If you’re looking for a design-build company, chances are you want someone to lead the project for you and take it off your plate. Here’s what that looks like in order, from the first phone call to the warranty calls after we finish.
You’ll learn:
- What happens at the first visit to your home
- What the design phase includes and how long it takes
- How 3D renderings let you see your project before it’s built
- How designing everything first keeps change orders low
- Who you work with at each step
What Are the Steps of a Design-Build Remodel?
With design-build, we design your project and build it. The steps run in this order:
- A phone call with Nate, our project developer, about your goals and whether we’re the right fit.
- A visit to your home, where we tour the space, take scans, photos, and measurements, and give you rough budget ranges.
- A second meeting to walk you through the design agreement, which sets out the scope of work and what you pay for design.
- The design phase, where we design your plans and you choose your materials.
- Construction, after you sign the construction contract.
- A final walk-through, then a 2-year warranty with check-in calls.
What Happens at the First Consultation at My Home?
Nate starts with a 15- to 20-minute phone call about your goals and whether we’re the right fit for your project. Before the visit, we send you a survey about your space and how you use it.
At your home, we sit down to talk through your goals, tour the space, and go through the projects you have in mind. Then we take scans, photos, and measurements. Before we leave, we give you rough budget ranges and pause to hear your reaction. We also leave you a sample of the design agreement, more information about us, and what comes next.
If you want to take the next step, Nate comes back for a second meeting. The design agreement is a 2-page document, and he walks you through the full scope of work, what to expect, and what you pay for design. It is its own contract and covers the work done in the design phase.
What Happens During the Design Phase?
We don’t create plans or renderings of your project until the design phase starts.
Our remodeling design phase begins with a plan of your home as it is today, created in Chief Architect. Then we usually create 2 to 3 concepts. One is built around what you asked for, and another tries something more creative. Often, the final plan blends parts of both.
At a design meeting, the floor plan, printed renderings, and material samples all sit on the table in front of you.
After the concept review meeting, we schedule selection sessions at our design studio to go over curated options, and, as needed, we go with you to our preferred local vendors.
We pre-select options based on our conversations, so you’re not overwhelmed. Samples for your project go into a job box (a small tray), and we upload images to your selections portal.
We take care of all permitting in the design phase. In Mill Creek, for example, no building, electrical, mechanical, or plumbing system can be installed, altered, or removed until a permit has been obtained.
Design usually takes 4 to 16 weeks, depending on the project, its size, and how quickly you make decisions. It ends with a full list of materials and specifications, a full plan set, a detailed construction schedule, and a construction proposal with a fixed-price guarantee.
How Will I See My Remodel Before Construction Starts?
We hear a lot of worry that an addition is going to look like an addition. In an exterior 3D rendering like this one, you can see how the new space looks next to the rest of the house before we build. Exterior renderings are especially important for home additions.
At the concept review meeting, we change a floor plan with you, switch it into 3D to see it, and keep making changes from there.
One family wanted the half walls along their stairs removed and planned to redo their fireplace later. We added that future fireplace to the 3D renderings so the new stairs would tie in with it.
A kitchen rendering like this one shows how natural light moves through the day, so you can see how your space will look and feel from morning to evening. We’ve also been adding everyday items like towels, soap, and dishes, so you can see the space with the things you’d normally have in it.
How Does Designing Everything First Keep Change Orders Low?
By the end of design, we know the materials and what our trade partners need for their work. The goal is that when demolition starts, everything has been selected and planned for. In our experience, change orders are fairly low on our projects, especially the ones you didn’t ask for. The last question below covers what counts as a change order and what concealed conditions can do.
Who Will I Work With from the First Call to the Final Walk-Through?
From day one, your project developer (Nate), designer, estimator, and project manager work together.
During construction, your project lead is your main point of contact. We manage the trade partners, so you don’t have to find your own, and you can see what’s planned on an online schedule whether you’re living at home or staying somewhere else.
At the end, your project lead and our production manager walk through the finished space with you to put together the final completion list. We set up a professional clean, then go back out for a final walk-through with you and drop off your warranty and lien releases.
Our warranty runs 2 years. Nate calls at 9 months, after your remodeled space has gone through a couple of seasons, and again at 23 months, so we can get everything fixed before the warranty ends.
Ready to Take the First Step With Home Run Design + Remodel?
If you’re thinking about a remodel, the Home Run Design + Remodel team would be glad to start with a conversation about your goals. Fill out our contact form or give us a call.
