| New Account |
| GC - What do I do First? |
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1. Setup your account
2. Increase your TC Library
3. Convert PDF plans to JPG
Try this website for quick plan conversion
4. Upload your Plans
5. Create a Spec Sheet
6. Create a Bid |
| TC - What do I do First? |
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1. Setup your account
2. Edit listed states and counties
3. Check Master List for open bids
4. Submit a bid
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| Plans |
| How do I upload a plan to the Plan Room? |
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From the GC Home Page, click: Setup
Click: Plan Room → Create Plan
Fill out required data → Continue
Upload JPG Drawings → OK → Send
Rename Files (to help TCs easily identify plans) → Save Changes
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| How do I convert my PDF files to JPG in the program GIMP? |
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*See online video tutorial
Click File → Open → Select Plans
Adjust largest dimension (width or height) to 2800 pixels maximum
Click Import
*To Rotate Image
Click Image → Transform → Rotate
To Finish Conversion
Click File → Save As
*Rename File
Click "Select File Type (By Extension)"
Scroll down the list to find: JPEG Image
Click: Save
Repeat Process for every page/plan |
| How do I rescale an image in GIMP? |
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On the top menu tab, click: Image → Scale Image
Image size should be read in Pixels
Resize longest image dimension (generally the width), no greater than 2800 pixels
The Length and Width are “linked” meaning when one dimension is altered, the other dimension adjusts proportionally
Click: Scale
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| Is there another program to convert plans besides GIMP? |
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Try this website for quick plan conversion
Be sure to set the page limit
If your PDF file has more than 1 page, increase the page limit to convert muliple pages
*Feel free to email your PDF plans to us and we can convert them for you! |
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| Specification Sheets |
| How do I duplicate the General Template specification sheet? |
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*See online video tutorial
From the GC Home Page, click: Setup
Click: Spec Sheet Templates → Duplicate Spec Sheet Template
Select General Template
Rename duplicated copy → Confirm → Go to Spec Sheet Template Overview
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| How do I copy spec sheets over, saving the categories as well as the specs in each category? |
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From the GC Home Page, click: Setup
Click: Spec Sheet Templates → Duplicate Spec Sheet Template
Select past specification sheet to duplicate
Rename duplicated copy → Confirm → Go to Spec Sheet Template Overview
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| Are the spec categories my bid line items? |
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If want a specific line item price:
i.e. specific price for crown molding, a separate spec category needs to be created within a specification template
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| Bidding |
| How do I Launch a Bid? |
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*See online video tutorial
- From the GC Home Page, click: Bidding → Create New Bid
- Fill out required data
- Link Plans and Spec Sheets (previously uploaded in the plan room)
- Click: Continue → OK to Proceed
- Add Docs from Library → Continue
- Upload Docs or check cancel box → Continue
- Edit Bid Status (open or close categories for bid) → Continue
- Choose Work Categories → Confirm Work Categories
- Choose Notification Recipients
- Enter message in text box for email or text message notification
- Check/Uncheck TCs to receive notification
- When ready, click: Send Notifications (may delay 5-10 minutes to send notifications)
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| How do I Estimate w/ Estimating Toolbox? |
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*See online video tutorial |
| Why doesn’t the estimating toolbox open? |
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Open Builder Helper in Internet Explorer. The program is not supported in Mozilla Firefox and Netscape. |
| Why is the JPG image file too large to see in the Estimating Toolbox? |
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A maximum dimension (length or width) of 2800 pixels is supported.
Rescale the image size either in your own image editing software, but we recommend downloading a freeware software graphics editor called GIMP.
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| How do I re-open a bid? |
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From the GC Home Page, click: Bidding → Re-Open Bid
Choose Bid to re-open
If needed, change bid category statuses, plans, docs, etc.
Click: Re-Open Bid
Modify the new close bid date → Continue
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| How do I close a bid? |
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From the GC Home Page, click: Bidding → Bid Summary
Select Bid to modify
Under Bid Management Folder, click: Close Bid
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| How do I open only a few bid categories? |
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When creating a new bid, Step 4: Edit Bid Status, allows GCs to open/close work categories to bid.
