Handoff Construction Estimator
1Build, Inc. · Business
Handoff is an AI estimating app for residential contractors. It turns scopes, photos and plans into estimates, proposals and invoices, then runs the admin side of a job.
About Handoff Construction Estimator
What Is Handoff
Handoff is construction estimating software built by 1Build, Inc. for residential contractors. The pitch on its own site is blunt. It calls the product an AI teammate and pitches contractor estimate software at residential work. You describe a job, upload what you have, and Handoff builds the estimate inside the app instead of leaving you to type row after row in a spreadsheet.
The problem it targets is time. A remodeler or handyman can spend hours pricing a single job. The proposal, the signature chase and the invoice eat more hours on top. Handoff moves those steps into one place. Upload drawings, photos or a written scope, and it pulls out square footage, quantities and material lists to build a takeoff-backed estimate. From there, the same job data feeds proposals, scopes of work, invoices and project tracking.
Costs come from supplier catalogs and tracked labor rates that update daily across US cities, and estimates localize to the project's location. The app also connects to Claude, ChatGPT and other assistants through MCP, and offers API access on higher plans.
Two limits are worth knowing early. The pricing table and most AI features sit behind paid plans, with Flex, Pro and Scale as the named tiers, so there's no obvious free forever option for working contractors. And the product is aimed squarely at residential work, not commercial construction.
Getting Started
- Sign up on the Handoff site or download the iOS or Android app, then pick a plan that fits your crew.
- Create a project and add the details you have: a written scope, photos from the walkthrough, or residential plans.
- Let the AI build the estimate, then review the line items, rates and material list before you send anything.
- Turn the estimate into a proposal or scope of work, send it for signature, and track client activity in the same app.
- Invoice from the project when the work starts, with milestone billing and online payment built in.
Product Information
A quick look at Handoff Construction Estimator's pricing, supported platforms, and performance.
Best for
The users, tasks, and scenarios where this tool fits best.
Users
- Remodelers and kitchen and bath contractors
- Handyman contractors
- General contractors and home builders
- Roofers, painters and deck builders
- Small crews that run lean on admin
Tasks
- Building an estimate from a walkthrough
- Turning an estimate into a proposal
- Writing scopes of work
- Generating a material list
- Construction invoicing and getting paid
Scenarios
- Same-day follow-up after a site visit
- A homeowner who needs options
- A job that stalls waiting on a signature
- Books that never reconcile
Key features
AI estimating from your own inputs
Handoff builds estimates from what you give it, whether that's a written scope, photos, voice notes or residential plans. The AI extracts details like square footage, quantities and material lists, then prices the job with rates localized to the project address. The result is a takeoff-backed estimate instead of a blank template you fill in row by row.
AI takeoffs on residential plans
Scale users can upload residential plans up to 7,000 square feet and get a takeoff-backed estimate from the file, which Handoff says averages one to two hours to complete. That matters for builders and remodelers who currently measure plans by hand, and it's the feature most tightly tied to the top plan.
Proposals, scopes and material lists
The same job data feeds every document. Turn a contractor estimate into professional contractor proposals with attachments, digital signatures and client view tracking. Turn it into a scope of work a client or sub can read, or into a material list you can order from. On Scale, proposals can carry custom sections, your own branding and up to five estimate options.
An AI teammate you can talk to
Beyond buttons and forms, Handoff includes a chat-style AI teammate. Ask it to send an invoice, create a scope, update a customer record or answer a question, and it runs the action. The company says it remembers earlier conversations and jobs, so you avoid restating context on every project.
Invoicing, payments and margin protection
Invoices and payments live in the same app as the estimate. You can set milestone billing so money arrives as work gets done, and clients pay online. Card and ACH processing fees are covered by the client rather than your business, and homeowner financing through Acorn Finance lets clients pay over time.
CRM, tracking and integrations
A built-in CRM keeps the pipeline, client activity and follow-up in view, so you know when a proposal was opened or approved. Handoff connects to QuickBooks Online, Google Calendar, MagicPlan and Zapier, and higher plans add API access plus an MCP connection to Claude, ChatGPT or another compatible assistant.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Estimating, proposals, invoices and project tracking sit in one app, so job data carries through instead of a second entry somewhere.
- Cost data comes from supplier catalogs and labor rates that update daily across US cities, and estimates localize to the project address.
- The AI teammate handles admin actions like invoices and CRM updates through conversation, not just form filling.
- Card and ACH fees are covered by the client, and homeowner financing is available, which helps protect a contractor's margin.
- Integrations with QuickBooks Online, Google Calendar, MagicPlan and Zapier keep the app inside an existing workflow.
Cons
- No free plan is listed for working contractors, so you're paying on Flex, Pro or Scale before the tools earn their keep.
- Exact plan prices aren't published on the site; the pricing table runs on a quote or contact step rather than a simple monthly number.
- AI takeoffs, which many builders want most, are limited to the Scale plan and to residential plans of 7,000 square feet or below.
- The product targets residential work, so commercial contractors likely won't find the scope they need.
- Several AI features depend on credits, and the company ties unlimited credits to Pro and above, so lighter plans cap how much you can lean on the AI.
Frequently asked questions
Handoff is AI estimating software for residential contractors. It builds estimates from scopes, photos and plans, then turns that data into proposals, scopes of work, material lists, invoices and project tracking in the same app.
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