Design build in home remodeling offers many advantages that can truly transform your project. By seamlessly integrating architectural design, product selection and construction, this approach ensures a smooth transition across every phase of construction – from design and budget control to completion.
What is Design-Build Remodeling?
Design build remodeling is a construction approach where a single entity, known as the design-build team, takes charge of both the design and construction phases of a project. This method contrasts the traditional design-bid-build approach, where an architect or designer is hired separately from the contractor.
Benefits of Design Build Remodeling
When it comes to remodeling your home, the design build approach offers several distinct advantages over traditional methods.
One Team. Less Headaches
One of the key advantages of design build home remodeling is having a single point of contact. This means that homeowners only need to communicate with one team throughout the project. This consolidated communication eliminates the back-and-forth between various contractors, architects and suppliers, making the process more straightforward and less stressful for the homeowner.
A Collaborative Approach
Another compelling advantage is the collaborative nature of the design build approach. This unified approach can lead to better problem-solving, more creative design solutions and an outcome that more accurately reflects your original vision. Additionally, since the construction part of the team works with the design team, the construction team can provide knowledgable input to the designers to help control the cost to build what the designers design.
Accurate Communication
Another advantage offered by the design build approach is accurate communication. With traditional construction, the separate hiring of an architect and a construction team can often lead to confusion and miscommunication. However, in design build, an open communication process is maintained throughout. From product selections and cost estimates to schedules and difficult to execute installations, every detail is shared with the team and the homeowner so the owner is not surprised with the final project cost or how products will look when installed. This open communication allows for any issues to be addressed immediately and for adjustments to be made promptly.
Increased Efficiency
The collaborative nature of the design build method allows for quicker decision-making, as all key parties are involved from the project’s inception. This holistic approach not only speeds up the remodeling process but also helps prevent potential conflicts and delays that could arise from miscommunication.
Cost Savings
Adopting the design build method for home remodeling can also lead to significant cost savings. With traditional methods, any changes to the design during the construction phase can result in increased costs due to change orders. However, in the design build approach, the design and construction teams work together from the beginning, making it easier to estimate costs accurately and avoid unforeseen expenses. Consequently, homeowners are provided with a realistic budget from the outset, helping them make more informed financial decisions as the team works their way to the final plan and specifications.
Synchronized Results
Lastly, the design build approach results in a fine-tuned experience. Since the design and construction teams are working under one roof, they can synchronize their efforts to uphold high standards throughout every project phase. This allows for the seamless transition from design to construction, ensuring a final product that meets and often exceeds homeowners’ expectations and stays on budget.
Potential Challenge to Design-Build: Selecting a Contractor
While design build offers numerous benefits, a potential challenge for homeowners could be selecting a suitable contractor. It is essential to choose a design build firm with a proven track record, technical expertise and positive customer reviews. Ensure that they understand your vision and can execute it effectively while maintaining open lines of communication. And above all else, pick one you feel comfortable around. Remember, the right contractor can make your home remodeling experience smoother and more enjoyable.
Why Choose Design Build over a General Contractor?
We get this question a lot, and the best way to explain the difference is in this fashion. In a traditional construction project, the general contractor will construct a box without knowing how things fit inside. The homeowner often ends up spending many hours shopping (purchasing) all the items that go into the box only to find out their selection is not compatible with the design or needs additional accessories, does not operate as expected or requires much more labor to install, like intricate tile work or complicated plumbing fixtures. This can lead to extended project duration, cost overruns and sometimes regrets that you ever decided to do the project.
Where Design-Bid-Build Works
A talented, thorough architect can develop very detailed plans, specifications and assembly diagrams. These plans take a lot of time and can cost tens of thousands of dollars. These plans can be sent out for bid to general contractors. Once the plans are completed, the REAL budget is determined when the general contractors can review the plans. As long as the general contractors (bidding on the project) are detail-oriented personalities and have enough time to become very familiar with a plan they had no input in developing, the owner can end up putting together a winning team. The hard part is, unfortunately, the money. The amount of money invested into developing detailed plans, specifications, and assembly diagrams at the architecture wage scale can cut into the construction budget (it frequently does). However, if one can handle this method financially, it is a sound way for a successful project.
Remodeling can be an emotional journey of highs and lows. With design-build, you spend time planning your project up front so the rest of the project is streamlined, and you have a hopefully no-surprises project. However, if you enjoy chaos and stress in your life, I highly recommend starting a remodeling project without a complete plan, specifications and budget!
The next time you consider a home remodeling project, why not explore the design-build approach? With a single point of contact and a streamlined home remodeling process, our team of experienced professionals will be with you every step of the way. Contact us to schedule a consultation.