The collaboration between designers and builders can be a beautiful thing – almost as beautiful as the dream home you are imagining right now.
When these two creative forces join, they breathe the first breath of life into the place where homeowners will spend a good chunk of their time. If you are fortunate enough, you will find experienced builders and designers to tackle the project with grace, from beginning to end.
If the designer and builder have worked together in the past, chances are you’re in for a treat. Those who already have an established rapport are more likely to operate like a well-oiled machine.
However, design-build firms like ours excel in working together to provide a seamless, homebuilding experience.
The first time you walk into your finished home – relishing in the smell of fresh paint and taking in every tiny detail – you may not immediately consider the hard work that went on behind the scenes. If the process went smoothly, it’s because a team of industry experts worked together well.
Here are four ways designers and builders should cooperate with each other to ensure a job well done on your new home.
1. Successful Designers and Builders Treat Each Other With Respect
Respect is an important foundation for any working relationship. Even if your designer and builder disagree, they must acknowledge and appreciate the specialized roles of the other.
They must carefully choose their battles and never discount the other person’s ideas. When differing opinions arise, they should keep in mind that presentation is everything and express their thoughts in a non-confrontational way. If one party is concerned about an element of the project, a good strategy is to compliment an aspect of the other person’s work before introducing their concerns.
When addressing differences, it is important for each professional to come to the table with solutions that will ultimately meet your needs as the homebuyer. More than likely, the result will be a compromise between the two ideas.
Additionally, most projects are bound to run into hiccups. Although mistakes are not ideal, no one is perfect. A good teammate will not blame people and is adaptable is different situations.
Open communication demonstrates a person’s willingness to engage in open, respectful communication.
2. Designers and Builders Always Make a List and Check It Twice
When you embark on the journey of bringing your home building and design to fruition, it is important to select a team that will thoroughly look over the to-do list and scour it for potential obstacles, before work begins. Analyzing the feasibility of every piece will prevent costly surprises from popping up down the road.
As the details of new house designs are fine-tuned among designers and builders, a checklist is put in place that covers every aspect of construction. Plans for the plumbing, electrical, HVAC, framing and drywall should be thoughtfully organized.
A builder should have enough staff lined up to handle the different facets. If a jack-of-all-trades is taking the place of multiple skilled tradesmen, that means corners are likely being cut – compromising the final product.
3. Designers and Builders Value and Oversee the Process of Planning Ahead
Beyond the full project scope, all work should be planned out each day. A best practice is to lay all components of the work out on the floor before installation. That includes lights, ducts, and walls, and more. Measurements should be taken to ensure nothing overlaps, with all parties signing off on the work that lies ahead.
Furthermore, the tradesmen must promptly communicate among themselves when questions arise. They should always inquire about where things are going before completing a task.
It is also important for designers and builders to ensure the tasks are properly sequenced. Because equipment rental accrues a daily cost, being strategic with project staging will reduce the amount of time you have to keep the items.
Ordering materials is another aspect that must be coordinated in advance. All supplies shouldn’t be acquired at once, for most job sites have inadequate storage space, and extra materials can present unnecessary tripping hazards. Furthermore, the longer the material lays around the job site, the more likely they are to get damaged.
Planning is also good for safety reasons because there is a greater risk for personal injury when workers feel rushed to finish a task on time.
4. The Best Builders and Designers Understand Budget and Time Constraints
Builders and home designers are each responsible for keeping your total house project cost in mind. This could include introducing alternatives that will help keep the project within your price range.
That embellished stairwell, custom cabinetry, granite countertop, and crown molding cost all add up very quickly. The ideal design-builder team will be experienced with creative fallback options that will not overly compromise the overall quality or disappoint you.
When building a home, it is also essential for your construction crew to develop a schedule and stick to it. Designers and builders must establish reasonable timelines for when your new home will be completed. They also hold each other accountable throughout the process.
There are many affordable scheduling software systems that can assist with planning construction projects. Once the timetable is set, scheduling regular weekly team meetings will help everyone stay on task.
Once all major work is completed, you want to make sure the crew does not grow lazy when it comes to the final punch list, as these details can sometimes take a few weeks to iron out. The last thing you want is having to postpone your move-in date.
Most important, the best design-builder duo won’t lose sight of what really matters – pleasing you. They will always keep you in the loop so that you are playing an active role in the decision-making process and approving all custom home designs.
Building a house is a large investment, and the people who are working for you should always remain professional. The collaboration between home builders and designers should never feel like a competitive game of tug-of-war. They should steadily work together to achieve a satisfying outcome for all.
Every designer and builder can benefit from the strategies mentioned above. When they are put into practice, a smooth and positive homebuilding experience is sure to follow.
If you’re ready to begin the process of building or remodeling your dream home, Scroggs Construction is eager to help.
For your convenience, we have designers and builders under one roof. Get in touch with Scroggs Construction today to discuss the many options available to you.