Should you hire a design-build firm?

Maybe!

If you’re looking for a seamless, start-to-finish experience for your remodel that includes tight collaboration between the designer and builder and full project management (and if your budget allows) then we think you should definitely consider it!

Of course, there are both pros and cons to design-build firms. Here are a couple things to watch out for:

👉 You need to like both the design *and* the build team. You can’t just assume that if you like one side that you’ll like the other. 😀

👉 See if you can determine how integrated the design team is with the build team. Sometimes they’re just billing as one unit rather than actually operating as one unit. Many “design-build” firms outsource the design to a sub-contracted designer. That doesn’t mean they aren’t a well-oiled machine, but it *can* mean that. It’s okay to ask how long they’ve been working together, and how their process works to make sure that the end build will be in-budget and that they are communicating effectively throughout the design and remodel process.

👉 Consider their markups and biases. Because they’ll be specifying the product and making the purchases, part of their income will be coming from materials mark-ups. Ask if they have go-to products or if they source from a wide range of options. If they have go-to products, do those products align with your budget and style preferences?

The (possible) pros of going with a design-build firm:

1. Shorter timelines!

Assuming the designer and builder operate as a well-oiled machine, that can minimize or eliminate any delays between the design phase and the building phase. With the best design-build firms the transition between stages is seamless, leading to a shorter overall timeline.

If you want to create a similar tight timeline without going with a design-build firm, our advice would be to pre-interview at least 3 general contracting firms. That way, as soon as you have design plans in hand, you can pass them right along to your top contenders for final pricing and get on their construction schedule as soon as possible.

2. Easier to budget!

Design-build firms are rarely the cheap option. Rather, instead of promising you bargain-basement prices, they’re going to be working as a team to make sure your fixtures, materials, and layout choices align with your overall budget. Although it may not be a cheaper option, it’s not necessarily more expensive than working with a designer and builder independently. So it’s not really about spending or saving a certain amount of money, but more about having more predictable costs from the very start of your project. That said, costs can still skyrocket if you go outside of the allowances set for fixtures, materials, etc, for your project.

3. You’ll be less involved (maybe).

Many design-build firms have signature styles and go-to resources that they will present to you in package form. This can minimize the decisions that you have to make along the way and reduce decision fatigue. That said, every design-build firm will be different, so this may or may not be true of the firm you choose.

 

The (possible) cons of going with a design-build firm:

1. Threesomes can be challenging.

The most important aspect of choosing a design-build firm is making sure that you like, trust, and align with *both* the designer and the builder. This means that not only can you communicate effectively with both sides (and they communicate effectively with each other), but also that you literally like the design aesthetic and approach of the designer.

2. It can be harder to build a trusting relationship.

The pro of working with a design-build firm is that they’re going to handle everything from design vision to remodel execution. That usually means they’re also going to handle all of the purchasing, ordering, and delivery of all your fixtures, materials, etc. That’s great because it reduces your stress, and makes it easier for the design-build firm to warranty the whole project. The negative is that they’re going to be making a commission on each of the products they order and if you don’t have a trusting relationship, you may wonder if they’re suggesting that thousand dollar faucet because it’s the right fit for your project or because of the hefty markup they’re going to make from it.

To be clear, although at Seriously Happy Homes we do not buy anything for our clients or make any money off of our selections, it’s not like we’re “ethically” opposed to markups or anything. Markups are meant to pay for the time it takes to place an order, receive and check the order, safely store the product until it’s time for install, and deal with any returns if things come in wrong. It’s just important to choose a contractor and designer that you trust so that you don’t have any lingering doubt in the back of your mind during the design process.

3. It might be more expensive.

The whole point of hiring a design-build firm is to streamline the process and reduce your stress level. As the saying goes- things can be cheap, easy, or good, but you can only pick 2. Design-build firms will want to do a good job for you and make it as easy as possible, so they won’t be cheap.

 

 

 

If design-build sounds like a good fit for you, we are big fans of the folks over at CRD Design Build! From what we can tell, they have a wonderfully integrated team and operate as a well-oiled machine. 😁

At Seriously Happy Homes, we aren’t a design-build company, but we CAN talk you through the design process and help you make remodel decisions, big and small! Schedule a Design Helpline to receive design help no matter where you live!

No matter who you choose to be on your design or build team, just make sure that how they work and what they create aligns with your needs. You’re about to spend a lot of money, so you at least want to start out on trusting and happy footing.

May your home always be happy!