What Is a Design Build?
Choosing to design-build your next home means that the builder or firm you work with to build your home is also responsible for the architectural design and approval of your home in addition to the construction.
One cannot think of early American history apart from being reminded of such key figures as Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, or Abe Lincoln; each with the image of a log cabin or log home close at hand.
In the traditional design-bid-build model you went to an architectural firm to have your home plans drawn up and then shopped the plans to builders willing to bid on the project. The design-build delivery model combines the architectural planning and approvals as well as the building responsibility into one entity simplifying things for the future owner of the home.
Why would I want to do a design-build?
A design-build has several key advantages over a design-bid-build or just buying a spec home that has been built in the hopes somebody will like it and buy it. With a spec home you only have limited input into architectural features, they are building the house to their plan.
In a design-bid-build there is no single point of accountability. If one wall is too short, it could be the architect's mistake, the framer's mistake, or a problem with the foundation. In a design-build home if there is a problem, you talk to your builder, he/she is your point of contact and accountability.
Advantages of a design-build
- Single point of contact, increased accountability from the builder/company
- Cost savings due to one company designing and building, less labor trying to understand plans or figure out drawings
- Time is saved with one firm handling the plans, permitting, and work scheduling
- Flexibility to make changes while in process
- Improved quality as reputable design-builders have quality sub contractors, usually regulars they use on most of their projects
Disadvantages of design-build
- Cost estimating can be difficult as bidding is on preliminary information
- With flexibility comes the opportunity for mistakes, changing things midstream can change permitting, costs, and timelines
- Projects can run over budget quickly if your firm is not reputable and your home ends up with lots of additional costs or upgrades.
Tips for selecting your design-build Builder or Firm you want to build your house
When looking for a company or builder to design-build your home check to see if they have built the home you are looking for before or built one similar? If they have built similar model it will be relatively easy for them to modify the plan. They also will understand the permitting process as well as might have ideas of what could be done better with the design.
Check references of any potential builder, ask for two positives and one not so positive. What went right, what when wrong with the design-build jobs? How long have they been in business designing and building homes? Do they have any homes you could view? Have they built anything similar to what you are looking for? What type of interior finishing products do they use? Can you see yourself working closely with this person for 3 months?
Design-building your home can save you time, money, and stress. Make sure you do your homework and find a quality individual or company to do business with and you will end up with a beautiful home you are happy with.
By listing your design build project on TrustedPros.com you can have quality builders compete for the right to design build your home, saving you even more money and time. Find a builder who is familiar with building the plan you want and even get references from home owners who have worked previously with the builder. Membership to TrustedPros.com is free with no obligation.
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