Meet the Team: The BuildTools Story

Our ECI Residential Home Construction team are experts on construction scheduling software and bring their experience in the residential home construction industry to help small and medium-sized businesses just like yours. This month, we wanted to bring together four leaders in residential home construction to learn about their backgrounds, top industry trends, and the importance of technology within the industry.

In this blog post, we profile Sven Gustafson, BuildTools creator; Bob Cain, Business Unit leader for BuildTools; Jared Johnson, product manager for BuildTools; and Brad Haubert, an industry influencer. These four RHC (Residential Home Construction) experts showcase the rich thought leadership we provide to all our small and medium-sized customers. We are thrilled to share our knowledge and experience with our wonderful ECI family.

Tell us a little bit about your background. How long have you worked in the custom home building and remodeling industry, and how did you get your start?

Sven Gustafson (SG): I am a seasoned construction professional with a deep passion for creating custom homes that meet the unique needs and tastes of my clients. With over three decades of experience in the construction industry, I've honed my skills in project management, team leadership, and client relationships and my proficiency in handling complex construction projects from inception to completion. I currently serve as the President of Stonewood, LLC, a premier custom home builder in Minnesota. My team and I focus on designing and building luxury homes with exceptional quality and attention to detail, offering a full range of services from site selection and architectural design to construction and interior finishes. We are committed to transparency and open communication throughout the building process, ensuring our clients are involved in every step of their dream home's creation.

Bob Cain (BC): I started with MarkSystems in January of 1999 working with two standalone products developed for lower volume builders. My job was to sell the products to those companies as well as to provide them with support after the sale. We built the features of the stand-alone products into MarkSystems in the early 2000’s which allowed me to begin my career as a developer. By the mid-2000s, we realized our customers needed more training and consulting services, so I provided a combination of those and custom report writing. After seeing success, we decided to expand our implementation and consulting team in 2011 allowing me to take on a leadership role while continuing to work directly with home builders of all types. After acquiring BuildTools in 2020, I became focused on the custom builder and remodeler industry.

Jared Johnson (JJ): My interest in the construction industry stems back to my youth. My father is a developer, and I always found myself in the middle of some commercial or residential project he was working on. However, as time passed, I found myself drawn more toward the custom home world. I liked the idea of the home is akin to a piece of artwork in that it would be designed and built only once and never repeated. I got started because I was lucky enough to have a good family friend whose family had its own custom home business, and he took me on as an intern while in school. That’s where my journey began.

Brad Haubert (BH): I started in the home building industry in 1993 – fresh out of college, where I joined the family homebuilding business. We considered our company a “custom, volume home builder” – meaning we’d customize anything and build a lot of houses. My father believed in on-the-job training – meaning he’d put us in positions and have us learn as we go (but he was always there to offer wisdom and guidance as we needed it). I was eventually put into a Project Manager role (in the office managing construction with superintendents below me), and I quickly found out how much I didn’t know about the industry.

But I kept at it. Over the years, I worked with customers, superintendents, Realtors, municipal officials, lenders, etc. and I was able to learn all the parts of this incredible industry. In my career, I managed the construction of over 1,000 new homes. I also dabbled a bit in remodeling and land development.

What excites you the most about working within this industry?

SG: What excites me the most about this industry is its dynamic nature and the tangible impact of our work. Every project brings new challenges and opportunities to create something meaningful and lasting. I'm particularly passionate about residential construction, as we're not just building houses, but homes that will be a part of people's lives and memories.

BC: The opportunity is the most exciting part of the custom builder and remodeler industry. There are many custom builders and remodelers in this industry. Some of them rely on technology while the majority do not. Helping these businesses utilize technology provides an avenue of growth for the business and it puts more time back in the day for those that run the business. I love that we are taking years of best practices in this industry and giving it to businesses that want to utilize it all packaged in a software system, BuildTools. As more builders and remodelers utilize business management technology, they are going to provide a much better experience for the customers that they are working for, which is going to change the industry from what it is today. We have traveled light years over the past five years, and I am excited to see where this industry goes over the next five years!

