When you start the process of wanting to build your next home in Austin, TX, you will have many more choices to make than you realize. Some of these choices will be minor, such as the color of the tile that you choose for the bathroom, and some choices will be major, such as where a wall is located that affects the size of a bedroom or office. Another big choice you will have is to work with a design-build organization like Contract Remodeling Services. Many times people think that you need to work with a separate designer or architect and then you will go find a builder; that these must be separate things. While this is certainly one route, it isn’t the only route to get the custom home design that you are looking for.
Contact us today to learn more about us as a home builder, as well as our whole-home remodeling options and more.
What Is The “Design-Build” Approach?
This is a common question that we get from many different people. The design-build approach to custom home design is to marry the design aspect with the building aspect under a single roof rather than have separate organizations or people handle each aspect.
With our team, we can offer architect services to help design your home or remodeling plans, and then we also have a build team to take those plans and turn them into reality. Because we all work together, we can quickly go back to the architect and clarify something that might be unclear, or make changes “on the fly” with the backing of the architect and designers that did the design in the first place. This extra communication means that things can get done quicker with less effort.
Here are some other reasons why design-build for custom home design is the best choice
- Better Communication: Design-build ensures clear and direct communication among our entire project team, ensuring that your custom home design project goes off without a hitch.
- Faster Project Timelines: The integrated nature of design-build often ensures that your project is delivered in a timely manner, with designers and new home builders working side-by-side.
- Cost Predictability: The proactive design-build approach to custom home design helps prevent budget overruns and provides greater predictability throughout your project.
Custom Home Design In Austin, TX
When it comes to custom home design, working with a design-build outfit like ours can make things easier for all involved. The architect can make inquiries to the build team about different things, and this helps to ensure that not only does the homeowner get what they want, but the build team knows what will happen and can provide important details on construction that influence how the design goes together. It is a collaborative effort that results in a great end product that the homeowners love.
Ask An Austin GC: What Services Do General Contractors Provide?
Think of a general contractor as a manager. They must manage groups of people, manage a full project along with the sub-projects that go into the main project, and sign off on different aspects of the project as they are completed. They help with budgeting (and staying on budget), scheduling specialty sub-contractors (like plumbing), helping with permits and inspection requests, as well as material deliveries, and more. This is a position that many people think they can handle, until they get in too deep and realize that they need professional help.
About Contract Remodeling Services, Inc.
Contract Remodeling Services has been delivering custom remodeling assistance, design-build services, architect services, home remodeling/renovation, and other services for decades to the greater Austin, Texas area. We work from start to finish, design to completion.
We love to design projects that work for the needs and wants of our customers and then follow through with quality materials and workmanship. Contact us today to get started with your home renovation, custom home design project, or to learn more about us.
Areas Served
Working with an established home builder and remodeler means that you are working with a team that can make the process fast and easy. The city dates back to the 1830s when the first Anglo-American settlers arrived in the area, then part of Mexico. In 1837, settlers founded the village of Waterloo on the banks of the Colorado River, the first permanent settlement in the area. By 1839, Waterloo would adopt the name Austin and the frontier town would become the capital of the Republic of Texas. Contact us today with your ideas and plans.
Providing these services in Austin, TX:
- Bathroom Renovations in Austin, TX
- Bathroom Remodel in Austin, TX
- Commercial Construction in Austin, TX
- Design-Build in Austin, TX
- Design Build and Custom Home Design in Austin, TX
- General Contractor & Architect Services in Austin, TX
- Home Builder In Austin, TX
- Home Remodeling and Renovations in Austin, TX
- Home Renovations in Austin, TX
- Home Remodeling, Home Renovation, Kitchen Remodeling, and Bathroom Remodeling in Austin, TX
- Home Builder, General Contractor, Home Renovation, and Home Remodeling in Austin, TX
- Kitchen Design in Austin, TX
- Kitchen Design and Remodel in Austin, TX
- Kitchen Remodeling in Austin, TX
- Kitchen Cabinet Design in Austin, TX
Neighborhoods of Austin, TX
- Allandale
- Balcones Woods
- Barrington Oaks
- Barton Creek
- Barton Hills
- Battle Bend Springs
- Bouldin Creek
- Brentwood
- Bryker Woods
- Canyon Creek
- Caswell Heights
- Central East Austin
- Cherry Creek
- Circle C Ranch
