Built for general contractors with mixed portfolios
Bid tracking that works for the GC with residential, light commercial, and custom work on one book.
Most general contractors run a mixed portfolio: 40 percent custom homes, 30 percent light commercial, 20 percent renovations, 10 percent specialty. A CRM configured for one slice fails the other three. Strkr's bid tracking configuration supports mixed portfolios with the same workflow discipline across every project type.
General contractors with mixed portfolios face a specific CRM problem: the data model has to work for a $450K custom home bid and an $8M light commercial office buildout on the same system. Most vertical-specific CRMs optimize for one project type and stretch for the others. Teams that span residential, light commercial, and specialty work usually end up with either a watered-down configuration that works for nothing well or a Frankenstein setup with trade-specific extensions bolted on. The patterns below describe the common pain points GCs with mixed portfolios tell us about.
The spreadsheet comes back
No matter the CRM, the Google Sheet reappears.
A GC with 25 bidders invests in a CRM, configures it, trains the team. Six months later a shared Google Sheet has reappeared with 180 rows of bid tracking that nobody fully trusts. The reason is almost always that the CRM is one project type away from the actual mix of work the firm does, and the Sheet filled the gap. Strkr's configuration supports residential custom, remodel, light commercial, and specialty work on the same bid tracking object with project-type-specific layouts, which eliminates the spreadsheet escape hatch.
Different bid processes per project type
Residential bid is 1 hour; commercial bid is 3 days.
A custom residential bid for a $600K addition runs through architectural plans, scope review, cost assembly, markup, and submission in roughly 4 to 8 hours of estimator work. A commercial bid for a $4M office TI runs through 3 to 5 days of estimator work with sub-bid solicitation, bonding analysis, and formal submission. The CRM has to respect both workflows without forcing one into the other's shape. Strkr's project-type-specific workflow routing handles this cleanly.
Owner relationships look different in residential vs commercial
Homeowners are individual records; commercial owners are companies.
A residential bid talks to a homeowner (an individual) with a spouse or partner involved in decisions. A commercial bid talks to a property owner (a company) with multiple decision-makers across operations, finance, and executive levels. The contact and account model has to carry both shapes cleanly. Strkr supports both with the same relationship primitive and project-type-specific layout templates.
Lead sources vary wildly
Residential leads from referrals and ads; commercial from relationships and bid lists.
Residential leads come from word-of-mouth referrals, website inquiries, home show leads, and paid search campaigns. Commercial leads come from property manager relationships, broker introductions, and competitive bid lists. The source attribution has to track both shapes to answer "which lead sources actually produce margin." Strkr's lead source attribution handles the mixed portfolio.
Pricing shapes diverge
Residential is itemized by room; commercial is by scope package.
A residential custom home bid organizes pricing by room, by assembly, by allowance item (lighting allowance, countertop allowance, flooring allowance). A commercial bid organizes pricing by trade package (demo, structural, MEP, finishes). The pricing presentation has to respect both forms. Strkr's products module supports both pricing shapes on the same bid tracking object with project-type-specific proposal templates.
Mobile usage differs
Residential rep walks the house; commercial estimator walks the jobsite.
A residential rep walks the house with the homeowner, measuring and taking photos. A commercial estimator walks the jobsite alone or with the GC superintendent. Both benefit from mobile logging but with different content: residential captures scope-decision photos (choose fixture, choose finish); commercial captures as-built conditions and site constraints. Strkr's mobile app supports both with project-type-specific photo-tagging and voice-note prompts.
What Strkr ships for mixed-portfolio GCs
The nine capabilities that cover residential, commercial, and specialty.
The capability set below is drawn from working with GCs running mixed portfolios across $5M to $50M annual revenue. Each capability is designed to handle the full range of project types rather than optimizing for one slice.
Unified bid tracking object
One object with project-type-specific layouts.
The bid tracking object carries universal fields (project name, bid value, bid due date, status, estimator) plus project-type-specific extension fields (residential: lot size, bedroom count, allowance totals; commercial: project type, square footage, bonding flag). The same list view shows all bids with project-type filters. The admin configures layouts per project type without creating multiple objects.
Project-type workflow routing
Different estimator paths for different project types.
A new bid invitation routes through a project-type-specific workflow: residential custom goes to the residential estimator with a 48-hour pursuit decision checklist; commercial goes to the commercial estimator with sub-solicitation and bonding steps; specialty routes to the specialty lead with trade-specific questions. The workflow routing eliminates the "which estimator picks up what" ambiguity that slows mixed-portfolio firms.
Lead source attribution across sources
Referrals, website, home shows, broker intros all tracked.
Lead sources carry the full range: direct referral from client, direct referral from vendor, website inquiry, home show lead, paid search, trade publication, broker intro, property manager referral, competitive bid list. The attribution reports surface which sources actually produce margin by project type, which drives marketing budget decisions.