JJ: The most exciting part is that the industry is one of the last to commit to technology fully, so there is so much green space ahead of us. It's exciting to see where the industry will go and how technology will improve the lives of those building the homes and those who enjoy living in them!

BH: This industry is anything but boring. It’s never the same thing, and just when you think you’ve seen it all, you see something new. Plus, there’s just something so rewarding about seeing a project come together while making dreams come true for the buyers.

A lot has changed in residential custom home construction and remodeling over the past few years. What benefits do software solutions like BuildTools provide toward competitive growth?

SG: BuildTools has revolutionized the world of residential custom home construction and remodeling in numerous ways, and it’s particularly crucial in enhancing competitive growth in this rapidly evolving industry. BuildTools does this by enhanced project management, streamlined communication, document control, improved cost management, and effective resource allocation.

BC: Consumer expectations always drive change in B2C businesses, and this industry is no different. Consumers have learned to use the internet and technology in their life more than any other time in history. Consumers have access to a wide range of materials that they could put in a home. They buy what they want using the internet and they expect homebuilding to work that way as well. Many businesses today offer services with a high level of support which is driving a mindset of control, flexibility, and change. Building a custom home or remodeling allows you to decide what you want and then find better ideas as you go. This is challenging for construction companies to manage.

Software solutions like BuildTools allow custom builders and remodelers to define a starting point and effectively manage changes as they come. BuildTools allows builders to understand the cost and communicate to all stakeholders during the process, which buyers expect.

 JJ: Software solutions like BuildTools significantly benefit competitive growth in residential custom home construction and remodeling. By streamlining project management processes, such as scheduling, budgeting, and communication, builders can save time, reduce errors, and enhance overall project efficiency. These solutions facilitate improved communication and collaboration among all stakeholders, fostering transparency and client satisfaction. Client portals and real-time updates enable homeowners to participate actively, leading to increased trust and referrals. Additionally, financial management features ensure accurate cost tracking, streamlined invoicing, and better profitability. Data-driven insights empower builders to make informed decisions and optimize their operations. Overall, software solutions like BuildTools enable builders and remodelers to deliver exceptional client experiences, improve productivity, and achieve sustainable growth in the industry. 

BH: I think homebuilding companies have matured in the last few years. “Chuck in a truck” custom home builders who work off notepads and sticky notes are finding that they are being left behind. Our company was not much different. We managed our business using very manual and outdated processes – and that’s saying something for a company that built a few hundred homes a year in the boom of the ’90s and early 2000s. The downside of managing with paper and/or disconnected tools (Excel, QuickBooks, etc.) is that the paperwork side of things manages YOU (instead of the other way around). That’s the “un-fun” part of the business that no one wants to spend time on. It keeps home builders from being able to work ON their business instead of IN their business, and it doesn’t allow them to scale as efficiently as they could.

What makes BuildTools different from competitors in making business better for custom home construction and remodeling companies?

SG: In the ever-evolving landscape of construction management, efficiency, and innovation are key elements that drive success. These two principles were the cornerstone in building BuildTools.com, a comprehensive construction management platform. Today, BuildTools.com stands as a testament to my vision, and it continues to redefine the benchmarks for effective construction management. BuildTools.com had its genesis at Stonewood, LLC, where I served as the guiding force behind numerous successful construction projects. I recognized the challenges inherent in managing complex construction projects, particularly when it came to changing orders and selections. These aspects were often fraught with manual processes, which could lead to errors, delays, and inefficiencies. To address these issues, I developed the initial module of what would eventually become BuildTools.com. This module was designed to streamline the management of change orders and selections, bringing a new level of precision and accuracy to these critical processes.

Today, BuildTools.com has become more than just a tool for Stonewood, LLC. It is a platform that is empowering builders across the industry to streamline their processes, improve efficiency, and drive growth. It serves as a reminder of how innovation can transform the way we work and build.

