Design/Build

Some of the benefits to using the Design/Build method are:

• Single-Source Accountability. The responsibility for the design, project budget, and timeline to completion is placed with a single entity, in this case the Design/Builder. It is our responsibility to subcontract with the architect or residential designer who is best able to satisfy the design needs of our client, and to convey all project information to them. This allows our clients the freedom to concentrate their energies on what they want in their home, instead of spending it on coordination between the various design entities.
  
  
• Increased Quality. Involving the Design/Builder during project design adds an additional layer of responsibility for ensuring that the plans are free from errors and omissions. Having the builder involved throughout the design process provides an extra set of eyes to catch errors before construction actually begins. This greatly reduces last-minute change-orders in the field. Our experience has shown that we can achieve a higher level of quality when the frequency of post-design changes is minimized.
  
  
• Time Savings. One of the first things we do after contracting with a new client is generate a schedule for constructing their new home. Often, this schedule is based on a specific move-in date. The entire process, from the initial design through completion, is geared toward adhering to this schedule. Many tasks, such as requests-for-proposals from subcontractors, are begun early in the design phase, instead of after design completion. The net effect is a process that takes less time to complete than a traditional Design/Bid/Build method of construction.
  
  
• Cost Savings. This is an area where the Design/Build process can provide great benefit to our clients. Design elements are frequently added to homes that, while aesthetically pleasing, are simply beyond the budget of our clients. It is our job to help our clients clearly define the items most important to them in the design of their new home. The difficult decisions of choosing design elements that most cost-effectively keep to the spirit of the project become easier for our clients. We also practice a design method known as Value-Engineering. This involves slightly altering a project's dimensions and its structural elements to lower construction costs. The net effect can be a cost savings of tens of thousands of dollars on building materials and construction labor. Value-Engineering also translates into reduced environmental impact.
  
  
• Reduced Risk. Involvement of the Design/Builder at the beginning of the project allows the scope of the project and its timeline for completion to be clearly defined before the plans are released for final cost estimates. The Design/Builder is also able to choose which subcontractor is the best match for each phase of the project. Price is not always the most important factor at this point. Quality of work and adherence to the schedule are as important as the overall cost. By using the Design/Build method, change-orders, errors, and plan-omissions are virtually eliminated. Estimates become more accurate, quality is increased, schedules are kept, and projects are completed within budget.
  
  

For more information, contact us.