How does design-build benefit residential real estate development?

There are positives and negatives associated with each method of construction delivery. Both design-build and design-bid-build have been utilized for decades, and during that time, both have had both successful and unsuccessful construction project outcomes. With the design-build method of project delivery, property owners only have to deal with one point of contact for all of their construction and design needs. Every aspect of a build design  project is the responsibility of the designer-builder, beginning with cost estimation and assessments and continuing through architecture, schematics, engineering, subcontracting, construction, and post-construction. The timetables have been made more straightforward. One of the advantages of design-build construction management is that expenses are reduced as much as possible. There has been a realization of efficiencies. The team works together, beginning with the conception stage and continuing past the official opening ceremony. 

3 key benefits of design-build

The following are three key benefits of design-build :

• Process improvement

A streamlined process is one of the design-build benefits. It’s easy for the construction process to become overly complicated when you factor in things like meeting deadlines, fluctuating input costs, and the presence of multiple moving parts. It is inevitable that you will experience difficulties if you are required to manage the architect and the general contractor in separate capacities. Teamwork and collaboration are required within the design and construction teams in order to successfully implement the design-build model. When they are both subject to the same contract rather than separate agreements with each other, the design-build company and the project owner can form a more effective partnership.

• The feedback on pricing for individual design elements is nearly instantaneous

When you navigate a project using the traditional design-bid-build delivery model, one of the risks you face is the possibility of overdesigning a building. Designing and drawing are two of an architect’s primary responsibilities. Even if you invest in someone who has previous experience in the construction industry, there is still a possibility that the building designs will be created in a vacuum, without any consideration for the actual costs of the project. When you first get a bid from a contractor and it’s significantly higher than your budget, the excitement of a beautiful design may quickly fade away. The design-build model offers almost instantaneous price feedback on designs and offers the owner significantly more transparency into the pricing process of construction.

• Superior customer service 

A premium is added to the cost of the design-build model to account for the ease and transparency experienced by the project owner throughout the construction process. Additionally, a multitude of advantages are included in the premium. The majority of design-build contractors are not interested in designing a detailed building until they have been hired for the job. This is done to avoid the practice of price shopping. On the other hand, once a level of trust has been developed and the nature of the relationship has been formally defined, design-build firms are able to provide predictable budgets early on in the process.