Select categories to open (green) or close (red) for bidding
If project is already open for bidding:
From the GC Home Page, click: Bidding → Bid Summary
Select Bid to modify
Under Bid Management Folder, click: Change Bid Category Statuses
Select categories to open (green) or close (red) for bidding |
| How do I release my bid to the open market? |
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When creating a new bid, Step 4: Edit Bid Status, allows GCs to release bids to the open market
New bids already preselect allowance to the open market (picture of world)
This allows both your trade contractors in your TC library and the open market to submit bids |
| How do I release my bid to my trade contractor library only? |
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When creating a new bid, Step 4: Edit Bid Status, allows GCs to release bids to the open market or to only TC Library.
New bids already preselect allowance to the open market (picture of world)
Select TC Library (picture of hard hat) to only allow TC Library to submit bids
To select and modify all categories, select the first row to TC Library (applies to all spec categories)
Click OK to confirm changes to all availabilities
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| Scheduling |
| Is there some sort of help reference for scheduling? |
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There is a scheduling tutorial to teach you how to create and edit schedules in the flowchart.
To access the tutorial, from the Home Page Click: Setup → Schedule templates
Click: Create Schedule Template
Name it “test”
Click: Go to Schedule Template Overview → Launch Flow Chart
Click: Take Tutorial
This will open the tutorial in a separate window, which allows you to open the flowchart and create a schedule as you read the tutorial
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| How do I use templates? |
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A basic schedule for the construction of a typical residential project is available to copy and modify
You can also create your own basic template from scratch and simply copy and modify that template for specific projects
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| How do I modify an existing schedule? |
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Modifications are done in the “Flowchart” tool
If the schedule is in “set-up” mode, you may modify the schedule freely
If it is already under construction, modifications will change schedules for coordination with Trade Contractors
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| How do I put dates to the schedule? |
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When creating a schedule in Set-up mode or in the template room, specific dates are not applied to the schedule
Instead it is simply created on a # of days basis
Once a schedule is associated with a job, you will be asked to specify a construction start date, which will then correspond with day 1 of the schedule
Depending on your workweek type (5-day, 6-day or 7-day), the schedule will automatically consider the weekends
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| How do I add new tasks to a schedule? |
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You can add new taskss to a schedule at any time with the “add task” button on the tool menu of the Flowchart
Be sure to correctly create Prerequisites and Dependencies (links or relationships) so the schedule will be correct
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| How do I shorten or lengthen a specific task? |
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Click on a task so it is selected
In the bottom right hand corner of the task, a triangle will appear
Click the triangle and drag either up or down to shorten/lengthen the task |
| How do I make sure a taks occurs on a specific date? |
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Once the schedule is out of the template creator and is in either “set up mode” or “under construction,” double click on a task
A menu will appear
Click on the “change restrictions” button
Click on “Must occur exactly on” and enter in the date
Be sure the date logically makes sense, or your schedule will either have a large gap, or become mixed up
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| How do I add a note to the schedule? |
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Once the schedule is in “set up mode” or “under construction,” notes may be added to specific tasks on the schedule
Click on the task you wish to create a note
Click add note
Add and save the note
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| How do I view the schedule in worksheet view? |
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Once the schedule is in “set up mode” or “under construction,” Click on “jobs and scheduling” on the home page
Click on the specific job you wish to see the schedule to see the “job overview”
Click on “schedule” then “Edit in worksheet view”
You can view all activities and their dates as well as any notes added
Even though this is an option for editing, we highly recommend not editing the schedule this way because relationships between activities are hard to recognize
It is better to edit in the Flowchart
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| Do my subcontractors see the entire schedule? Can they modify it? |
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Sub contractors only see their start and finish dates in bar chart view. Sub contractors may not edit the schedule |
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| GC Account Management |
| How do I increase my TC Library? |
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*See online video tutorial
From the GC Home Page, click: Setup
Click: Trade Contractor Library
Several options are available:
- Add Trades Manually
