In a traditional “design-bid-build” model, the client must hire an architectural designer to draw plans and separately hire a general contractor to build the plans. This can leave the client in an uncomfortable position as the middleman when issues arise on the job site. Even just simple differences of opinion between the two entities can be difficult for the client to navigate.
On the other hand, a “design-build” firm is a company that manages both the architectural design and the construction phases of a project. This unifies the entire process by keeping the design team and construction team “under one roof”, with both teams are working together with one common goal in mind. For the project to be considered a success and for the firm to succeed, both the design and construction must work together. This means that the construction team has input in the design process and, as well, the design team may be making site visits and adjustments as needed once construction is underway.
This “one stop shopping” approach fundamentally changes the level of execution of the project and the stress levels of a home renovation or new build by providing several key advantages. The first and probably most obvious advantage is that there is a single point of responsibility. If a problem arises on the job site during construction, the build team will handle it directly with their in-house design staff. This eliminates finger pointing and disputes between different entities. One company is responsible for it all.
Another often overlooked advantage of a design-build firm is the ability to design to a realistic budget. Stand alone architectural designers can create beautiful plans, but those plans are rarely tied to the daily fluctuation of material and labor costs. To be fair, it’s not their job to price jobs, so why would they be expected to be up to date on current costs? With a design-build firm, the build team is reviewing conceptual drawings early on, helping to ensure the final project aligns with the real-world budget. This stops clients from falling in love with (and paying for) a plan that is unbuildable for their price point.
Utilizing a design-build firm can also help to realize fewer cost surprises. Because the same team that came to document and measure the project is the same team designing the project is the same team estimating the project and is the same team building the project, they are more likely to uncover structural hurdles and construction realities before breaking out the first nail. This helps to mitigate expensive, mid-project change orders that traditionally derail construction budgets.
Here at Custom Dwellings, not only are we a design-build firm that unifies the design and build process under one roof, but we are also a husband-and-wife team. So, the whole process is really handled under one roof. Well, technically two roofs, the office roof and the home roof. We are where design and build are married. Literally.