The 4 Automations Construction Businesses Build First

These four sequences target the highest-leverage gaps in the typical GC operation: winning more of the bids you've already written, keeping clients informed without manual effort, keeping subs accountable, and building your Google presence after every project closes.

1. Bid / Proposal Follow-Up Sequence

Most GCs send a proposal and wait. A week passes. The client goes with someone else — usually whoever followed up first. A structured follow-up sequence keeps your bid top of mind at the right intervals, without feeling aggressive or desperate.

1 Proposal sent in Buildertrend / CoConstruct / Procore → automation monitors for client response or status change
2 48 hours, no response → "Hi [Name], following up on the proposal for [project]. Happy to answer any questions or adjust scope — just let me know what works for you."
3 Day 5, no response → follow-up with value-add — financing options (for large projects), project timeline clarity, or a relevant past project reference
4 Day 10, no response → final touch. "We'll keep this proposal available until [date]. Let me know if you'd like to move forward or revisit scope."
5 Client responds at any point → sequence stops immediately. CRM updated, next steps triggered

Tools used in this build:

Buildertrend CoConstruct Procore QuickBooks Twilio n8n Make
GCs who follow up on proposals within 48 hours win 35-45% more jobs than those who wait for the client to call. Most contractors don't follow up at all, or do it once and stop. A three-touch automated sequence changes that without adding work to your plate.

2. Project Milestone Client Updates

The most common source of negative contractor reviews isn't bad work. It's poor communication. Clients feel left in the dark, don't know if things are on schedule, and assume the worst when no one responds. By the time the project finishes, the trust is already gone.

Automated milestone updates flip this. The client hears from you at every significant stage, without you or your PM having to remember to send an email.

1 Milestone marked complete in Buildertrend / Procore (e.g., demolition, framing, rough-in, drywall, punch list)
2 Client update sent automatically → "Good news — we've completed [milestone] on schedule. Next step is [next phase], starting [date]. Contact us with any questions."
3 Delay or issue flagged → optional exception trigger sends proactive heads-up message before client asks
4 Final milestone complete → triggers post-project sequence (see automation #4)
Communication issues cause 45% of negative contractor reviews. Automated milestone updates are the single highest-impact automation for contractor reputation management — and they require zero ongoing manual effort once configured.

3. Subcontractor and Crew Reminders

Sub no-shows are expensive. The GC's crew shows up, the sub doesn't, the whole day is blown. The client notices. Rescheduling eats time and costs money. Most of this comes from miscommunication — subs are juggling multiple jobs and details fall through the cracks.

An automated reminder sequence keeps your subs accountable without requiring you to personally text every crew the night before.

1 Subcontractor scheduled in project management system → confirmation message sent with full scope, address, and contact
2 48 hours before start → "Reminder: you're scheduled for [job] at [address] on [date] at [time]. Scope: [notes]. Any issues, contact [PM name] at [number]."
3 Morning of, 6 AM → same-day reminder. "Today's the day — [job] at [address], [time]. Let [PM] know when you're on site."
4 No-show detection (optional) → if check-in not received by start time, PM is alerted automatically
Subcontractor no-shows cost GCs an average of $800-1,500 per incident in rescheduling costs, crew downtime, and client delay ripple effects. Two prevented no-shows typically cover the cost of the entire automation build.

4. Post-Project Review and Referral Request

Construction runs on referrals. The homeowner who loved their kitchen renovation tells six neighbors. The one who felt ignored tells everyone. Most GCs do great work and then disappear — no review ask, no referral prompt, no follow-up. The opportunity is gone.

A post-project sequence captures both the review and the referral at the right moment: after the project settles, before the client moves on.

1 Project marked complete + final invoice paid → 5-day delay (let client live in the result)
2 Message sent → "We really enjoyed working on [project] for you. If you're happy with the result, a Google review would mean a lot to our team: [link]."
3 Referral ask included → "And if you know anyone planning a project, we'd love the introduction. We treat every referral like family."
4 Seasonal follow-up (optional) → 6-month check-in for maintenance services or future project inquiry
Construction is the most referral-driven industry — 78% of homeowners find contractors through personal referrals. Automation systematizes the ask at the exact right moment, consistently, across every project that closes. Most construction businesses see 10-20 new Google reviews per month from this sequence alone.

Tools Used in Construction Automation Builds

The exact stack depends on which project management platform you're running. Here's the full set of tools we use across the four automations above:

Buildertrend CoConstruct Procore QuickBooks DocuSign Twilio n8n Make Zapier Google Business Profile API Airtable

Buildertrend and CoConstruct both offer webhook-level integrations — milestone completions, proposal status changes, and payment confirmations can all trigger sequences in real time. Procore's API covers commercial setups well. For smaller operations on simpler platforms, email-based triggers and Zapier work as a reliable fallback.

What the Numbers Look Like

These figures come from construction businesses across residential remodeling, specialty contracting, and commercial GC work, after 90 days with all four automations running.

35-45% More bids won when follow-up sequence is in place
45% Of negative contractor reviews stem from communication gaps — solved by milestone automation
$800-1.5K Average cost per sub no-show prevented by reminder sequence
78% Of homeowners find contractors through personal referrals
10-20 New Google reviews per month from post-project automation
0 Manual follow-up tasks after each automation is live

Build Time and Cost

All builds are scoped and delivered at a fixed rate of $150/hr. No ongoing retainers, no recurring agency fees — you own the automation when it's done.

Automation Build Hours Fixed Price
Bid / proposal follow-up sequence 20-30 hrs $3,000 – $4,500
Project milestone client updates 25-35 hrs $3,750 – $5,250
Subcontractor reminder automation 20-25 hrs $3,000 – $3,750
Post-project review + referral request 20-25 hrs $3,000 – $3,750
All four (bundled) 85-115 hrs Contact for bundle pricing

Most construction businesses start with bid follow-up — it has the fastest ROI because it converts proposals already in the pipeline. Milestone updates usually come second, then the post-project review request. Subcontractor reminders get added based on how bad the no-show problem is for that operation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What software do construction companies use for automation?
Buildertrend and CoConstruct are the most popular project management platforms for residential GCs. Procore is common for commercial construction. Automation connects to these plus QuickBooks and DocuSign to trigger bid follow-ups, project updates, and post-project sequences.
How much does construction automation cost?
Bid follow-up sequences: 20-30 hours ($3,000-$4,500). Project milestone updates: 25-35 hours ($3,750-$5,250). Subcontractor reminder automation: 20-25 hours ($3,000-$3,750). Post-project review + referral: 20-25 hours ($3,000-$3,750). All billed one-time at $150/hr — no ongoing retainers.
How do you automate construction bid follow-up?
When a proposal is sent, automation monitors for a response. After 48 hours of silence, a personalized follow-up goes out. At day 5, a follow-up addressing common objections and financing options is sent for larger projects. A final touch at day 10 closes the sequence. All messages stop the moment the client responds.
How do you automate client updates on a construction project?
When a milestone is marked complete in Buildertrend or Procore, automation sends a status update to the client with what was completed and what comes next. This replaces the manual email or phone call that most project managers send inconsistently. Clients report dramatically higher satisfaction when they receive proactive updates without having to ask.
How do you get more Google reviews for a construction company?
A review request triggers 5 days after a project is marked complete and final payment is received — long enough for the client to appreciate the finished result. The message includes a direct Google review link and a referral ask. Most construction businesses see 10-20 new Google reviews per month from this automation alone.