buyer has moved in, you need to provide them the information they need quickly and you need to know when there is a problem.  With Constellation’s home buyer portals and online warranty guides, you can provide home buyers with information about their home during construction and throughout the warranty period.  You can track warranty notifications and ensure that you have a record of receipt for regulatory and legal purposes. With Constellation’s customer experience management solutions, home owner issues are submitted online, without paper, and acted upon without any re-keying of information.  This saves time, reduces errors, and creates happy customers that will generate referrals.

About Constellation HomeBuilder SystemsAs the largest home building software company in the industry, Constellation HomeBuilder Systems has helped more than 2,400 builders manage their information technology costs with integrated software solutions to run their business from dirt to warranty. From planning to homeowner services, we have land development software, new home sales and marketing software, production, purchasing, scheduling, accounting, warranty, electronic homeowner manuals, vendor portal solutions, and web site solutions designed exclusively for the home building industry.

Media Inquiries
Cathy Kotsopoulos
ckotsopoulos@constellationhb.com
(888) 723-2222

We have an exciting show planned with many experts available to answer your questions about our products, recent acquisitions, and real-world best practices. To register for these sessions, please click on the session name in the schedule below.

Over the past year, we have seen huge changes in our industry and technology in general. While many builders were focused on their business and making many tough decisions, we were focused on providing world-class customer service, enhancing our products, and developing or acquiring new technologies to meet the needs of the changing home builder, home buyer, and home owner.

To meet these demands, we have released major enhancements to our core production, accounting and sales solutions, completed two significant acquisitions, developed two new products, and offer many of our products in hosted configurations. Our track record with new acquisitions demonstrates Constellation’s commitment to customers with world-class service and ongoing product support and enhancements. This means that home builders can rely on Constellation for stable products, dedication to the industry, and proven expertise. With more than 100 employees focused on homebuilding software, and over 2,400 customers we are the largest software company in the industry with the resources to deliver mission-critical solutions for home builders of all sizes.

With several booths at the show this year, please be sure to stop by to share some stories, or just ask our experts a few questions. We would like to learn more about your business and offer our assistance in any way we can.

See you in Vegas.

Constellation Booth Schedule

*if you are unable to attend any of the scheduled events, please contact
sales@constellationhb.com.

“We know this industry, and after evaluating several firms, it was clear that Builder1440 was more than a simple sales system,” says Dexter Salna, President of Constellation HomeBuilder Systems.  “Builder1440’s software suite is a great choice for homebuilders that can’t afford to risk putting their business in the hands of old technology, limited solutions, or small family businesses that might not be around to support them tomorrow.”

Builder1440 will continue to operate and grow out of its Baltimore offices, under the same management team and will continue to promote and enhance its existing product line.  Constellation welcomes all Builder1440 customers and will provide world-class solutions and services as a long term technology partner in the homebuilding industry.

“Constellation recognizes Builder1440’s commitment to our clients,” says Matt McShane, Vice President of Builder1440.  “Throughout the downturn, we’ve been aggressively expanding our solutions with one goal in mind: to help builders sell more homes.  Constellation shares that goal, and we’re excited to be a part of the Constellation family.”

Larry Fiorino, Builder1440 CEO and Founder added that Builder1440 is planning to announce several key initiatives and new offerings at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, NV this January.  “I can’t get into it yet, but we’re rolling out solutions that will completely change how builders sell homes,” said Fiorino.

With many of North America’s top 10 builders as clients, Builder1440’s cloud-based platform supports customers ranging from large national builders to smaller, regional builders, and everyone in between.

In addition to Builder1440, Constellation has acquired parent company G.1440, including consulting solutions and IT staffing services divisions that deliver end-to-end IT solutions.  Specializing in custom software, web design, web marketing, and tech staffing, G.1440 will continue to be a leader in IT in the Baltimore/Washington region. G.1440 was founded in 1998 and was previously a subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group.

About Constellation HomeBuilder SystemsAs the largest home building software company in the industry, Constellation HomeBuilder Systems has helped more than 2,100 builders manage their information technology costs with integrated software solutions to run their business from dirt to warranty. From planning to homeowner services, we have land development software, new home sales and marketing software, production, purchasing, scheduling, accounting, warranty, electronic homeowner manuals, vendor portal solutions, and web site solutions designed exclusively for the home building industry.

About Builder1440, LLCBuilder1440, LLC delivers trusted software solutions for home builders. With a deep vertical knowledge of the home building industry and extensive technical expertise, our team designs and develops cloud-based software solutions currently in use by hundreds of builders across North America. Builder1440′s sales & marketing software suite increases profits and decrease costs through all stages of the homebuyer life cycle.

About Constellation Software Inc.Constellation Software Inc. is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “CSU”. Constellation Software is an international provider of market leading software and services to a number of industries across both the public and private sectors. Constellation acquires, manages and builds vertical market software businesses that provide mission­-critical software solutions to address the specific needs of its customers in those industries.

Media Inquiries
Cathy Kotsopoulos
ckotsopoulos@constellationhb.com
(888) 723-2222

Constructech 50 Hottest for 2009 is a listing of the most influential construction technology providers with a strong and ongoing market presence.  The Constructech editorial team considered various criteria which included having a strong product/service aimed at the construction industry, customer satisfaction and growth, as well as industry outreach and educational efforts.

“The Constructech 50 Hottest honors the hard work and dedication that these exceptional companies have shown in the construction space.” said Mike Carrozzo, chief editor of Constructech.  “Though ecomonic turmoil has neen prominent and the construction market has seen struggles, this year’s winners have still found success and are taking part in th emove toward improvement in the industry.”

About Constructech Magazine

As the only publication focused exclusively on the technology needs to the construction professional, Constructech magazine division of Speciality Publishing Co., Constructech advises 30,000 unique builders and contractors in all trades within the homebuilding market on the technology, services, and automated home technology that help improve business and increase margins.  With a specialized focused in the homebuilding space, Constructech uncovers the solutions that are shaping the way homes are built.

About Constellation HomeBuilder Systems

As the largest home building software company in the industry, Constellation HomeBuilder Systems has helped more than 2,100 builders manage their information technology costs with integrated software solutions to run their business from dirt to warranty.  From planning to homeowner services, we have land development software, new home sales and marketing software, production, purchasing, scheduling, accounting, warranty, electronic homeowner manuals, and vendor portal solutions designed exclusively for the home building industry.

If you are a builder doing something different, post a comment and let us know.

Here is a picture from the event.

An existing customer that has been using one of our systems for a long time was blown away with how much more they could be doing with our software.  They could be using scheduling better, they could be following up with leads quicker, they could be providing all their warranty materials online, they could be tracking supplier quality better, and they could be using more of our built-in reports.

As a software partner, I feel that we have let them down. They should know that we have been working hard to improve our products and provide them with tools to make them more effective and efficient.  I encourage any builder with a slight interest in wanting to do more with technology to run their business to give us a call.

I’m looking forward to Seth Godin‘s talk on Friday.  Should be fun.

We had some great conversations with builders looking for integrated software systems like BuildSoft, Builder 360, NEWSTAR and FAST.  Builders are looking for sales systems as well, so it was good timing when Mike Lyon came by the booth to chat about how Constellation Sales, NEWSTAR Sales and FAST Sales are helping home builders improve their websites and prospect follow-up processes to help close more sales. (starts at about 2:45)