Is Buildertrend Worth It? Pros and Cons (Plus a Better Alternative)

Construction project management is a complex and time-consuming process. From document management to recruiting subcontractors,  assigning tasks, and monitoring progress, general contractors often have a lot on their plates. That’s why investing in reliable bid management software streamlines and speeds up the process. 

Buildertrend is one of the key players in the construction industry, with an extensive user base and good reviews. Despite the software’s popularity, some users still have stronger reservations about using it. That’s why we made this guide to assess how great (or limiting) the software is and recommend a worthy alternative that might tick all the boxes. 

But before we jump into the details, here are a few things to consider when choosing an ideal bid management platform.

• Bid Coverage, usability, and flexibility.
• Subcontractor recruitment, collaboration, and communication.
• Return on investment and alternative options. 

In this Buildertrend review, we’ll address these considerations to help you determine if the tool is an ideal option. We’ll also introduce you to a viable Buildertrend alternative for your next construction project. 

Note: If you want to try an AI tool that can scan project plans, detect project scopes, and help you send personalized bid invites to relevant contractors within miniutes, try Downtobid. Our tool get a 30% increase in responses because of our bidding schedule, reminders and templates. Try a demo for free here.

Buildertrend Summary

Buildertrend allows general contractors to post unlimited projects and easily recruit subcontractors. The in-built messaging app allows users to send instant messages and share files on the go. The centralized document management ensures team members can easily access project files with little hustle. Accounting integration with popular financial tools is among the important features that streamline project management.

The Buildertrend app allows the team to share crucial project details through their mobile devices. They can share progress photos and upload reports in a few seconds from a single platform.

However, subcontractors don’t have the same experience using the software since they experience the following issues:

• They’re forced to subscribe to a membership plan to access the projects. This approach is a barrier to subcontractors who take on occasional projects. 
• Limited access to project details, such as scopes, budget, accounting software, timeline, and qualification requirements. 
• Generic bid invites with very little project information, forcing subcontractors to submit incomplete bids (or ignore the invites.)

When Buildertrend is compared to platforms like CoConstruct and Downtobid, which provide comprehensive bid coverage, it can be seen as limiting. Its generic bid invites approach and forced subscription models discourage subs from interacting with the platform. Lower bid participation affects the recruitment process, leading to unnecessary delays. 

For instance, Buildertrend users often experience the following issues:

• Incomplete bids and missed scopes caused by miscommunication and generic bid invites. Subcontractors must work with the little information they get, increasing the chances of recruiting the wrong construction partners. 
• Delayed subcontractor responses since they’re forced to review lengthy construction documents to find relevant scopes. 

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Let’s examine why we believe Buildertrend may (or may not) be an ideal option for your next construction project. 

How Comprehensive is the Bid Coverage?

Higher bid participation speeds up the recruitment process, ensuring the project stays on course. It also increases your chances of recruiting the most qualified subs, saving you from the headache involved in the process. 

Bid coverage is Buildertrend’s litmus test. It’s how we determine if the platform is worth it. But first, let’s analyze what determines subcontractor participation and how Buildertrend handles them. 

• Subcontractors respond to bid invites that align with their trade. Given that they receive hundreds of monthly bid invites, crafting unique and detailed ITBs is crucial. 
• Easy access to project details such as plans and blueprints helps subcontractors quickly find relevant information. 

Let's analyze how Buildertrend compares in terms of bid coverage:

Matching Bid Invites to Qualified Subcontractors

Buildertrend matches bid invites to qualified subs based on criteria such as experience and skills. The software checks the Subcontractors’ profile pages and uses that information to recommend suitable projects. When creating the list, the matching algorithm focuses on location, qualifications, specialty, and experience. 

However, the software doesn’t display a bounce rate, making it difficult to track bid performance. General contractors have to guess the conversion rate and would never know if the bid invites are efficient. 

Downtobid has a solution to this problem. Instead of using generic bid templates, our users can send customized bid invites. 

Our easy-to-use platform allows subcontractors to create personalized bid invites in minutes. This approach has increased our response rate to 30%, making us one of the best bid management platforms. 

Our revolutionary AI automatically categorizes subcontractor responses into ‘not bidding,’ ‘interested,’ and ‘actively bidding.’ This approach helps our general contractors effortlessly track their bid performance and coverage. 

We use regular email communication, allowing subcontractors to respond directly to bid invites. Doing so speeds up communication and encourages bid participation.

Document Management

Buildertrend has centralized document management to ensure everyone can access project files on the go. You can upload unlimited documents to the cloud-based platform, decreasing physical paperwork and improving collaboration. 

Unfortunately, Buildertrend’s document management is messy, and efficient file access depends on the general contractor. You might sometimes work with an organized general contractor and othertimes with those who don’t focus on a structured document management approach. 

This approach discourages subcontractors from engaging with the project, which causes unnecessary delays. 

Subcontractors must also sign up for a membership to access these documents, which puts off many subcontractors. 

Luckily, Downtobid easily addresses these concerns. 

