Future build trend points towards light houses

The desire to bring the ‘outside in’ has led to home owners looking at ways in which they can maximise the amount of light entering their property.

That’s one of the hottest trends currently sweeping the country on new builds, refurbs and renovation projects.

E-learning courses keep builders safe on site

Builders wanting to stay one step ahead on all things relating to site health and safety can make the most of a new, online e-learning scheme that will not only help them comply with the latest regulations but save them hundreds of pounds in the process.

Software helps keep children safe and off site

Builders wanting to prevent children gaining access to their sites need to ensure all eventualities are covered right at the very beginning in order to avoid any accidents.

Rise in planning applications creates bumper pay day

The relaxation of rules towards affordable housing and tariff style contributions under the National Planning Practice Guidance has resulted in a glut of revised planning applications being submitted by landowners, home owners and small scale property developers.

Software helps decorators and plasterers roll in the profits

Painters and decorators wanting to improve profitability and the speed at which they produce estimates can make use of a new software package that has been specifically designed for their trade.

Called EstimatorXpress Plastering & Decorating Trade edition, the software has been developed by HBXL – the country’s leading developer of estimating software.

Deal puts HBXL in the frame

The UK’s leading developer of estimating software has teamed up with one of the country’s best known manufacturers and suppliers of PVC-U windows, doors, conservatories and roof lights.

It means builders and tradesmen who use HBXL’s EstimatorXpress estimating software will be able to access live material prices from Crystal Direct which produces and supplies PVC-U products direct to the trade.

EstimatorXpress: getting down to the facts

Here are nine impressive facts about our award-winning software, EstimatorXpress. With figures like these you can see why we're number one!

PVC-U prices and drawing tool updates

HBXL have partnered with PVC-U company, Crystal Direct to bring their customers the latest, competitively priced access to a range of PVC-U doors, windows, roof lights, conservatories, composite doors and bi-fold doors.

Country's leading estimating service joins forces with TradePoint

Users of the country’s leading estimating service will now be able to incorporate prices from TradePoint, the trade only arm of B&Q.

It means builders and tradespeople who utilise HBXL’s Estimating Service will be able to request the use of live material prices from the TradePoint material price list when their estimates are being put together.

Think health and safety doesn’t apply to you? Think again!

Health and safety law applies to ALL businesses – no matter how small!

And with construction ranking near the top of the dangerous jobs list, it’s important to make sure precautions are taken – every step of the way. Even if you’re a small company, you have a duty of care to keep your employees and the public safe on site - and yes that even includes plastering a room!

Bold pricing key to a successful future

Being bold with its prices has resulted on one build firm not only grow but improve its bottom line and bring in more business than it can handle.

PVC-U Bonus Pack for EstimatorXpress

HBXL have partnered with PVC-U company, Crystal Direct to bring EstimatorXpress customers estimating calculators for accurately estimating PVC-U doors, windows, roof lights, conservatories, bi-fold, sliding and composite doors. 

Online health and safety training courses for HBXL customers – available now!

Health and safety has always been at the forefront of HBXL's support programme for builders. And it's never been more important. Small site inspections are increasing as we're hearing all the time from customers, so it's crucial to be on top of your site safety and paperwork to avoid fines, fees, injuries and worse. And now we're adding online training to our support service.

Unsafe highs

With falls from height on small building sites remaining one of the most common causes of workplace fatalities, work that seems to present a lower level of risk needs greater attention with regard to proper health and safety measures.

Rise of the garden plot

Pressure on space across the country’s urban sites is encouraging developers to look carefully at alternative land for development.

With urban areas being dictated by lack of room, there is not a lot of space to play with. It means developers are constantly on the lookout for suitable brownfield sites or are thinking outside the box to make the best use of spare plots and includes a growing number of garden sites.

Hidden cost of poor health & safety that cripples British builders

Not enough build firms are fully aware of the hidden, uninsured costs of poor health and safety on site.

Estimating service ideal solution for self builders wanting accurate view on cost

Self- builders wanting to get an accurate view on how much their dream home will cost can take advantage of a new time-saving service.

What's the worst that could happen....?

Some scary stats to absorb right here! To help you keep your staff and public safe, to ensure that you stay within the law and avoid fines and fees, use Health & Safety Xpert. WE keep the software up-to-date, meeting all the latest regulations including CDM 2015 - so that YOU can simply concentrate on implementing the safety requirements on site. Call 0845 1234 065 or visit the website here.

And another Builder Success Story: EstimatorXpress

Graham Saunders of Trentace Limited in High Wycombe, would be the first to admit that he’s not particularly computer savvy. But thanks to the support he’s had from the HBXL support team (and the fact that the software was designed for builders in the first place!) Graham has successfully mastered EstimatorXpress and has been using it for some time now.

In fact to quote Graham, “They’re always extremely helpful even when I ask Noddy questions!

“The complimentary training webinars have been excellent as well. They’re extremely comprehensive and the guys don’t end the session until they’re happy that every question has been fully answered. They’re very enthusiastic and helpful.”

Graham is typical of the vast majority of our software users and like them, he’s finding life in the trade better than it has been.

“We primarily do new builds, extensions, loft conversions – that kind of thing. Before I discovered HBXL I was using paper and pencil for my estimates. Not surprisingly I was always forgetting something in the quote that either reduced my profit, or actually lost me money. 

“EstimatorXpress is like a ‘crutch’. It forces you to look at areas more deeply than you would otherwise do.”

We asked Graham what difference it makes to present an HBXL quote to a customer.

“Rather than just focussing on the end price on the quote, the customer looks at the individual breakdown EstimatorXpress has produced. It helps make the pill much easier for the customer to swallow.”

Graham explained that he likes to show the customer the quote by build phase and the illustrations of the building stages created by the software not only make it clear, but actually help justify the price.

“I reckon my win rate is better than 50% now, which is all I can ask for. So I’m very pleased.”

Graham has since gone on to buy PlansXpress. As he noted, it’s early days but he’s already recognised the potential it has as another revenue stream.

To find out how HBXL software could benefit your building business, give one of our experienced software consultants a call on 0845 1234 065 or 0117 916 7898. 

Latest health and safety software for builders now available

The latest version of HBXL’s health and safety software is now out.

Health & Safety Xpert 2015 is now helping small to medium-sized building firms across the UK get to grips with the latest rules and regulations on all things related to site health and safety.