Rave Build
End-to-end construction management software for residential builders
About Rave Build
Rave Build is a comprehensive construction management platform purpose-built for residential builders in New Zealand. It brings sales, project management, and financial management into a single system, serving everyone from solo operators building a handful of homes per year to large production builders running multiple branches. The platform includes a full CRM with sales pipelines and forecasting, Gantt chart scheduling with baseline locking and rollback, contractor portals with free access for trades, and a robust financial suite featuring Xero integration, purchase orders, quoting, backcosting, and progress payment invoicing. The software also provides detailed timesheets with labour-vs-budget tracking, customizable checklists for quality control, cloud-based document and photo album management, and real-time reporting across sales, projects, and finances. Rave Build offers a branded client portal that gives homeowners visibility into their build progress, and a mobile app that keeps site managers connected from the field. With dedicated NZ-based support including one-on-one training and customer success managers, Rave Build is designed to help builders streamline operations, reduce admin overhead, and maintain tighter control over project profitability.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Purpose-built for residential construction with deep industry-specific features
- Highly customizable to fit individual business workflows
- Comprehensive all-in-one platform covering sales, projects, and finances
- Free unlimited contractor access keeps trades connected without extra cost
- Strong Xero integration for seamless accounting sync
- Dedicated NZ-based support with one-on-one training and customer success managers
Cons
- Pricing is not publicly disclosed and can be expensive for smaller builders
- No free version available, only a free trial
- Primarily focused on the New Zealand market with limited international presence
- Best suited for residential construction, less applicable to commercial projects
Key Features
CRM & Sales Pipeline
Full sales CRM with customizable pipelines, lead tracking, automated reminders, sales forecasting by volume and price, and conversion analytics.
Gantt Chart Scheduling
Advanced project scheduling with linked tasks, constraints, baseline locking, rollback capabilities, and calendar views for team and trade coordination.
Financial Management with Xero Integration
Automated sync of supplier bills, client invoices, and payments with Xero. Supports both fixed-pricing and cost-plus arrangements.
Progress Payment Invoicing
Stage claim templates for progress payments, variation management with payment forecasting, and charge-up invoicing workflows.
Purchase Orders & Quoting
Supplier quote request system with acceptance workflows, purchase order management, CSV budget uploads, and template creation for repeat work.
Backcosting & Budget Tracking
Detailed expense reporting by category and supplier with budget vs actual reports, cost centre tracking, and project profitability analysis.
Estimates & Variations
Client estimate and variation management with profit margin customization and contract signing via email with full audit trails.
Contractor Portal
Free unlimited contractor access to tasks, communication, tendering, and project documents to keep trades connected.
Client Portal
Branded showhome portal for lead collection plus client-facing project portal for homeowner visibility into build progress.
Timesheets & Labour Tracking
Detailed timesheet entries with task-based time assignment, live labour vs budget reporting, approval processes, and automated reminders.
Checklists & Quality Control
Customizable inspection and procedure checklists for contractors with notes, images, and file attachment support.
Photo & Document Management
Cloud-based albums for photos and videos with PDF export, custom project folders, and contractor document sharing.
Real-Time Reporting
Business performance dashboards covering sales metrics, project milestones, financial transactions, projected income, and cost-to-completion forecasting.
Mobile App
Mobile access for site managers to manage projects, update timesheets, and communicate with teams from the field.