Notification Settings and SMS
Staying informed about what's happening in your business shouldn't require you to constantly check BuilderMate. The notification system lets you choose exactly which events you hear about and how — through email, in-app alerts, or SMS. And for Admins, BuilderMate's SMS features go well beyond simple notifications, giving you a full messaging toolkit for client communication.
Who Can Access This
- All users can configure their own notification preferences.
- SMS features (Inbox, Bulk SMS, Templates, Automations) are Admin only.
Notification Preferences
Where to Find It
Navigate to Settings > Notifications.
How It Works
Each notification type can be independently enabled or disabled across three channels:
- Email — sent to your account email address.
- In-App — appears in your BuilderMate notification panel.
- SMS — sent as a text message (requires connected phone number).
These are personal preferences — each user configures their own. Changing your settings does not affect anyone else on your team.
Notification Types
| Event | What It Means | |-------|---------------| | Quote Change Requests | A client requested changes to a quote | | Quote Approvals | A client approved and signed a quote | | Quote Opened | A client viewed a quote for the first time | | Contract Signed | A client or sub signed a contract | | Bid Submissions | A subcontractor submitted a bid | | Subcontractor Expiration Alerts | Insurance or license expiring — sent 15 days before and on the expiration date | | Purchase Order Signed | A sub confirmed and signed a PO |
Pro Tip: At minimum, enable notifications for Quote Approvals and Contract Signed so you can act on client decisions immediately. These are time-sensitive events where a fast response makes a great impression.
In-App Notifications
How They Work
- Click the bell icon in the top-right corner of BuilderMate to open the notification panel.
- The bell displays an unread count badge.
- Each notification includes a title, message, and a link to the related record.
- Click a notification to mark it as read and navigate directly to the relevant page.
- Notifications are ordered most recent first.
SMS Features
BuilderMate includes a full suite of SMS tools for communicating with clients. These features require a connected phone number (via Twilio or Telnyx) — contact BuilderMate support for setup.
SMS Inbox
A two-way messaging interface where you can have text conversations with individual clients. Messages are threaded by client, so you can see the full conversation history in one place.
Bulk SMS
Send mass text messages to filtered groups of clients. You can target recipients by:
- Lead status (e.g., all "Follow Up" leads)
- Project type (e.g., all kitchen remodel clients)
- Other available filters
This is ideal for seasonal promotions, company announcements, or re-engaging cold leads.
SMS Templates
Create reusable text message templates organized by category:
- General
- Follow-up
- Reminder
- Greeting
- Thank-you
- Appointment
- Estimate
- Project-update
Templates support variable substitution, so you can include dynamic fields like client name, project address, or appointment time that fill in automatically when the message is sent.
SMS Automations
Set up automated text messages triggered by specific events:
- Appointment reminders — sent a configurable number of hours before the appointment.
- Follow-up sequences — sent after an appointment or after sending an estimate.
- Project milestone notifications — sent when a project reaches a certain status.
For each automation, you configure the timing — how many minutes before or after the trigger event the message should be sent.
Good to Know: Automations run in the background once configured. Review them periodically to make sure the timing and messaging still match your current process.
TCPA Compliance
BuilderMate automatically handles opt-out compliance for SMS:
- If a client replies "STOP", they're added to an opt-out list.
- No further automated messages will be sent to that number.
- This tracking is automatic — you don't need to manage it manually.
This keeps your business in compliance with TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) regulations.
Setting Up SMS
SMS features require a connected phone number through Twilio or Telnyx. To get started:
- Contact BuilderMate support for setup assistance.
- Once your phone number is connected, SMS features become available under your Settings.
Good to Know
- Notification preferences are per-user. Remind your team to configure their own preferences — the defaults may not match everyone's workflow.
- In-app notifications persist until you read them, so you won't miss anything even if you're away for a few days.
- SMS automations and bulk messaging only work with a connected phone number. Without one, you can still use email and in-app notifications.
- Review your SMS templates regularly to keep messaging fresh and relevant.