How Design/Build Contracts Work (or should)

by Glenn M. Travis, Founder, GMT Home Designs

I recently came across an article that repeated an old criticism of the design/build approach in home construction:

Won't the homeowner face a loss of control, if the designer isn't independent from the builder? Who can I trust to provide quality control or advocate for my interests through the construction process?

It's a fair question that we heard, in one form or another, from many potential clients.

At GMT, we wrestled with this for several years, and eventually figured out a process that works for all parties: designer, builder, and (most importantly) homeowner.?

We've never looked back, and if you are looking at a home build or major renovation, we think you will benefit a great deal from a process and design/build contract like this.?

WHERE DESIGN/BUILD CONTRACTS CAN FAIL THE HOMEOWNER

The thing to remember about your building contract is that it should reflect the process that the designer and builder are going to follow. If not, it's easy for details to be forgotten, or for expectations to get mismatched, or (worst case) empty promises to be ignored.

First, a very quick refresher on design/build.

Basically, design/build means that, instead of completing a home design and then "throwing it over the wall" to whatever construction firm wins the bidding process, the two teams work together from almost the very beginning of the design phase.

This cooperation can be done within a single company, or it can be done between two partner firms that know how to collaborate well.?

Read the full article on our website