BC: BuildTools was designed by a custom builder/remodeler. It was built to handle exactly what a builder needed from a builder’s perspective. Taking BuildTools to market certainly opened up the need for additional features in 2016 and it has now provided a solid foundation of best practices from hundreds of builders utilizing the product from beginning to end. Many small businesses implement business management solutions and only actually use a small percentage of the product. When a custom builder or remodeler implements BuildTools, they are getting a franchise model of best practices bundled in a software package that has brought success to many.

JJ: BuildTools provides a comprehensive suite of project management tools tailored to the custom home construction industry. Its features cover all aspects of project management, including scheduling, budgeting, document management, change orders, and communication. The platform's specialization in custom home construction ensures that builders can access industry-specific functionalities that address their unique needs.

BH: I mentioned that we used manual processes and disconnected software for our homebuilding business. I only saw BuildTools later, and it made complete sense to me when I saw the demo. The great thing about BuildTools is that, just like custom builders, it can be set up to work the way you do now (instead of making custom builders re-work their business models to fit the way the software was designed to work). I think this is the competitive advantage of BuildTools. It’s a quick adoption because it is designed around your current processes but brings everything together, so you don’t need to spend as much time managing them. Finally, you can manage the paperwork, etc., instead of it managing you.

How do you envision technology supporting the future of custom home and remodeling businesses?

SG: As we look to the future of technology in the custom home and remodeling industry, it's clear that we're on the cusp of a digital revolution. Technology in the custom home and remodeling industry looks promising. Integrating AI, advanced modeling techniques, and increasingly sophisticated project management tools will allow us to deliver more efficient, cost-effective, and high-quality projects, thereby increasing our value proposition to clients and trade partners. As we adapt to these technologies, we'll be able to continue growing our businesses without necessarily increasing our workforce, ultimately driving higher profitability, and establishing ourselves as the builders of choice in our market.

BC: Software as the core DNA of a business is key. Having people using software tools to communicate and manage a business has provided a successful playbook for many businesses. As a technology provider, we see interoperability as a core component of the future. Not only using systems to communicate but to effectively communicate within systems is key. This will provide businesses with the data they need to run an effective business with the tools to provide the highest level of service possible to consumers.

 JJ: In the future, technology will revolutionize custom homes and remodeling businesses. Virtual and augmented reality will help clients visualize their projects, while smart home integration brings convenience and energy efficiency. Project management software and digital collaboration tools streamline communication. Sustainability, drones, and robotics play roles in eco-friendly practices and automation. Online marketing and virtual showrooms enhance customer engagement. Overall, technology creates better experiences and innovative living spaces.

BH: Technology is bringing the homebuilding industry together like never before. Your buyers expect it. Your business needs it. If you haven’t yet adopted technology, you need to start. It’s only going to get more pervasive, and those who don’t embrace it will quickly find themselves out of business. I know that’s a harsh statement, but I can speak from personal experience. And, if you think your trades aren’t savvy enough to handle technology, think again. Almost every one of them is already using a smartphone. Years ago, I was getting emails and/or texts from my Amish framers.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not at work?

SG: Outside of work, I cherish the time I spend with my family. We love to travel and explore new places. I'm also an avid skier.

BC: I enjoy coaching youth sports. I coach my son’s football team and serve on the football board in the town of Marlton, NJ. I also help coach my daughter’s travel softball team. I find joy in helping our youth develop confidence and leadership skills by participating in youth sports. When I am not coaching, I love to spend time with my wife by our firepit or just enjoying the outdoors.

JJ: Outside of work, I enjoy working/remodeling my own house. I have always loved getting my hands dirty and learning to create something from nothing. As my wife always asks, “Have you done that before?” and my common answer is no, but I’ll learn/figure out how. I also really enjoy spending time up north in the cabin and playing as much golf as I can squeeze into our short Minnesota summers!

BH: I’m an avid cyclist, so you’ll usually find me pedaling around a mountain or along the road. I’ve also started a “brand” of sorts (called “Welcome to home building”) where I’m sharing my knowledge and expertise with those who are still learning about this industry. And, currently, I’m working on having my first children’s book published. Wish me luck!