Blog
Design Build vs. Do It Yourself
Schedule a FREE No Obligation Consultation

Design Build vs. Do It Yourself

Mar 23, 2011

You have many options when deciding how to complete your remodeling project, and they can all be broken down into two basic categories: Architect/Do-It-Yourself (DIY) and Design/Build. It’s important that you decide which one best suits your needs before starting your next project.

The Architect/DIY approach is where you hire an architect to help you design your project and create the plans. With plans in hand, you find your own contractors to perform the work, perhaps taking on some of the work yourself. Many first time remodelers view this as the least expensive approach, believing they will find great contractors at rock bottom pricing and essentially “skip the middle man”. It’s easy to see why this is an attractive option, but you should be aware of common pitfalls before starting down this road.

When you hire an architect, they draw plans based on your specific input. You give them a rough budget, and they design your plans based on their experience. You then take those plans and start gathering bids, doing reference checks and hiring contractors. At this point, many homeowners find the construction phase is taking a lot longer than it should, and certain design elements or material selections are pushing your project way over budget. You confront your architect about the budget, but they designed the project per your specifications and can’t be held accountable for the final construction costs.

Now you’re stuck and can’t move forward on your project without spending considerably more money. Whatever money you may have saved by “going direct” evaporates into cost overruns and constant scheduling delays. Long after the project is complete, trying to track down individual contractors for warranty issues can be a challenge all its own. The Registrar of Contractors only requires a 2 year warranty (in most cases) so that’s usually all a contractor is willing to offer, assuming they’re still in business when you need them most.

The Design/Build approach solves these challenges by using one company from design to finish, providing you with a single source of accountability. Throughout the entire design process, staying within your budget is one of the highest priorities. Through close relationships with their trades, the Design/Build company negotiates the best prices for you and can tell you exactly how much it will cost to turn your design into reality before the first contractor arrives at your door. A dedicated Project Team will keep your project moving forward and on schedule, while ensuring the finished product meets your expectations. When you have a warranty issue, you make one phone call to the Design/Build firm and they handle the rest. Warranty issues are coordinated by the Design/Build firm, and they stand behind the work even if the individual subcontractor has gone out of business.

Many people assume the price of Design/Build is higher than Architect/DIY, but in most cases when you tally up the final project costs the Design/Build method is about the same price. For most people the benefits of knowing all the construction costs up front, along with the peace of mind that the project will be completed on time, make the decision a very easy one.

Legacy Design Build Remodeling
Their talents and professional standards made the process and outcome of the renovation outstanding!!
Earl & Elaine F.
Phoenix, AZ
epa