Do Builders Hate Working With Designers?

michaelamshields

Mar 9, 20234 min read

Updated: Mar 9, 2023

I will admit, when someone tells me they are already working with a designer, I cringe a little bit...

But Michaela, aren't you a Designer?

I am a designer, yes. and I have been in the industry for over 10 years. But, the majority of that time was spent working in house for a Builder/General Contractor, where I not only handled the design, but I also handled all of the sales calls and estimating, as well as a very large portion of the project management. (I know, it's a lot of hats... Can you see why I wanted to slow down?)

My role not only had me in the office and showrooms, but I was on site and corresponding with subcontractors daily to ensure that whatever had been discussed with my client was installed correctly in order to meet their expectations. I was creating very detailed drawings for my subs that called out exactly how things needed to be installed. I was working with suppliers to get materials ordered, and anticipating what we would need ahead of time to help keep the project moving.

Whenever I had a new client tell me that they were already working with a designer, I knew my job just got harder in all of those areas. I knew it would be harder to estimate the project, the scope would be constantly changing, it would be harder to educate my client on the pros and cons of certain materials, and that things would be unclear which would lead to miscommunications and unmet expectations. It was almost guaranteed that I was going to spend twice as much time on design AND project management than I would for a client who was using our in-house design services.

What was the problem?

I still firmly believe that working with a Designer is a great thing. And these were really good Designers mind you. The problem was never their design, but rather a breakdown in communication between the client, the designer, and the contractor. These outside Designers typically had a pretty minimal understanding of the construction process, and how each phase plays into the next. They didn't truly understand what went into bringing their beautiful sketch to life, and how to ensure it was all installed properly, and without having to re-do phases of work that were already completed. They had a multitude of ideas and pretty pictures, they just didn't have the foresight to bring them to fruition without costing the customer money.

That was the other challenge. Budget. We all have one, and some designers can quickly lose sight of that. I can't say I blame them. We get to live vicariously through our clients, which is what makes this job so much fun. But, being on the contractor's side of things, it was my job to help keep my clients on budget, or to send change orders any time the scope of work evolved, or their selections exceeded their allowances. Needless to say, my job title quickly changed from "Designer" to "Dream Crusher". When I was working with my own clients in-house, I could explain how each little thing could impact several other line items of the budget, and quickly reel the customer back in if need be. That was always more difficult when someone had an outside Designer involved.

But aren't you an "Outside Designer" now?

Because I was not only the Designer, but the Builder, I had a much more realistic understanding that even the smallest change could cause major delays to the project. What may only take one day to figure out could add weeks to the overall timeline. If we missed our scheduled date with a subcontractor, we were now at their mercy for when they could work that job back in to their busy schedule. We may have to wait days or weeks for the additional materials to arrive. I am telling you point blank, scope creep can kill a projected timeline faster than anything else.

All of my experience on the project management side has completely shaped how I approach the design phase with my clients. I know that planning out all of the details in advance will save you so much time and money. Not to mention the stress!

My goal with every project is to make it a smooth and fun process for my clients, and to make it EASIER for the Contractor. Because trust me, their job is hard enough.

When we finalize all of the details before the project starts, and we have the materials ordered and ready to go, the guess work is taken out of it. Does that mean we won't run in to issues or changes, no. It's remodeling, there will always be plenty of unexpected issues pop up, but they won't be nearly as nerve wracking if you have a solid design in place before the project begins.

Having someone involved in the planning that has extensive knowledge of the structure, mechanicals, and the construction process, is the best way to ensure you stay on budget and on schedule. You can be confident in the decisions you are making when you know the design professional you have hired wants to help make that happen. Your Builder/Contractor will thank you in the end as well!