Flexible pricing structure
Itemized residential and package commercial on the same object.
The products module supports both residential itemized pricing (per room, per assembly, with allowance items) and commercial package pricing (per trade package, with contingency and markup). The proposal template respects the pricing structure for each project type. Residential proposals look like residential proposals; commercial proposals look like commercial proposals.
Mobile bid logging per project type
Walk-the-house for residential, walk-the-site for commercial.
The mobile app runs project-type-specific logging flows. Residential walk-the-house captures scope-decision photos with room tagging, finish-selection photos, and client-conversation voice notes. Commercial walk-the-site captures existing-conditions photos, site-constraint notes, and sub-coordination requirements. Both run offline with queued sync.
Multi-dimensional win rate reporting
Win rate by project type, lead source, estimator, size tier.
The win rate report runs across any combination of project type, lead source, estimator, project size tier, and time period. The firm can answer "what is our win rate on custom residential homes over $750K from direct referral leads in the last 18 months" as a saved view. The mixed-portfolio shape finally has reporting that respects the complexity.
Change order forecasting
Historical change order percentages by project type.
Awarded projects feed change order data back to the bid tracking system. The firm sees average change order percentage by project type, by client type, and by estimator. Future bids carry a projected change order allowance based on the project profile. For firms where change orders drive meaningful margin, this is a planning tool rather than a hopeful estimate.
Subcontractor relationship management
Sub capability, pricing history, and reliability tracked.
Subs the GC uses carry their own account records with capability (trades, project types, geographic coverage), pricing history across prior bids, and reliability metrics (on-time delivery, quality rating from PMs). When a new bid needs a sub for a trade in a area, the recommendation surfaces the matching subs with their recent pricing and reliability signals.
Project-to-bid feedback loop
Actual margin flows back to bid scoring.
Completed projects feed actual margin, schedule performance, change order volume, and client satisfaction back to the bid tracking system. The firm learns which project types, lead sources, and client profiles actually deliver the promised margin. Bid pursuit decisions over time weight toward higher-margin profiles because the data makes the learning visible.
The GC size tiers
How different GC sizes configure Strkr.
The configuration patterns differ across GC size tiers. The breakdown below describes typical setups for small (under 15 employees), mid-sized (15 to 60 employees), and larger (60 to 150 employees) GCs with mixed portfolios.
Small GC (under 15 employees)
Owner plus 1 to 2 estimators handling the full book.
Small GCs typically have the owner handling business development plus 1 to 2 estimators handling the bid work. The configuration focuses on simplicity: unified pursuit view, mobile-first logging, basic win rate reporting. The owner uses the mobile app during site visits and the web app for Monday pursuit reviews. Setup usually runs 2 to 3 weeks because the complexity is bounded.
Mid-sized GC (15 to 60 employees)
Dedicated BD plus estimator team, mixed portfolio.
Mid-sized GCs have a dedicated business development role plus an estimator team of 3 to 8 estimators. The configuration adds workflow routing between BD and estimators, project-type-specific layouts, and multi-dimensional reporting. Lead source attribution becomes a real tool because the firm invests meaningfully in multiple lead channels. Setup runs 4 to 8 weeks with team training.
Larger GC (60 to 150 employees)
Regional offices or market segments with shared infrastructure.
Larger GCs often run multiple offices or distinct market segments (residential division plus commercial division). The configuration adds role-based visibility (regional leads see their region, firm-level leaders see aggregated views), cross-office reporting, and project-type routing with segment ownership. Setup runs 8 to 12 weeks with implementation partner support for larger teams.
Residential-heavy GC
Custom homes and renovations with occasional commercial.
GCs with a 70-percent-plus residential portfolio configure Strkr with residential as the primary layout template and commercial as a secondary. The lead source attribution emphasizes referral tracking, home show leads, and website inquiry sourcing. Mobile logging emphasizes walk-the-house flows with homeowner-involvement tracking.
Commercial-heavy GC
Light commercial and office TIs with occasional residential.
GCs with a 70-percent-plus commercial portfolio configure Strkr with commercial as the primary layout template. The configuration emphasizes sub-bid solicitation integration, bonding capacity tracking (even at the lighter commercial end), and property manager relationship records. Mobile logging emphasizes walk-the-site flows.
Balanced-portfolio GC
True 50/50 or 40/40/20 mix across project types.
Balanced-portfolio GCs benefit most from the project-type-specific workflows because the firm genuinely needs both residential and commercial sides working equally well. The dashboard surfaces portfolio balance per quarter so the leadership can see when one segment is growing or shrinking relative to the plan. Lead source attribution runs across both segments.
What Strkr is not
The scoped limits for general contractors.
