CoConstruct built its early reputation with home remodelers. Kitchen and bath specialists, design build firms, and whole home renovators loved the selection sheets, the client portal, and the way the platform handled change orders. Then Buildertrend acquired CoConstruct in 2021 and the roadmap became "we are unifying the products." That has left a lot of remodelers looking for what is next.
Quick Answer: CoConstruct is a mature project management tool for remodelers, now being absorbed into Buildertrend at roughly 399 to 799 per month per Buildertrend pricing. MiOpsAI is a unified operations platform starting at 399 per month that replaces CoConstruct plus QuickBooks add ons plus Slack plus a CRM, and adds AI operators (Lizzi, Milo, Mac, Julia) that handle coordination work for you. For most remodelers doing 8 to 30 projects a year, MiOpsAI cuts total software spend by 40 to 60 percent while removing the need for a dedicated project coordinator role.
This is not a takedown of CoConstruct. It is a tool that solved a real problem well for a decade. The question in 2026 is different: given where the product is going after the Buildertrend acquisition and what AI native platforms can now do, is another project management silo really the right buy for a modern remodeler?
Where CoConstruct still shines
- Selection sheets. The specification and selection workflow was CoConstruct's original superpower. If your business runs on tile choices, cabinet options, and finish schedules, this is a mature feature set.
- Client facing portal. Homeowners loved the branded portal for approvals during CoConstruct's heyday. Adoption plateaued around 50 to 60 percent, but for the homeowners who engaged, it worked.
- Familiar to legacy users. If your team already knows CoConstruct, retraining has a cost. This is a legitimate reason to stay put, but it should be weighed against the strategic direction of the product.
- Change order workflow. Formal change order documentation with client sign off has been solid since day one.
Where the wheels come off in 2026
- Product uncertainty. The CoConstruct brand is being merged into Buildertrend. Your feature roadmap is now Buildertrend's roadmap. See coconstruct.com for the current unified positioning. Legacy CoConstruct customers report a mixed migration experience.
- Finance disconnect. Job cost data still lives partly in CoConstruct, partly in QuickBooks, partly in a spreadsheet. Real time margin visibility requires manual reconciliation.
- No AI operators. The platform still assumes a human coordinator retypes information across systems. In 2026, that is a growing competitive disadvantage.
- Communication sprawl. Homeowners email. Subs text. The office uses Slack. Nothing unifies the conversation. CoConstruct captures what someone remembers to log, not what actually happened.
- Sub adoption. Same portal problem as Buildertrend. Trades don't log in. Selection sheets get emailed to subs as PDFs, defeating the point of the portal.
Feature by feature comparison
| Capability | CoConstruct (Buildertrend) | MiOpsAI |
|---|---|---|
| Project scheduling | Yes | Yes (Milo chair) |
| Selection sheets | Yes (mature) | Yes (via Milo and templates) |
| Change orders | Yes | Yes with AI drafted narrative |
| Client portal | Yes | Yes (branded per project) |
| Subcontractor communication | In app messaging | Native email + SMS via Lizzi |
| CRM (lead to contract) | Basic | Full CRM included |
| Real time job margin | Requires QuickBooks sync + spreadsheet | Yes (Mac chair) |
| AI drafted client communication | No | Yes (Lizzi drafts, you approve) |
| Contract and legal review | No | Yes (Julia chair) |
| E signature | Included | Included |
| Starting price | 399 per month | 399 per month |
The daily workflow difference
Here is the concrete difference for a remodeler running four active kitchen projects and two whole home renovations:
CoConstruct workflow. Homeowner emails a question about the tile selection. Office coordinator sees the email, logs into CoConstruct, opens the project, finds the selection sheet, retypes the question in the client portal, waits for the homeowner to log in and respond. Sub texts the super about a schedule conflict. Super forwards the text to the coordinator. Coordinator retypes it into the CoConstruct schedule. Change order for the extended electrical work? Draft in CoConstruct, PDF to client, wait for them to log in and sign, retype the schedule impact. Elapsed time per touch: 15 to 30 minutes each.
