DESIGN/BUILD
Design/build what are the advantages?
- With design/build, you have one point of contact and responsibility throughout your entire home or commercial improvement project. No communication problems. No delays due to lack of scheduling between design firm and builders. No avoidance of responsibility. One firm handles your entire project, from initial planning, during design and permitting, through the final phases of construction.
- You will know the approximate cost of your proposed project before committing significant resources to it. When you hire an outside independent design firm, you can spend many thousands of dollars before you know what your project will cost. Imagine spending $10,000 or more for detailed drawings only to find out after getting estimates from contractors that it will cost twice what you anticipated to build?
How does it work?
- We always begin with a no cost, no obligation initial meeting where we will discuss your remodeling requirements. Generally we can give you some rough sketches and cost estimates after our initial meeting.
- We will may perform a feasibility analysis to make sure the project can be built and we will identify what building, zoning or other issues might be involved.
- Once rough costs and feasibility have been established, you can hire us to do more preliminary design work or we can contract for complete design. You may also reserve a spot in our construction schedule at any time during the design process.
- At every phase of design, from preliminary through final design, you will know what the project will cost. When you request changes in the design, you will be informed of any resulting changes in the project cost. We do not meet with you once or twice, disappear for several weeks and then return with a thick stack of drawings and hand you a final bill. We meet with you as many times as are necessary during the design process. We arrive at the final design together.
- In many cases, planning, design and permitting are a major part of a project. Sometimes, the planning, design and permitting phases of a project can take more time than the actual construction.
- In all cases, planning and design are extremely important. Undertaking even a small project, such as a bathroom remodeling, without proper planning and design, can have disastrous consequences.
- Thoughtful, intelligent design and proper planning will create a result that is pleasing both aesthetically and functionally as well as adding the most value to your property.
- During the construction process, there will be inspections of the work by various town departments. We coordinate and manage this entire process for you. Upon completion of work and after all final inspections have been satisfactorily completed, the building department issues a certificate of occupancy. Having a C.O. can be especially important when selling.
