When it comes to remodeling, a design-build company is probably your best option to get the best service, quality and workmanship from beginning to end. Paul DeFeis, senior managing partner at Trade Mark Design & Build, has extensive experience in residential design and discusses the many benefits that a design-build company can offer clients.
Let’s get one thing straight: The design-build method may not focus on saving the owner construction costs. Saying that, it often saves the homeowner money overall. How?
As we point out on our website, the combined effects of carrying a construction loan (which normally carries a higher interest rate than permanent financing does) and an earlier useful online date usually yields considerable overall profitability to the project. That may make projects which initially appeared unfeasible into real opportunities.
Other attributes of design-build are:
- Enhanced communication between the client and the service provider: When you choose a design-build company, that means that the project’s design parameters are developed along with the budgetary goals and construction methods. They are all given equal weight, and as a result, a project is more likely to be realized than with pure design approach.
- Increased accountability by the service provider: Have you ever had a problem occur with your remodeling project, and have your general contractor point the finger at the supplier/builder/architect? With the integrated design-build approach, this doesn’t happen.
- Single source project delivery: Having one entity to deal with is a lot easier – and better – for the owner. Design revisions, budgetary concerns, project feedback, permits, construction issues, even billing can all be routed back through the design-build firm. This single point of contact allows flexibility for the owner, and thus helps design-builders capitalize on it by continually refining the construction program to maximize owner value at the completion of the project.
- Value-based project feedback system: Instead of comparing various bids, design-builders work together with the owner and his other consultants to determine what materials and methods can maximize value. If more expensive materials, designs, or construction methods might yield a higher return on owner investment, the project can undergo a complimentary readjustment without having to rebid.
