Design/Build: An efficient, cost-effective construction method

Some describe it as the answer to a homeowner's or business owner's prayer. Others describe it as a savings of time and money. Mark Smith, owner of Remodeling Resources of Richmond, describes it as "plain common sense."

Design/build is a process where an entire remodeling project—from the initial design concepts, drawings and budgets to permits, regulations and zoning laws to actual construction and final walk through—are organized and performed by a single entity, a single point of contact, a single point of responsibility. That single point is Resources Remodeling.

The efficiency of this process allows for tight control of costs; management of the construction schedule; and a quick turn-around between design, construction and completion.

Design/build prevents remodeling horror stories. When Remodeling Resources takes on a project, senior staff oversees the entire process, ensuring a homeowner or business that the project will be delivered on time and on budget. Design/build makes sense.

Coping with a remodel

Remodeling is exciting. It’s fun to make design choices. It’s creative and absorbing. It’s rewarding to make a dream a reality, but it’s also chaotic, messy, and challenging.

Mark Smith never lets a homeowner operate under the illusion that a remodeling project is a “walk in the park.”

“It’s a major disruption in my clients’ lives,” Mark said. “Strangers are going to be in their home for weeks or months at a time. That’s why we take precautions to minimize our clients’ stress.”

On the remodeler’s side, cleaning up every single day makes a enormous impact.

“On our nickel, not our client's, all our jobs stop well before the day is done to allow for enough time to clean the site,” Mark said.

Communication between the homeowner and the remodeler is also critical to a smooth, less stressful experience. Remodeling Resources uses a number of communication methods including a new onsite communication board that allows for immediate daily correspondence between the lead carpenter and the homeowner. A “high-tech” communication method is underway to allow homeowners who may live in another house, or who are traveling, to stay in touch by viewing photos, reviewing contracts, and making comments—all via password protected pages on the Internet.

“We’re excited about using this method of communication,” Mark said. “Besides the obvious reasons of convenience for a non-resident or traveling owner, it serves working couples as well. If there are questions to consider, choices to make, homeowners can log onto their secure pages, review information, make selections, and respond via email—all from work. Efficiency is improved, which in turn, speeds up the project.”

Home remodeling is a drain on homeowners’ emotions. Here are a few of Remodeling Resources's favorite tips for reducing the stress level.

1. During a remodel, your home, your nest, is disturbed. Gone is the refuge at the end of a long day. Instead, you have disorder. It’s stressful to go for long periods of time without a respite of peace and quiet. Mark suggests “getting away” for a bit. Go for a walk, go to the gym, take a class. Go on a long weekend or a vacation during a remodel.
2. Schedules can break down during a remodeling project. The cabinets you fell in love with are back-ordered due to a strike in South Carolina. The plumber’s wife just gave birth to triplets and he took the afternoon off to be with her, setting back the hook-up of kitchen sink and garbage disposal. The snowstorm in Minnesota delayed the delivery of the countertops... It can go on and on sometimes. So the feeling that you’ve lost control sneaks up on you. Intellectually, you understand. (After all, if you were in the hospital with triplets, your husband had better show up!) But emotionally, it’s tough to stay calm.
3. What to do? Remodeling Resources's way is to take positive, decisive actions. At the start of the project, communicate your needs openly and honestly with our team. You have the right to question or challenge any decision made. Establish a two-way method of communication that is reliable such as email, faxes, handwritten notes at an established place in the home. Don’t rely merely on voice messages at either end as they can be forgotten, or erased from systems, etc.
4. Dreams versus reality is a great stress inducer. Don’t romanticize the project. It’s not a fantasy. The more you expect a certain outcome, the more you may be disappointed. Maybe there isn’t room for a trash compactor; French doors cost more than you anticipated; your budget can’t be stretched to cover the 8-person hot tub. Try to set realistic expectations within your budget. Be sure you are extremely candid with your contractor about spending limits so that the first set of designs doesn’t have to be scaled back after you’ve fallen in love with those French doors.

Remodeling doesn’t have to be an emotional rollercoaster. With a good contractor who’s sensitive to your expectations and needs, and is adept at communicating before and during the process, remodeling can be exciting, fun and rewarding.

©2002 Biz-comm, Inc. Reprinted with permission.