Not something that would have ever really occurred to me, but when my wife went to the showroom today, they provide access to a TabletPC that also provides access to a real-time budget calculator. So as she went through to make selections for our new home, it was automatically entered into a special web application that sends this info onto the builders. Hence, zero mistakes.

Why in the heck do we not see this sort of commonsense approach with our big box home improvement stores. For contractors, such a feature would be invaluable when planning a home. Yes when you goto (insert name here), you are lucky to find someone to help you, while trying to juggle a pen and paper, using a calculator to stay on budget and then hope you will end up with what you ordered for the home project.

I will tell you right now, the home improvement store that provides this sort of service for home builders (not really for single projects) will make a mint with loyal customers tired of trying to stay on budget with paper and a prayer.