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Many homeowners begin a remodeling project with enthusiasm, but they are often surprised down the road with how complicated such a process can be. The remodeling process typically involves meeting with three separate companies, the architect or design firm, the engineering firm, and the contractor.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way. Several companies, called design-build contractors, have found a way to improve the remodeling process by combining all three services. Often billed as the “one-stop shopping” approach to remodeling, the design-build process moves seamlessly through three stages: interpreting the client’s vision, developing that vision into a buildable project, and finally, building the project as promised. The result? Less hassle, reduced costs and fewer surprises.
In the past, most homeowners who wanted to remodel would first contact an architect to design the project, and then would invite contractors to bid on that design. However, the true cost of an architect’s vision is often higher than a client anticipates. Since design-build companies oversee both design and construction phases of a project, they can be more upfront with the estimate for the total remodel. Furthermore, design-build companies can be more flexible if problems such as faulty wiring or structural flaws are encountered, incorporating their solutions in a modification of the design.
Another benefit of design-build companies is that clients are able to develop a relationship with a single company that lasts throughout the entire remodeling process. Clients have the opportunity to build trust in the remodeling company long before the workmen come into their home. This relationship facilitates better communication and also gives the client a better sense of security.
The stability of design-build firms offers other advantages as well—many that endure beyond the project’s completion. Typically design-build companies work out of staffed offices; this means that they not only are much easier to communicate with while the project is underway, but also are easier to track down if problems or warranty issues arise two or three months after the remodel is complete. Furthermore, design-build companies have often been in business much longer than other contractors and are more likely to remain in business in the future, meaning that they offer greater accountability for the outcome of the project.
The fee structure for design-build remodeling services varies between companies and sometimes between jobs, depending on the scope of work involved. Many design-build companies separate the charges for the design and the construction phases of the project. The design fee covers the company’s time and costs for developing the client’s vision into a buildable plan. The design charges may be based on a fixed fee or an hourly rate, and may include a nonrefundable administration fee as well as costs for design, research, and drafting time. Construction fees, on the other hand, often are charged on a cost-plus (time and materials) basis if the scope of the work is less certain—for example, the exact location of utility lines may be unknown. Alternatively, a fixed fee arrangement may be used if the scope of the work can be more precisely determined.
The contract may also provide a structure for charging costs that are unknown or unexpected at the time of the contract. Cost allowances may be used if the exact cost of an item cannot be determined at the time of the contract; for example, a $1000 cost allowance might be included to cover a specified area of carpeting when the manufacturer and pattern of carpet have yet to be determined. The contract may also stipulate additional fees for either client-requested changes or for additional costs incurred due to as-yet undetected defects in the existing structure that affect the project. In this way, a contract with a design-build company even prepares clients for the unexpected.
Homeowners who choose design-build firms are looking for less hassle and fewer surprises. They also want greater control over the remodeling process: control over the cost, the duration of the process, and finally control over who they allow into their home. By hiring a design-build company, they can feel more secure in the knowledge that their home is in good hands, and their dreams are within their reach. |
