People who have never built a home before are often surprised to realize that the process occurs in phases, regardless of the specific details of the build. There is the design phase and the building phase.
Before building begins, someone experienced in designing and building homes must help you turn your ideas into concrete plans and bring them to life. Some people rely on several home-building professionals to make this happen, while others want to put the process in the hands of a single person. This is the case with a design-build contractor.
A design-build contractor brings the design and construction sides of the project together, giving homeowners one team to work with from the earliest planning stages through completion.
What should you know about the design-build process, and how do you determine if it’s right for you?
Working with a Design-Build Contractor
With a design-build contractor, you get a team responsible for both the design and construction phases of your project under a single contract. Instead of having an architect and a general contractor as separate entities, both are under a single roof.
This doesn’t mean the contractor designs your home, but it does mean that everyone involved in the process is working under the same umbrella. Even if the contractor and designer don’t work for a single employer, they are under a single contract for building your home.
How Does the Process Work?
Constructing a home with a design-build contractor includes the following steps:
Initial Consultation and Planning
During this phase, you discuss your property, lifestyle and budget, as well as how you envision your home. This stage allows the designer to identify practical or financial issues before finalizing the design.
Design Development
Once they’ve received your input, the design team develops your home’s plans and specifications. This includes determining the floor plan, the room sizes, the home’s exterior appearance and more.
Budget and Refinement
The design of your home evolves as choices and budgetary adjustments are made. There are several reasons why people choose the design-build contractor option, but this stage is one of the major reasons. It ensures that construction experts are involved in the design phase, reducing the risk of problems arising once construction begins.
Construction
Once plans are finalized, construction begins. The design team continues to coordinate with the construction team throughout the build.
Benefits of Working with a Design-Build Contractor
There are several major benefits of choosing a design-build contractor when building a home. For instance:
- It gives you one point of contact, so you won’t have to work as the go-between for your designer and construction team.
- It reduces the risk of design and construction conflicts. It doesn’t mean there won’t be any problems during the project, but it does mean that professionals from both phases of your project are working together to prevent avoidable issues.
- It removes the bidding phase of a project and gives you more flexibility with your budget. Traditional design-bid-build contracts begin with a design phase and then invite construction companies to bid. If the bids are out of your budget, you’re forced to return to the design phase and make adjustments, which can be disappointing and time-consuming.
How to Choose a Design-Build Contractor
When choosing a design-build contractor, you’ll want to ensure they:
- Have experience with design and construction
- Communicate clearly and provide frequent updates
- Work with professional, specialized subcontractors
- Provide references from previous clients
- Offer a clear contract that includes details about responsibilities, pricing, scope and how adjustments are made
Is Design-Build Right for You?
Before choosing design-build for your custom home, it’s important to consider your options and find a company capable of handling both the design and building phases of your project. Also, take the time to understand exactly what services are included and how the company will manage your project from the initial concept through completion.
Working with the right company can help you consolidate these phases into a single contract and reduce the legwork you’ll need to do when creating your dream home.
DeCarli Contractors often manages the entire design/build process for clients. If you already have plans in hand, that’s fine too. To learn more or to speak to someone about how you could benefit from working with a design-build contractor, contact us today.