Our centralized and sub-centric Planroom provides subs access to project documents without signing up. We have titled and labeled every document, helping subcontractors easily track specific documents by name or number. 

We have also categorized construction documents into four folders:

• Plans
• Specs
• Photos
• Misc

This approach helps users easily track, edit, and share documents, ensuring everyone works with the latest information. Our AI also helps subcontractors easily identify the scope related to their trades without reviewing all construction documents. 

Communication and Collaboration

The construction industry is heavily reliant on relationships. The first impression (the bid invite) sets the tone for the general contractor-subcontractor relationship and determines future collaboration, so the first message must be properly tailored. This will be our second test to determine if Buildertrend is worth it.

Unfortunately, Buildertrend fails at this test. Its generic bid template approach leaves less to be desired. For starters, the bid invites appear like boring job interviews. Subcontractors receive hundreds of these identical bid invites, increasing the chances of yours going unnoticed. It’s the last thing you want, especially when time isn’t on your side. 

Every bid invite also includes very limited project information, making it hard for subs to understand project requirements. They’re forced to create an account with Buildertrend to access project details. This hassle discourages subs, which reduces bid participation. You’ll have to work twice as hard or sign up with another construction management platform.

Sending Personalized Bid Invites with Downtobid

Subcontractor recruitment should be straightforward, from bid invites to bid submissions. The bid invites should be tailored to specific subcontractors by adding a human touch to them. 

Our personalized bid invites aims to achieve the following:

• Grabbing subcontractors’ attention through detailed and personalized email headlines. The subject lines could include project size, type, and location. 
• Address reasons why the subcontractor is the right fit for the position. It could include details like experience and skills as key reasons for consideration. 
• Provide more project details, such as the scope of work, budget, location, and timeline. Subcontractors can understand basic project requirements without reviewing lengthy construction documents. 

We don’t stop there. We encourage general contractors to send 2-3 spaced-out follow-up emails to subcontractors who haven’t responded yet. That’s just to get the subs interested. 

Our threaded email approach also speeds up team communication. Users can read and respond to emails through the platform without needing an email app. 

General contractors can achieve all this with minimal manual input. All you have to do is upload your construction plans and our AI software will do the rest. Our AI scans the documents for potential scopes, matches them with qualified local subs, and uses email templates to send out personalized bid invites. 

Does Buildertrend Justify its Cost?

Our third and final test is the return on investment. Buildertrend offers three pricing plans - Essential, Advanced, and Complete, each supporting different features. Given what we’ve learned about the platform, is Buildertrend pricing justified?

Buildertrend Pricing Plans

Essential is the basic plan, which costs $499/month. However, you qualify for $300 off your first month. The plan supports Scheduling, To-Do’s, Customer Portal, and Proposals. 

Advanced, the most popular, costs $799/month, but you qualify for a $300 discount on your first month. It supports everything in Essential, plus Advanced Estimating, Change Orders, Takeoff, and Financial Management. 

Complete costs $1099/month, with a $300 discount your first month. The plan supports everything in Essential and Advanced, plus Selections, Warranties, Reports, accounting software, and Request for Information. 

Buildertrend Boost is also available for an additional $100 with the monthly plan or free with the annual. It includes one-on-one coaching sessions, a personalized success plan, strategic business reviews, a dedicated account manager, customized data entry, and account health check-ins. 

Buildertrend requires a significant investment risk, especially for smaller construction companies. The generic bid invites, poor bid progress tracking, and poor document management don’t justify the cost, especially when better alternatives exist. Learn more about Buildertrend on this resource.

Where Downtobid Beats Buildertrend

We offer personalized invite to bid templates with far better response rates. Subcontractors already understand project requirements before they show bidding interest. There’s room for clarification and updates, ensuring everyone is working with the latest information. This approach has reduced scope gaps, improved bid quality, and speeded the bidding process. 

General contractors can also monitor bid performance by seeing which subs are interested, not bidding, and actively bidding. Doing so helps them structure and improve their ITBs. It also helps them follow up with specific subcontractors with emails without calling. 

Our sub-centric Planroom is unique and ensures timely document sharing. You also don’t need an account to access construction plans. 

We have a free plan for those planning to try our system. Our basic can accommodate up to 3 users for $150/m. If you need more seats, try our Pro Plan for $500 per user per month. The plan supports up to 10 users, and there are no hidden charges.

You can compare Buildertrend vs BuildXact and Downtobid here.

Is Buildertrend Worth It? Final Thoughts

An effective bid management software must focus on scope coverage and communication. Unfortunately, Buildertrend doesn’t perform well. Relying on generic bid invites doesn’t cut it in the construction industry anymore. You cannot customize the emails to include more project details, leaving subcontractors to fill out the rest of the information on their own. 

Messy document management reduces collaboration and increases the risks of scope gaps. It’s difficult to track bidding progress, forcing general contractors to guess the metrics. 

Communication isn’t Buildertrend’s strong suit. There are no personalized emails, and follow-ups are blasted out in large numbers. This approach leads to lower open rates and higher risks of your emails ending in spam folders. 

Try Downtobid for free today to streamline the bidding process.