MiOpsAI workflow. Homeowner emails a question. Lizzi reads it, matches it to the selection sheet, drafts a response, flags the office coordinator with the draft. Coordinator reviews and hits send in one click. Sub texts the super. Lizzi reads the SMS thread (with permission), updates Milo's schedule, and flags the office if the change affects the critical path. Change order? Julia drafts the language, Mac attaches the cost impact, Lizzi sends signature link, follows up automatically. Elapsed time per touch: 2 to 5 minutes each.
Across a 20 project active load, the compounding savings measured in coordinator hours per week is dramatic. Most remodelers we work with reclaim 15 to 25 hours of coordinator time in the first month.
Where MiOpsAI is not the right fit
MiOpsAI is not the right choice if you are a commercial GC over 100 million in volume (look at Procore, see procore.com), if you refuse to use email or SMS as your primary communication channels, or if you need offline first field data collection in areas with no cell service. For 95 percent of custom remodelers, none of those exclusions apply. If you are a JobTread evaluator, see jobtread.com for their alternative approach.
Cost of switching
Remodelers switching from CoConstruct to MiOpsAI typically go live in 3 to 4 weeks. We import active projects, connect the inbox, and stand up the AI operators against your existing selection templates and change order playbooks. Direct migration cost is included in onboarding. See the Command Center page for how the operators handle handoffs. Ready to compare on your actual projects? Request Access.
A common concern from CoConstruct veterans: "My selection sheet templates are years of refinement. Will they carry over?" Yes. During onboarding we import your existing selection templates and Milo runs them without you having to rebuild.
The AI operator angle
The strategic argument for MiOpsAI over CoConstruct in 2026 is not really about features. Both platforms will let you manage projects and communicate with clients. The strategic argument is about leverage. CoConstruct is a system where humans do the work and the software records it. MiOpsAI is a system where AI operators do meaningful work and humans review. For a small remodeler that means being able to compete on responsiveness and coordination quality without hiring more people. Details on the residential construction page.
Industry data
The National Association of Home Builders tracks remodeler operational metrics annually. The median remodeler operates at overhead percentages 20 to 30 percent higher than the top quartile, and the gap is largely driven by coordination inefficiency. The Construction Marketing Association has published similar findings on lead response times and their impact on close rates.
The selection sheet workflow in detail
Selection sheets are what CoConstruct was famous for. Here is how MiOpsAI handles the same workflow. Milo templates by project type (kitchen remodel, bath remodel, whole home) come loaded with standard selection categories: cabinets, countertops, tile, plumbing fixtures, lighting, appliances, hardware, paint. Each selection has a spec, a target allowance, and a decision deadline. When the homeowner picks something, Mac calculates the delta from allowance. If the delta triggers a change order (positive delta above threshold), Julia auto drafts the change order and Lizzi routes it for signature. The workflow that used to take three separate tools (CoConstruct for the selection sheet, Docusign for the signature, QuickBooks for the cost impact) happens in one thread.
Design build firm considerations
Design build firms have a specific challenge: the design phase and the construction phase have completely different workflows, and most platforms handle one better than the other. CoConstruct was built for construction with design bolted on. Buildertrend same. MiOpsAI handles both natively because the platform is workflow agnostic; design decisions, construction decisions, and homeowner approvals all flow through the same thread with different templates. Design firms report significant time savings on the handoff from design phase to construction phase because there is no handoff; the project record is continuous.
The remodeler client education problem
Custom remodelers spend a lot of energy educating clients on the process: what happens in each phase, what decisions are needed when, what the timeline looks like. Traditional platforms don't help with this. Lizzi can be configured to send phase transition education emails automatically: when a project moves from framing to MEP, the client gets an email explaining what is about to happen, what decisions are still open, and what to expect for the next two weeks. This is high leverage for client relationship and dramatically reduces the number of "what happens next" calls.
Handling design changes vs scope changes
Remodels have two distinct types of change: design changes (client wants a different tile) and scope changes (walls come down and reveal something unexpected). Both are change orders, but they have different origins and different client conversations. MiOpsAI's Julia handles both with different template language: design changes reference the selection sheet, scope changes reference the discovery. This is a subtle workflow win but remodelers who have lived through disputes appreciate the distinction.
