HomeDev™

HomeDev™ Production and Job Costing System offers home builders and remodelers a comprehensive solution for job costing, project management, budgeting, trade comparison and purchasing and helps manage construction processes with management-by-exception reporting

 

A revolutionary software solution to run your home building business

During this home builder recession, Constellation took the opportunity to invest in and develop a revolutionary new product for builders who are already using Microsoft technology and wanted a new solution that would easily integrate with these familiar tools. Using their extensive experience, gained by having developed several generations of software for the home building industry, the objectives were threefold; it had to be easy to learn, simple to use, and provide total control of the construction process through exception reporting.

Easy to learnSimple to useTotal control

HomeDev, specifically designed for home builders, is available under license or subscription, limiting the necessary investment to only what you need. 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.

Since many home builders use Microsoft technology, they are immediately comfortable moving to this new system, minimizing their learning curve. In order to provide a successful, smooth implementation, HomeDev integrates with QuickBooks and many other accounting systems, such as NEWSTAR, FAST, JD Edwards and Solomon, allowing your accounting staff and auditors simplicity of use by continuing to use familiar products.

HomeDev is designed for the builder seeking a solution that is easy to implement and learn. 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 streamlines your business through powerful management by exception processes that create an unprecedented level of control and improved profitability. HomeDev allows you to delegate administrative tasks to automation so you can use your time proactively to deal with exceptions.

HomeDev is a full-featured solution that allows you to pick and choose the features you need, including:

• Budget Control
• Job Costing
• Scheduling
• Bid Requests and Comparison
• Automatic Purchase Order Creation
• Variance/Change Order Control
• Contract Control
• Field Control
• Work Flow Management
• Document Management
• Loan Draw and Cost Plus Billing Processing
• Payment Request and Approval
• Sales Orders
• Advanced User Interface using Microsoft Excel, Project and Outlook
• Integration with your Current Accounting System
• Customizable Reports
• Land Development

 

Budget Control

As you use the system, and historical data is accumulated, this information can be utilized to jump start new budgets and, in effect, learn from previous experiences.

With HomeDev, managing your budget has never been easier, giving you the ability to earn higher profits, track multiple levels of budgets, and maintain complete control with ‘Management by Exception’ budget changes.

Variance\Change Orders

Changes, both planned and unplanned, can be profit killers. HomeDev provides you will all the necessary tools to control your costs and unexpected adjustments.

The comprehensive yet simple variance/change order system is fully automated and provides true management-by-exception. Automated workflow allows one user to originate variances as a ‘Request’, at which point, other users are notified and can approve, or reject, the request based on dollar authorization levels.

Bid requests & Comparison, POs, and Job Cost

HomeDev allows you to control your costs through purchase order control by automating and simplifying the process, with effortless drill down to the most detailed level of Job Costing.

For example, Bid Requests are automatically generated and sent to selected subcontractors. Once returned, Bid Requests are compared side by side, allowing for ‘Apples to Apples’ bid comparisons. With the click of a mouse the winning bidder is chosen and a Purchase Order is created and sent to that subcontractor.

Builders are able to make more money if they can avoid making the same mistakes on the next job. HomeDev allows you to take any job in the system and use that as a basis for how you’ll manage 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. You’ll save money by selecting the best bid, reduce errors by avoiding data re-entry, and improve budgeting and project management accuracy.

Project Management

The project management system in HomeDev allows the office and the field to continually be “on the same page” by immediately syncing all project changes with all users.

HomeDev harnesses the power of Microsoft Project and tailors it to the specific needs of a home builder. It allows you to establish job schedules, track progress and control changes. You’ll easily synchronize critical project events with Outlook calendar and task notifications, as well as utilize standard customizable templates to create structure and help ensure consistency amongst various projects.

Workflow Management

Doing more with less is what HomeDev is all about. It helps you delegate repetitive tasks and operations to technology using powerful workflow tools. An integrated Workflow Management routs budgets, variances, and payment requests to specified managers for approval. Email allows you to click on a link to open an Excel-based workbook to view the senders’ request, and approve or reject it.

Loan Draw & Cost Plus Billing Processing

HomeDev helps you communicate with your lenders and buyers through the use of sophisticated loan draw and cost plus billing features. These features allow you to forecast and plan for future cash flow needs, automatically track bank loans and prepare draw requests, track progress payments, with no overpayments, as well as track and maintain cost plus billing automatically.

Document Management & Contract Control (optional)

Tracking documents, including blueprints, permits and contracts is easy with the extensive document sharing capabilities of Home Dev. Manage all the paperwork and documents involved in a construction job and create standard templates for all contracts in one place. All documents are just a click away throughout the system for either quick reference, or to use as attachments.

Production Catalogue

The Production Catalogue, when used in conjunction with your history, or created as a one-time task, allows you to build catalogs of pre-priced plans and options to ensure you optimize sales. The system will give you the capability to receive multiple vendor quotes and allow you to choose the best ones to ensure profitability. Production builders will benefit from increased efficiency by having the system streamline and eliminate much of their repetitive work through the use of HomeDev’s robust cataloging capabilities.

PowerTrieve Custom Reports Tailored to Your Business

Getting the information you want when you want it is easy using the custom reporting capabilities of HomeDev.

Select from the many reports designed by our existing customers or easily modify reports to suit your specific needs. Since all the data is ‘under one roof’, you have unlimited options and can build whatever report you need.