Design-build is growing in popularity for residential home building and remodeling in Denver and across Colorado. The flexibility and collaboration reduce cost uncertainty and help deliver projects on time, even when labor or materials are tight.
Additionally, a design-build approach gives customers a smoother, more transparent experience with their home build or remodel. Across the industry, design-build is projected to account for more than 47% of U.S. construction spending by 2028, according to research from FMI and the Design-Build Institute of America.
We cover what’s driving that growth in our post on why design-build is gaining popularity with Denver homeowners.
If you’re planning to build or remodel a home using the design-build approach, ask these six questions to make sure you choose the right partner.
Before you work with a design-build firm, you need to know what the experience will be like for you. Look for a design-build contractor with a defined process. They should be able to clearly explain when and where you’ll be involved in the project and define the milestones along the way.
A clear process also includes realistic timelines. A good firm can tell you how long each phase typically takes before work begins.
Our whole-house remodel cost guide covers how scope, permits, and phasing shape the project from start to finish.
Make sure that your style and the aesthetic you want in your home build or remodel fits with the style and capabilities of the design-build firm you hire. Experienced and quality firms should have a diverse portfolio that gives you an idea of their abilities, and even inspires you with ideas from some of the past projects they’ve completed.
If you’re planning a major project like a pop-top or primary suite addition, look for examples of that specific work. You can see ours on our additions and pop-tops page.
Some design-build firms outsource design, which creates potential problems when it comes to the build phase. Working with a firm that conducts design in-house, you get a smoother experience and a project that’s higher quality and more efficient.
Ask who will design your project and whether those designers stay involved once construction starts. At Truth Design Build, our interior design team and builders work together from the first conversation, and you can meet the people behind both.
The best design-build firms start with a feasibility study to make sure your project is buildable, meets local codes, and fits your budget. From allowing adequate crawl space clearance to thinking about HVAC chases, conducting a feasibility study accounts for all these factors to keep your project on budget and within the timeline.
Feasibility matters most in older Denver homes. Opening the walls of a century-old house often reveals wiring, plumbing, or structural issues. Our whole-house remodel cost guide explains how those hidden systems affect the budget.
Code requirements also shape smaller projects. A basement bedroom needs an egress window, for example, which is one of the items that shapes what a basement finish costs in Denver.
Some design-build contractors use a cost-plus pricing model, which gives you clear visibility into the cost of labor and materials and the profit margin for the design-build firm. This model works well for homeowners because it allows for more accurate cost estimates and helps keep your construction project on budget, even when material prices shift. Some firms even share anticipated costs for various kinds of construction projects.
Our cost guides take that a step further and show where the money goes. If you’re planning a kitchen, start with our Denver kitchen remodel costs.
For bathrooms, see what a bathroom remodel costs in Denver.
If you’re adding space, our home addition cost guide compares pop-tops, main-floor additions, and primary suites side by side.
A successful build depends on clear communication between you and your contractor, and within their team. With an all-in-one design-build contractor, a homeowner works with the same team members throughout the project, from the interior designer to the project manager. This open communication takes the stress off you as a homeowner and helps ensure a smoothly executed project.
Asking these questions will help you get a strong sense of a design-build firm’s approach, as well as their commitment to customers. By understanding everything from their style to their experience and capabilities, you can make a more informed decision and choose the right design-build contractor for your home construction project.
Discover what drives Truth Design Build to create inspired living spaces and empower their clients in every interaction.
