Cousins Wally Remmers and Dennis Sackhoff, founders of Portland, Ore.-based Arbor Custom Homes, needed accounting software that would help them build their fledgling two-person company into a successful production home builder.
Timberline's module-based software allows companies to buy just what they need initially, while providing the ability to add to their Timberline Office as the company grows. Each of the applications within Timberline look, feel and respond similarly, making it easy to learn initially with no need to relearn the basics when it comes time to add something new.
Software "a thing of beauty"
Arbor Homes chose to rely on Timberline, something controller Diane Jarvis says they have never regretted for the more than 10 years of staying on top of accounting, estimating and the home building processes.
"Timberline is really progressive in terms of depth and comprehensiveness of the program. There are a lot of decisions to be made during setup, but once you're up and using it, Timberline is a thing of beauty," Jarvis says.
Enhanced sub and supplier relations
Jarvis says one of the biggest benefits from Timberline accounting software is how it makes it easy to manage relationships with subcontractors and suppliers.
"It's really very easy to find out if you've paid someone or not and give them the appropriate information," Jarvis says.
She also uses Timberline to track insurance and contractor licensing information. She says she finds it especially helpful that the software alerts her if she's entering an invoice for a subcontractor whose insurance or contractor's license has expired. That keeps Arbor Homes' own liability insurance in check.
"It's a cost savings to us to be able to rigorously track these things," she says.
Efficiencies make us look good
Timberline also simplified how Arbor Homes retrieves and analyzes financial data. Jarvis says that when she gets a call from a bank, it takes just minutes to get information such as how many homes have closed in a certain period or how many upgrades they have.
"We communicate better. And people saying 'Wow, these guys are really on the ball' is good for business." she says.
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