If you’re looking into building a custom home in the Prescott area, you may have come across the term “design-build.” But what is a design-build custom home?
What Does Design-Build Mean?
Design-build is a popular construction service in which the same company manages both the design and construction of a project. Essentially, the same contractor that is going to build a home or other structure also designs it. Doing this reduces risks and shortens the timeline of a project since design can happen alongside construction.
In a design-build project, the contractor is the only responsible party for the contract, which makes managing the project much easier.
What Is The Difference Between Design-Build And Design-Bid-Build?
In a design-build project, the same contractor is responsible for designing and building a home or structure. However, different contractors are responsible for the designing and building stages of a design-bid-build project.
If you’re looking to build a custom home and want to take the design-bid-build route, you’ll have to first find a designer. The designer will create and finalize all the designs for your project. After this, you’ll take the designs to different contractors and have each bid on the project.
While design-bid-build projects are more common, the clear advantage of a design-build project is its quicker timeline and the ability to alter designs while the project is under construction.
Disadvantages Of Design-Build
Design-build has few disadvantages for those looking to build the custom home of their dreams. It provides easy communication, high product quality, and a faster project timeline. Still, some have questions and concerns about the design-build process.
- Will I pay more for design-build? Some believe that design-build leads to a higher project cost because you forfeit the opportunity to accept competitive bids from different contractors. However, design-build often provides higher quality results because project owners focus more on the quality of the product rather than finding the lowest cost when choosing a contractor. In short, you’ll find that you get what you pay for – a higher price often means better quality.
- Will I have any creative influence on my project? Sometimes design-build gets a bad reputation for having little flexibility when it comes to project owners having a say over the creative design of the project. While it’s true that some design-build contractors have pre-set creative they use (which many custom builders prefer), other contractors also allow personalization of projects. You just need to find a contractor who incorporates client input.
- How involved will I be in the design-build process? Most design-build processes involve project owners more in the beginning phases. As the project continues, contractors tend to contact their clients on an as-needed basis. While this is the norm for most design-build projects, it doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to be more involved in the process if you want to be.
Is Design And Build A Fixed Price?
Design and build projects are typically offered at a fixed price. Bids for design-build projects include a fixed price for the entire project and adjustments for any incidental costs or alterations made throughout the project.
Design And Build Your Dream Custom Home In Prescott
R.E.S. Contracting has been helping people build exceptional custom homes in Prescott, Arizona, since 1987. We handle the design and construction of your home and are well-versed in including project owners in our custom home-building process. If you’re looking to build your dream home in Prescott, Arizona, call us today at 928-776-0301 to schedule a meeting and review your project with a member of our team.