Strkr is a bid tracking CRM, not an estimating platform, construction management platform, or accounting system. The surfaces listed below sit outside Strkr's scope by design, with the typical complementary tool noted per surface.
Not an estimating platform
STACK, PlanSwift, Buildxact remain the estimating tools.
Detailed estimating (quantity takeoff, unit pricing, assembly estimating) runs on specialist tools: STACK, PlanSwift, Buildxact, HeavyBid for residential; Sage Estimating, HeavyBid, Trimble for commercial. Strkr integrates with these tools for the final estimate value flow to the bid record. Estimators continue to work in their preferred estimating platform.
Project execution (daily reports, schedule management, change orders, client communication during build, selections, invoicing) runs on construction management platforms: Buildertrend and CoConstruct for residential; Procore and Autodesk Build for commercial. Strkr's role ends at the bid-to-project handoff. The project outcomes flow back for the next bid's context.
Not QuickBooks
Accounting stays in the accounting system.
General contractor accounting runs on QuickBooks, Sage 100 Contractor, Foundation Software, or similar. Strkr integrates with these for job cost tracking and WIP data flow but does not try to replace the accounting surface. A GC adopting Strkr continues to run their chosen accounting platform with the native integration carrying data across.
Not a client portal
Buildertrend and CoConstruct have better client portals.
Residential GCs frequently use Buildertrend or CoConstruct for client-facing portals during build (selections, schedule visibility, change orders, invoicing). Strkr does not try to replicate those portals. The bid tracking happens in Strkr; the client portal happens in the CMP post-award.
Not a scheduling tool
Microsoft Project, Primavera stay for CPM scheduling.
Detailed construction scheduling runs on Microsoft Project (residential and light commercial) or Primavera P6 (larger commercial). Strkr tracks milestone dates for bid purposes but does not try to replicate CPM scheduling. The execution schedule lives in the specialist tool.
Head-to-head
Strkr vs the typical GC stack.
Mixed-portfolio GCs typically run some combination of Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, or a vertical-specific CRM alongside estimating software, construction management platform, and accounting. The table compares Strkr's bid tracking surface against the common status quo.
Feature
Strkr
HubSpot (common SMB GC CRM choice)
Bid tracking object with project-type layouts
Native. Residential and commercial on one object.
Repurposed deal object with manual customization.
Project-type workflow routing
Native.
Via custom workflow configuration.
Mobile walk-the-house or walk-the-site
Native mobile app with project-type flows.
Via mobile wrapper; limited offline.
Multi-dimensional win rate reporting
Native saved views.
Via custom reports.
Lead source attribution
Full range (referral, show, broker, bid list).
Standard sources, extensible.
Change order forecasting from history
Native.
Via custom build.
Flat per-seat pricing
Yes.
Marketing + Sales Hub tiered.
Integration with estimating software
Published patterns for STACK, Buildxact, Sage.
Via Zapier or custom.
Buildertrend or CoConstruct handoff
Native integration patterns.
Via custom build.
Subcontractor relationship tracking
Native with capability and reliability data.
Via custom object.
How teams use Strkr
How general contractors run bid tracking on Strkr.
The patterns below describe GC customer accounts across residential, commercial, and mixed-portfolio firms. Each is paired with the firm profile, the configuration, and the measurable outcome.
Custom residential GC, 12 employees, $8M revenue
Lead source attribution shifted $35K of marketing budget.
A 12-employee custom residential GC had been spending $85K per year on marketing split across home shows, website SEO, paid search, and print advertising. Strkr's lead source attribution surfaced that referrals from past clients drove 72 percent of awarded revenue while paid search drove 8 percent of awards despite 30 percent of marketing spend. The owner shifted $35K of marketing budget from paid search to referral program development (post-project client gift program, referral bonus for past clients). Over the next year, referral-driven awards grew 40 percent while total marketing spend stayed flat.
Mixed-portfolio GC, 35 employees, $22M revenue
Win rate reporting ended the "we chase everything" pattern.
A 35-employee mixed-portfolio GC had been pursuing every bid invitation received, which averaged 180 pursuits per year with a 22 percent win rate. Strkr's multi-dimensional reporting surfaced that the firm had an 8 percent win rate on commercial bids over $5M (against larger regional competitors) and a 38 percent win rate on residential custom work over $1M. The firm redirected effort toward higher-win-rate categories and declined low-win-rate commercial opportunities. The next-year win rate climbed to 32 percent on 140 pursuits, with higher margin on the awarded work.
Residential remodeler, 18 employees, $12M revenue
Change order forecasting improved project margin accuracy.
An 18-employee residential remodeler had been underestimating change order volume on kitchen and bath remodels, which was eating project margin. Strkr's change order forecasting from historical data showed average 15 percent change order load on kitchen remodels and 11 percent on bath remodels. The firm started adding a projected change order allowance to bid pricing, which brought project margin estimates in line with actual margin. The owner reported better ability to make go/no-go decisions on marginal pursuits because the margin math became reliable.