- Clarksville Historic District
- Copperfield
- Crestview
- Dawson
- Dove Springs
- Downtown Austin
- East Cesar Chavez
- East Congress
- East End
- East Riverside-Oltorf
- Eastwoods
- Estates of Brentwood
- Far South Austin/Slaughter-Manchaca
- Far West
- French Place
- Galindo
- Govalle
- Great Hills/Arboretum
- Hancock
- Heritage
- Highland
- Holly
- Hyde Park Historic District
- Judge’s Hill
- Kincheonville
- Lower Waller Creek
- Maple Run
- Montopolis
- Mueller
- North Burnet
- North Campus
- North Lamar
- North Loop
- North Shoal Creek
- North University
- Northwest Hills
- Oak Hill
- Oakmont Heights
- Old Enfield
- Old Pecan Street
- Old West Austin
- Onion Creek
- Original Austin
- Original West University
- Pemberton Heights
- Pleasant Valley
- Ridgelea
- Ridgetop
- Rosedale
- Saint John
- Scofield Farms
- Sendera
- Shadow Lawn Historic District
- Shady Hollow
- Shoal Crest
- South Congress
- South Lamar
- South Manchaca
- South River City
- Southeast Austin
- Southpark Meadows
- Spyglass-Barton’s Bluffs
- Sunset Valley
- Tanglewood Forest
- Tarrytown
- The Ridge at Lantana
- Travis Country
- Travis Heights
- Wells Branch
- West Congress
- West Downtown
- West End
- West Line Historic District
- Westgate
- Windsor Hills
- Windsor Park
- Woodstone Village
- Wooten
- Zilker
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a general contractor and a standard remodeler?
GC’s offer services from the onsite of planning and designing all the way through building or remodeling and can manage a team of contractors, including remodelers, electricians, plumbers, roofers, and other specialized contractors.
The main differences lie in the scope and level of services provided:
- General Contractors (GC): Offer a wide range of services from the onset of planning and designing to the completion of the project. They handle all phases, including permits and managing a large trade base, including remodelers, electricians, plumbers, roofers, and other specialized contractors. General contractors offer more experience and a greater level of service that can be provided for the project as a whole.
- Standard Remodelers: Typically limited in scope, often handling smaller, less complex projects. They may not provide comprehensive services like a GC.
What services can I expect as a homeowner from a general contractor?
A general contractor can offer design and build services as well as comprehensive project management. This includes structural design and planning, pulling permits, and overseeing the entire project from start to finish. This can also include handling multiple phases of the remodeling project, coordinating tradesmen, and ensuring project timelines are met.
A general contractor like Contract Remodeling Services is a one-stop shop. You get a contractor that has the ability to handle multiple phases is not all phrases of a remodeling project or new construction.
Are you in the Austin area and looking for a general contractor? Reach out today to schedule a consultation.
What financial preparations should I make before engaging a contractor?
It’s imperative to have some type of an understanding of what your expenditures are going to be. This includes setting a maximum expenditure and establishing a realistic contingency fund:
- Set a clear budget: Have a maximum budget in mind and be transparent with your contractor to avoid misunderstandings and financial overruns.
- Contingency fund: Allocate an additional 20-30% of the project’s estimated cost to cover unforeseen expenses. This fund should be set aside in escrow.
An estimated project cost should not be considered as the overall cost because the actual overall cost cannot be calculated up front. The more intricate and the more difficult the remodel is, the more likely the estimated project cost will not perfectly align with the actual cost.
The typical payment schedule for a major project in the remodeling industry is called a 90-10 split. You have a 30% deposit, 30% to man the project on site, and another 30% that’s an equated value point of the amount of work done and performed, such as pulling permits, time taken for a city inspector, etc. The final 10% is retained until the end of the job once complete.
How are unforeseen setbacks handled during a project?
Unforeseen setbacks are managed through change orders, which are adjustments to the project contract due to unexpected issues or changes in the project scope. It’s important to have a clear process for handling these changes outlined in your contract.
Some of the main reasons a setback may occur on a design-build project include:
- Unexpected Structural Issues
- Design Changes
- Permit Delays
- Supply Chain Issues
- Weather Conditions
- Unforeseen Site Conditions
- Budget Constraints
How much time should I plan for my project to be completed?
It helps both the homeowner and the contractor to be honest and up front regarding anticipated time frames, as this can impact the amount of time you must make alternative accommodations when you cannot reside in the home due to the renovations. There also needs to be flexibility taken into account as unforeseen setbacks may extend that time frame. Including that flexibility in the amount of time one can safely plan alternative accommodations is critical. We recommend homeowners arrange for a place to stay for a period longer than initially anticipated to accommodate potential delays. It is also important to maintain regular communication with your contractor about project timelines and any changes.