Tradespeople and agreements
Keep contact details, quotes and agreements for everyone you use. Call or e-mail straight from the contact card.
Self-build
For people who manage their own build
When you hire tradespeople directly, you are the project manager. You keep track of agreements, progress, payments and documents – often next to a full-time job. MinePlaner gives you one place for all of it, and a record you will be glad to have for years.
Budget against actual cost
Set an estimate per item, record actual costs and payments, and see what is left.
Site diary with weather
Write a few lines about what happened, add photos and get the weather filled in automatically. Milestones become a timeline.
Handover documents and warranties
Keep data sheets, manuals and warranties – with a reminder before a warranty runs out.
What being a self-builder means
As a self-builder you take the role a main contractor would otherwise have: you choose the trades, coordinate the order of work, follow up quality and progress and pay as you go. It can save a lot of money, but it needs order.
The usual problem is not the craftsmanship but the information: quotes in e-mails, drawings in several versions, receipts in a drawer and photos scattered across phones. When something goes wrong, it is hard to show what was agreed.
Five habits that make building easier
You do not need heavy project software. Doing a few things consistently is enough:
- Write two lines in the site diary every day something happens – who was there, what was done, what was decided.
- Photograph pipes, wiring and structure before walls are closed. They are invaluable for repairs and when selling.
- Always upload the latest drawing and mark the revision.
- Record every payment with its date, so the budget shows what has really been spent.
- Save warranties and data sheets as soon as you get them.
The budget: estimate, actual and paid
A good build budget separates three numbers: what you expected an item to cost, what it actually cost, and how much has been paid. The gap between estimate and actual tells you early if the project is heading over budget, while paid and remaining tell you how much cash you need ahead.
MinePlaner can suggest a rough estimate per package from your drawings, with local prices including labour – a useful starting point for comparing quotes from tradespeople.
Handover documents – for you and the next owner
Keep data sheets, installation guides, warranties, declarations of conformity and as-built drawings. When something needs repairing in ten years, or the house is sold, this is the paperwork that counts.
With MinePlaner you can download the whole project as a ZIP file with folders and hand over a tidy record.
Guides for people who build
House-building budget: template and common mistakes
How to set up a house-building budget: items, estimate against actual cost, payments, contingency and currency – and the common mistakes that break budgets.
Site diary: what to write – with a template
Why you should keep a site diary, what it should contain, a simple daily template – and how photos and weather make the diary valuable for years.
Frequently asked questions
Is MinePlaner made for professional project managers?
MinePlaner is made for private clients and self-builders who want order without heavy project software. Tradespeople and advisers can get their own links without an account.
Can tradespeople upload photos?
Yes. You can make a link that lets the recipient upload photos and video to a chosen collection, for example "Wiring before closing walls".
How do I get my documents out again?
Download the whole project as a ZIP file with folders for drawings, documents, photos and budget, and export the budget as CSV.
What happens if I stop paying?
The project becomes read-only and its website is hidden, but the content is kept for 90 days so you can download everything or reactivate.
Ready to show off your project?
30 days free. No card. €45 a year per project if you want to continue.