Light commercial GC, 50 employees, $38M revenue
Subcontractor reliability tracking identified three underperforming subs.
A 50-employee light commercial GC had been using the same subs across most projects regardless of past performance. Strkr's subcontractor relationship tracking surfaced three subs with consistently late deliveries and higher-than-average change order volume. The operations lead moved these subs to a secondary rotation and promoted three secondary subs to primary. Over the following year, project schedule performance improved noticeably and the firm reported fewer sub-driven change orders.
Multi-office GC, 90 employees, $55M revenue
Cross-office pursuit visibility ended two accidental competitions.
A 90-employee multi-office GC operated two regional offices with historically siloed pursuit tracking. In the first six months on Strkr, cross-office visibility surfaced two cases where both offices were independently pursuing the same owner with different proposals. The firm coordinated internally to present a single integrated proposal. Both opportunities were awarded (one to each office, by owner choice) at better margin than the fragmented approach would have delivered. The firm instituted a cross-office pursuit visibility ritual as standard practice.
Bid tracking that works across residential, commercial, and specialty on one record.
Start a 14-day trial, import a year of historical bids across your project types, and see the multi-dimensional win rate reporting that mixed-portfolio GCs cannot get elsewhere.
How does Strkr handle residential custom home bidding versus commercial TI bidding on the same system?
The bid tracking object carries project-type-specific layouts, workflow routing, and reporting dimensions. A residential custom home bid shows the residential layout with lot size, bedroom count, allowance totals, and homeowner contact fields. A commercial TI bid shows the commercial layout with square footage, bonding flag, property manager contact, and sub-solicitation integration. The same list view shows both with filters, and the win rate reporting splits by project type so the firm sees performance per segment.
Can Strkr integrate with Buildertrend or CoConstruct for post-bid handoff?
Yes. Strkr publishes integration patterns for Buildertrend, CoConstruct, Procore, Autodesk Build, and Builder Prime. When a bid is awarded, the bid record converts to a project record that syncs to the construction management platform with scope, pricing, timeline, team, and client contact intact. The handoff preserves the bid context so the project team starts informed. Project outcomes (schedule performance, change orders, client satisfaction) flow back to Strkr for the next bid's historical context.
What is the typical onboarding time for a mid-sized GC with mixed portfolio?
A mid-sized GC (15 to 60 employees) with mixed residential and commercial portfolio typically onboards in 4 to 8 weeks. Week 1 to 2: configure the bid tracking object with project-type-specific layouts. Week 2 to 4: import historical bid data, past clients, and subcontractor records. Week 4 to 6: enable integrations with estimating software, construction management platform, and accounting. Week 6 to 8: train the team on web and mobile workflows. Strkr's GC implementation partners can accelerate the timeline for firms wanting hands-on help.
How does Strkr compare to BuilderTrend's built-in CRM?
BuilderTrend's built-in CRM is good for lead-tracking during the sales phase and transitions cleanly into the Buildertrend construction management workflow. It is lighter on bid tracking depth: multi-dimensional reporting, subcontractor relationship management, change order forecasting from history, and advanced pursuit workflow are not the primary focus. The common pattern is Strkr for bid tracking and sales pipeline, BuilderTrend for post-award construction management, with native integration between the two. Firms running the pattern report a cleaner split of concerns than trying to do both in one tool.
Does Strkr handle allowance items in residential bids correctly?
Yes. The products module supports allowance items as a pricing shape with allowance value and markup, which bills differently from fixed-scope line items. The proposal template surfaces allowance items separately from fixed-scope so the homeowner sees the budget target and the selection flexibility. During build, allowance decisions get tracked as modifications against the allowance (over or under), which feeds the project margin tracking. For residential GCs with allowance-heavy pricing shapes, this is a primitive rather than a workaround.
What about one-off specialty projects (ADUs, farm structures, pole barns, dental TIs) that do not fit either residential or commercial patterns cleanly?
The bid tracking object supports custom project-type categories beyond residential and commercial. A GC that does occasional specialty work (restaurant buildouts, dental office TIs, retail refits, farm structures, custom accessory dwelling units) can add a project-type category with its own layout and workflow. The reporting treats each category independently so the firm sees performance per specialty. For firms that span many specialty categories, the configuration remains manageable because the admin layer is low-code.
No sales call, no migration consultant, no four-month implementation. Enter your card, get 14 days of the full Pro tier, cancel any time before day 14 with zero charge. Spin up a workspace, import your CSV, and have something useful before lunch.
We use cookies.
Essential cookies keep the site working. If you accept, we also enable Google Analytics
so we can see which pages help and which don't. Reject to opt out entirely. Details in our
Privacy Policy.
