by Glenn M. Travis, Founder, GMT Home Designs
A custom home, a big addition or major remodel – these are home projects that inevitably go through a lot of stages. "So what is our next step?" is a question we hear repeatedly, which makes sense – most homeowners don't go through the process very often!
Here is a guide to what to expect next, depending on where you are in the process, right up to the point where you are ready to start construction.
(If you want more detail, you can always dig into the blog posts in our design-build crash course.)
1. If you're here: At the beginning of considering a build or remodel
Your next step is: Ideation and clarification
At the outset, most homeowners love to take a look around to see how similar projects have turned out. This can give you a ton of new ideas. Our online portfolio here on the GMT website can offer inspiration, as can our Houzz page and others' – Houzz is generally a great resource for brainstorming. And here are even more places you might look.
Clarifying your goals up front can also save you time and money while zeroing in on what's most important. We can help you do this with phone discussions and/or via our site consultation service, and we also offer resources like our Refining Your Goals guide to help you DIY this before meeting with anyone.
2. If you're here: Serious about getting underway
Your next step is: Learning a bit about the overall process
This very quick step gets overlooked and skipped sometimes, but we recommend it highly. Knowledge is power!
First off, you can learn about the architectural design aspect of home improvement here. Quickly, it involves
- defining goals
- identifying site challenges
- anticipating costs
- and ultimately producing first schematic drawings
- which will then be expanded into construction documents
Good homebuilding companies are willing to provide as much clarity and definition of their process as you want. Some homeowners don't want to have to worry about every single detail here, and that's fine, but here's some high-level info worth knowing at a minimum:
There are two major building methods:
- the more traditional design-bid-build approach
- and the newer design/build approach
Neither is right or wrong; each has certain advantages. It's important as a homeowner to understand the difference, because it can affect who you choose to do your project with.
This is a type of conversation we're always happy to have with our New England neighbors. Ping us and let's set up a time to talk through it. Here's our contact page; reach out by email (info@gmthomedesigns.com) or phone (508-881-7992).
3. If you're here: Ready to get started
Your next step is: Getting to know your potential teammates
Your home is most likely your biggest single investment (not to mention a huge influence on your daily comfort and happiness). It's vital to have an excellent working relationship with the people who will help you build or remodel it.
Two thoughts here.
First, start with an architect. Call us biased, but design can't be an afterthought, and experienced architects and designers will help you explore creative possibilities while staying within your budget.
Second, ultimately you won't be working with 'companies'; you work with people, and people have different personalities and ways of doing work. These people are going to be in your home, advising you on key decisions, et cetera. Spend time in person, by phone or over Zoom getting to know who your potential providers are, how they communicate, how they address changes and challenges.
At GMT, again, we're always up for these conversations.
4. If you're here: Zeroing in on possible home design providers
Your next step is: A site consultation
Does it seem like there are a lot of "getting started" steps? That's actually good! Here's why:
Everything you do up front – choosing the right people, finding the ways you are most comfortable working together, understanding the process, brainstorming possibilities and refining your goals – will save you time, money, and potential aggravation later! And help ensure the absolute best possible outcome in your project.
So a site consultation makes total sense: Before you sign any contracts, meet with your potential designer at the place where construction will ultimately happen.
Clients have told us many times that our site consultations turned out to be the most valuable hour-plus in the entire project. We'll help you ballpark your budget, understand the site better, and brainstorm creative design solutions that you may not have considered.
At GMT, we offer this site consultation service for a small fee, so we can provide you with a ton of value even if (heaven forbid) you ultimately choose to work with someone else for your home design.
5. If you're here: You've signed a contract!
Your next step is: The design team will produce initial schematic drawings
You'll work with a designer for this schematic drawing stage.
Depending on the project, at GMT we may produce alternative drawings to show different ways of approaching particular aspects of the design. For firms like us that use 3D rendering software in the design process, this means the client can literally see how these different options might affect the overall look or function of a space.
Now we come to a fork in the road. How the process unfolds from here depends on which project approach you have chosen, design/build or design-bid-build.
6. If you're here: Initial schematic drawings are complete
> Working with a design/build team,
Your next step is: Reviewing schematics with designer and builder, and going over cost estimates
In a good design/build process, this team will be able to easily adjust schematic drawings based on input on costs from the builder. The ability to make this an iterative process is one advantage of design/build. Only when schematics are in harmony with budget and everything else will the designer produce the full-fledged construction drawings, which include much more detail and directions that the builder will work from.
> Or, working in design-bid-build mode,
Your next step is: Proceeding to full construction drawings
Some builders won't provide cost estimates based on schematic drawings, only on "buildable" construction documents. Some others will estimate from schematics.
In this process, the final construction documents may essentially end the designer's contractual involvement.
7. If you're here: You have fully approved buildable construction documents
> Working with a design/build team,
Your next step is: Construction can start!
> Or, working in a design-bid-build mode,
Your next step is: Taking bids and selecting a builder
This design-bid-build construction project approach emphasizes the bidding process, typically because the homeowner wants the builders to compete on price.
Again, it's really true that knowledge is power for homeowners. We hope this post helps take a little of the mystery out of home construction and improvement projects, and we're always eager to help.
About the author: GMT Home Designs founder Glenn M. Travis has more than 30 years' experience designing New England homes in many different styles.
Every home construction project starts with great design! Learn more about our services, see examples of our work, or contact us today.