The referral and repeat client engine
Most successful remodelers get 40 to 60 percent of their annual revenue from past clients and referrals. This channel dies quietly on most platforms because there is no systematic follow up after project completion. Lizzi runs a post project cadence: 30 day punch list check, 60 day settlement check, 6 month referral request, 1 year warranty check, annual holiday touch. All in your voice, all logged, all opportunities to generate the next project or referral.
Migration timeline for a typical remodeler
A 15 person remodeling firm doing 8 to 12 whole home and kitchen remodels concurrently typically completes migration in 4 to 5 weeks. Week 1 is discovery and data audit: we look at every active project, every homeowner, every subcontractor relationship, every historical selection template you have refined over years. Week 2 is the historical data import, including project archives from CoConstruct going back as far as you want. Week 3 is voice training and workflow setup: Lizzi learns your communication patterns, Julia learns your contract language, Mac learns your job cost structure. Week 4 is soft launch on new projects. Active projects transition at natural milestones (post demo, post rough, post finish) over the following 4 to 8 weeks. Total time from decision to fully consolidated: 8 to 12 weeks.
What former CoConstruct users say after 90 days
The three consistent comments we hear from remodelers 90 days after migrating from CoConstruct: (1) "I have my Friday afternoons back," because the coordination work that used to consume the end of the week now happens continuously. (2) "The homeowners like it more," because email works better than a portal for most homeowners. (3) "I am running more projects with the same team," because AI operators absorb the coordination scaling that would otherwise require adding office headcount. See the residential construction industry page for detailed workflow examples.
The specific selection sheet migration process
Selection sheets are a specific migration concern for CoConstruct veterans. Our approach: export your existing selection templates from CoConstruct in whatever format the platform provides, then Milo templates are built to match. For each active project mid selection phase, we import the current selection state (what has been picked, what is still open, what has been signed off) so nothing gets lost in the handoff. Homeowners in mid selection see no disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will CoConstruct still exist in 2027?
The CoConstruct brand has already been merged into Buildertrend marketing. Existing customers are being migrated over time. Legacy CoConstruct features that overlap with Buildertrend are being consolidated to the Buildertrend version. If you value predictable roadmap ownership, that is a signal.
Can I export my CoConstruct data?
Yes. CoConstruct supports data export and MiOpsAI's onboarding team handles the import including project history, selection sheets, contact lists, and change order records.
Do homeowners see a real portal in MiOpsAI or just email?
Both. Every project gets a branded portal for approvals, selection review, and progress photos. Homeowners can also just reply to email, and Lizzi routes it back into the project record. Most homeowners use email for daily questions and the portal for formal approvals.
What about my QuickBooks?
MiOpsAI's Mac chair can replace most builder QuickBooks use cases (job costing, invoicing, bill coordination, real time margin). Some remodelers keep QuickBooks for advanced accounting and let MiOpsAI drive the operational flow. Both configurations work. See the residential construction page.
How does the AI actually help on a remodel?
Three high leverage moments: drafting responses to homeowner selection questions in the right voice, catching schedule conflicts between subs before they surface as delays, and flagging when a change order's true cost impact will push you past your target margin. Lizzi handles the first, Milo the second, Mac the third.
Is there a free trial?
No. MiOpsAI does not offer trials. You get a customized walkthrough on your actual workflow, and cancellation requires 60 day written notice. See pricing.
How does MiOpsAI handle selection sheets specifically?
Milo runs selection workflows using either your imported templates or fresh ones built during onboarding. Each selection has a spec, a target price, an allowance, and an approval workflow. When the client picks an upgrade over allowance, Mac flags the margin impact and Julia auto drafts the change order if needed.
Ready to compare on your own projects
If you are a remodeler and CoConstruct's absorption into Buildertrend has you rethinking your stack, this is the year to look at what a unified, AI native platform can do. Request Access for a walkthrough on your own project data. Related reading: Buildertrend alternatives for custom home builders. More on the residential construction industry page.