Helping homeowners visualize renovation projects early
Renovation Planning
5 min read
Challenge
Helping homeowners prepare renovation projects from the earliest stages
Billdr works with homeowners at the design and conceptualization stage of renovation projects. According to Raphael, renovations are complex and stressful for homeowners, who often only undertake one or two major renovation projects in their lifetime.
Billdr helps customers build scope, budget, and floor plan ideas, and connects them with designers, architects, and contractors when needed. Before construction begins, projects need to be clearly defined so that contractors can quote accurately and homeowners can understand expected costs.
Supporting this process requires clear documentation of existing spaces and proposed changes.
Solution
Using magicplan to capture floor plans and propose layout changes
When a homeowner contacts Billdr about a renovation, a project manager visits the home to walk through the space and understand the scope of work. During this visit, the project manager uses magicplan to capture the floor plan and take photos.
About a week later, Billdr delivers an estimate to the homeowner. As part of that estimate, Billdr builds a full scope and may create proposed floor plans using magicplan if layout changes are involved.
If the homeowner decides to proceed, Billdr refers them to an architect or designer for permit drawings. The proposed floor plans created with magicplan are provided to these professionals so they do not need to start from scratch.
Once permits are approved, Billdr invites two or three contractors from its network to quote on the project. Homeowners can view and compare these quotes in a personalized dashboard through Billdr’s web portal.
Results
Clear visualization and structured renovation workflows
Homeowners using Billdr’s platform can view detailed estimates with category breakdowns and subtotals. At the bottom of the dashboard, Billdr integrates the magicplan floor plan, allowing customers to visualize the project in 2D or 3D.
Raphael explains that this flexibility is one of the reasons Billdr values magicplan. The tool allows Billdr to provide a dynamic customer report that combines estimates and floor plans in one place.
Billdr has 11 project managers who use magicplan every day to capture existing floor plans and sketch proposed layout changes. Depending on the project, they may capture only relevant rooms or entire houses. Raphael notes that capturing a full house of 2,000 to 4,000 square feet typically takes between one and a half to two hours, including 360-degree photos
Outlook
A tool used daily across markets and teams
Raphael joined Billdr in 2021 and saw the company grow from a team of seven to a team of 30. Billdr was founded in 2020 in Montreal and later expanded to Toronto and Chicago.
Billdr project managers use magicplan daily, and training new team members is straightforward. Raphael explains that most people can start using magicplan right away, supported by tutorial videos. One specific video demonstrating full-house mapping with LIDAR helped the team understand how the app works and is now used for training.
When asked to describe magicplan in one word, Raphael highlights how customers perceive the experience of seeing their plans come together.
“I would probably say ‘magic.’”
