Cost Tracking Tools

[Jimmy Nguyen]

Hi,

I am in the process of building a house on my 13 acre farm.  I have already built a smaller accessory unit on the property.  In both cases, I have been using simple Google spreadsheets to keep track of my costs.  

Is there a tool that professional builders use that is better at categorizing and analyzing construction costs, which can lead to better cost-cutting measures and future estimating?  Would the basic QuickBooks software accomplish this or is there something more specific to the construction industry?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

[Jimmy Nguyen]

Thanks guys.  I'll check out those tools and get back to you.  

@Rich P.@Trevor Ewen@Shahram Zarshenas - If going by the CSI divisions for spec houses - what expense do you usually find varies the most or is most difficult to predict?  I am trying to specialize in energy efficient homes and I'm thinking that the thermal and moisture protection division will vary a lot due to differences in the climate the house is being built, precipitation, solar orientation of house, level of energy consciousness of buyer, price of solar pv, local source of recycled materials, additional labor to air seal and insulate correctly, etc. 

And as a follow-up to this question - do lenders value energy-efficient construction as much as they should?  Is doing an energy-efficient spec house risky because buyers might not understand the benefits and only value standard luxuries like stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and his and her sinks?