When it’s time to remodel, most people start with a Google search for “General Contractors” or “Remodeling” and start calling down the list. After you’ve talked with a few companies, it’s time to make one of the first big decisions in a project: deciding what company you want to work with.
There are two common pathways to take at this point. The first is to hire an architect to design the space and create construction plans, then hire a general contractor separately to build out the plans.
The second is to hire a design build remodeler. Design and build remodelers are a specialized type of construction company that manage both design and construction phases of the project.
There are benefits to both systems, so let’s take a deeper look into them below.
Architect + General Contractor
After hiring an architect, you’ll work with them to create a design and building plans for your space. When the plans reflect your vision and you’re ready to move forward, you’ll pay the architect for their work and start shopping around the plans to different contractors.
The major benefit of this system is that you get to work directly with an architect, giving you a very high level of creative control over the final look of the project. You’ll also get to speak with multiple contractors and choose one that you’re confident can build to the level of finish in your construction plans.
However, this comes with a few major shortcomings. First, working with an architect can be very expensive for smaller projects such as remodeling one or two rooms. Second, you won’t know what the project will cost until you start talking with contractors.
When working with an architect first, it’s very common to design your perfect space and create construction plans, then find out that building those plans will be outside your budget. There is also a potential for conflict between the architect and general contractor during construction when the builder doesn’t build to the architect’s specifications.
Design - Build Remodeler
When you hire a design-build remodeler, one company manages the entire design and construction process.
You and your remodeler will work together to find out your dream for the space, then come up with a design and construction process that fits your needs and budget. They often have an in house designer or architect who will create a design and construction plans.
The contractor will then go through the plans and “value engineer” - suggesting alternative materials and processes that lower costs and make the construction process more efficient.
The main benefits of choosing this process are 1. Convenience, and 2. Efficiency. You only need to hire one company and have one point of contact for every aspect of the project. Keeping the entire process in one place is much more streamlined and allows for more efficient design and construction.
Ealy Construction’s Approach to Design - Build
Ealy Construction is both a full service general contractor and a design build remodeler.
When someone calls us with a remodeling project, we talk for a bit to understand the situation and make sure our goals and values are aligned. We also establish a general or ballpark price for what similar projects have cost in the past. If we’re in the same universe, we’ll walk through our process and talk about what you’d like to accomplish and see if we would be a good fit for achieving your goals.
If we’re a good fit for working together, we move forward with the pre-construction design process. We’ll work with you to fully design a space that fits your vision for your home, much like an architect would. The difference is that we work with you directly to choose all of the materials, fixtures, and details that will be included in your final remodel. Because we have experience with the construction process as well, we are able to help you make smart choices about materials that will help you spend your budget effectively.
When this process is completed, you’ll have build-ready construction plans, a full list of material selections, a defined scope of work and a timeline for construction, plus a single fixed-bid price to complete the job.
We generally charge 3% of the gross project cost for this service. If at the end of the pre-construction process you decide you want to work with another contractor, you get to keep the plans we’ve made together.
We’ve found that this system provides the benefits of hiring an architect directly, while removing any uncertainty about what’s realistic for your budget or what the completed project will look like. Having a single point of contact for the entire process is more convenient and means that there are no discrepancies between what is designed and what is built.
Not sure where to start?
Download our free “Guide to Hiring a Remodeler” for a complete walk through on what to look for when hiring and what to expect during the process.
If you have any other questions, shoot us a quick message on our contact page and we’ll get back to you within 1 business day.