Freeware links to suppliers

With the package and a supplier using the toolkit, Buttaro says he’ll be able to download all the pricing information he needs when he needs it. "When you get the lumberyards to participate, you can go into their database and the price is there," he says. "All the information can be downloaded any time."

For Buttaro, that means the flexibility to do estimates whenever is most convenient. It also means he’ll have the most up-to-date, accurate pricing when he runs the numbers. "Prices are changing constantly," he says. "A quote may [only] be good for 20 days. You can update your prices as often as you want."

In addition, materials orders from the program can go directly to the supplier via fax or email. Russ Santoro, vice president of marketing for Add-Vantage, says the toolkit will benefit suppliers and remodelers alike. "Remodelers can get the information they need from their favorite supplier and insert it automatically into estimates," he says. "Building material retailers will be able to provide a new level of interaction with the customers by providing them with automated price information, and the ability to order materials after hours. The lumberyard will benefit because [remodelers] who depend on their price data to estimate faster will become loyal customers."

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