When it comes to deciding which construction approach to take when building your custom home, the traditional method often comes to mind first. A general contractor is hired from a pool of quotes, with the contract usually being awarded to the lowest-priced qualified contractor. This GC then chooses the trades and suppliers they want to work with. General contractors usually provide owners a “bulk price” that includes the cost of the trades and materials, as well as the hidden GC mark-up.
But maybe, you’d like more control over the project…
Transparency is the biggest difference between a general contractor and a partnered building solution. We act in your best interest throughout the entire project:
- Compiling and tendering out highly specific scopes of work to each trade, based on your design – that way, there is no confusion down the line as to “who should have done what”
- Making recommendations based on these quotes to ensure you’re getting the highest quality trades at the best value
- You see every quote and choose which to approve
- You see every invoice and pay the trade or supplier directly
And maybe, you have a strict budget…
Usually, general contractors are not brought onto the project until the design phase has been completed. Because we are involved in the design process from the beginning, we can:
- Provide accurate cost estimates during the design phase and offer ways to improve value while keeping your budget in check
- Ensure fewer “surprises” along the way because you have full access to budget details
- Make sure that if the project is under budget, the savings go directly back to you (and are not absorbed like they are in a non-transparent general contractor agreement)
- Utilize our over 25+ years of experience and in-house track costing database to ensure that all quotes you see are within the range that they should be
And maybe, your timeline is essential…
Again, a general contractor who is brought onto the project after the design phase cannot forsee potential issues. Acting proactively, we can:
- Provide early input during the design phase that can point out potential issues that would slow construction and eat up budget
In conclusion, it’s important to understand the different approaches that are available to you, and what best suits your needs to bring your custom home or lake house vision to life.
For more information:
Click here to learn about how our partnered building solutions process works