- Enter Company Name, User Name, Email, Cell Phone, Cell Phone Carrier
- *If all five categories are not filled out, the entry will not be added
- **If a GC does not know the cell phone number or carrier, insert 000-000-0000 and choose ATT, and the TC can modify the information at a later time
- ***However, the email needs to be entered correctly in order for a TC to receive a notification and follow a link to activate their account
- Add Trades from Excel Spreadsheet
- Using an XML file, upload and import list
- Search for a Trade Contractor
- Enter name and search
- Select Companies and click: Add Selected
- Area-based Quick Search
- Select Companies and click: Add Selected
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| Can I send another email reminder to Pending TC accounts who have not activated their Builder Helper account? |
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*See online video tutorial
From the GC Home Page, click: Setup
Click: Trade Contractor Library → View Trade Contractor Library
Under the category “Pending TC Accounts,” select trades to send email reminder
Click: Go (with selected: Send Reminder Email)
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| As a GC, how do I create an RFI / Change Order? |
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From the Homepage, click the hyperlink Mange RFI/Change Orders
From this page, a search can be performed to see RFIs and Change Orders of all jobs and Bids
Click on the respective icon to Add an RFI or Add Change Order
Similar to sending an email, choose if RFI/Change Order concerns the bid or job
Type in Subject and the request
Attachments can be uploaded (doc, pdf, txt, xls, jpg, snp)
If creating a change order:
Write the description in the text box provided
Select the amount affected by the request (increased or decreased)
Select how many days are affected in the schedule (increased or decreased)
Click Send |
| By my company name, it displays “no picture available.” How do I upload a graphic to advertise my company? |
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From the GC Home Page, click: Setup → Edit Company Account → Upload Company Logos
Select browse to upload a JPG picture file
Click: Upload Logos |
| How do I modify receiving notifications (cell phone text messages and email alerts)? |
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From the GC Home Page, click: Setup → Edit My Account
Under Notifications, select or deselect options
Click: Save Changes
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| Can we have more than one user on the same account? |
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Yes, multiple users can have separate access (i.e. different email and password) but login under the same account
To create new users on the same account:
From the TC Home Page, click: Setup → Manage User Accounts → Add User
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| TC Account Management |
| Why can I not see any projects to bid in my Master List? |
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From the TC Home Page, click: Advertising/Setup
Click: Edit listed state(s) and counties
Confirm or add counties that your company provides work
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| What does open market upgrade mean? |
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*See online video tutorial
TCs can see all projects in the work counties specified. However, with a free trade contractor account, it is only possible to submit bids to general contractors that added you in their library. Trades can be added in three GC libraries. An open market upgrade is required to submit bids to all projects.
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| What trade contractor upgrades are available? |
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- TCs can upgrade to an open market account to submit bids to all projects in work counties specified
- TCs can purchase a plan room upgrade to upload plans and take advantage of the online estimating tools to perform on screen take-offs for other projects not on Builder Helper
- TCs can advertise through sponsorship. Benefits include: an automatic free “open market” account; inclusion in builder bid lists; personal ads posted on the BH website, HBA membership E-blasts, HBA newsletters; HBA events announce sponsors
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| By my company name, it displays “no picture available.” How do I upload a graphic to advertise my company? |
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From the TC Home Page, click: Advertising/Setup → Upload/change company logo(s)
Select browse to upload a JPG picture file
Click: Upload Logos
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| Can we have more than one user on the same account? |
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Yes, multiple users can have separate access (i.e. different email/password) but login under the same account
To create new users on the same account:
From the TC Home Page, click: Advertising/Setup → Add user to account
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| I heard there is a Spanish Version of Builder Helper? |
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Trade Contractors can have the menu bars and titles typed in Spanish.
From the TC Home Page, click: Advertising/Setup → Edit a user’s information
Select the user’s account to modify and click: Edit
Select Language drop-down menu to either English or Spanish
Click: Save Changes
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| How do I modify receiving notifications (cell phone text messages and email alerts)? |
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From the TC Home Page, click: Advertising/Setup → Edit cell phone and email alerts
Select or deselect options
Click: Save Changes
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