A question we hear frequently is "What's a Design/Build Contractor?"

The simple answer is that Design/Build Contracting is a building process where a Builder is involved with every aspect of a construction project from the beginning of the design process. This is a relatively recent strategy, and has been a major boon to the construction industry.  The traditional way of approaching a construction project entailed several disconnected steps, including: selecting an architect to draw your plans and specifications, then at a later date, beginning the daunting task of selecting a reliable Builder to build your project according to these plans and specifications.

This model leaves room for a potential disconnect between the customer, the architect, and the builder. This disconnect can apply to both the construction methodology of the project as well as, and very commonly, the actual cost of the project vs. the customer's budget or cost expectations.

Ultimately, the question you need to ask yourself is, "Do I want to design my house in its entirety and then present these plans to a handful of builders in a competitive bid process? Or do I want to interview a handful of builders, select the best candidate based on reputation, capability, and chemistry, and then approach the design process as a team, identifying and optimizing the size, finish, and cost of the project?"

It is important to note that this DOES NOT discount or marginalize the important role of the Architect or Designer in this process; far from it. The key to the Design/Build process is to synchronize the efforts or the team members right from the beginning. So whether you bring your Architect to us or utilize one of our Architect Associates, you'll benefit from picking your team early in the process.