Overview
Jordan and Rhiannon kick off the Better Building With Buck podcast and introduce the company’s move to a design build model. The episode explains what design build means, why it streamlines projects, and how it helps homeowners get better results with fewer surprises.
What Is Design Build
Design build is a project delivery method where one integrated team handles both design and construction. A single entity coordinates plans, permits, engineering, and building so communication is direct, decisions are faster, and the process is more efficient and cost effective.
Why Choose Design Build
Reduced Costs
An integrated designer and builder reduce middle steps and handoffs. Questions and revisions are handled at the same table, which limits delays, prevents rework, and catches technical issues earlier. Coordination with engineers, inspectors, and planners happens as a unified effort, saving time and money.
Shorter Project Timelines
Projects move faster when pre planning and construction planning overlap. Bringing the builder in from day one avoids the slow sequence of find a lot, design in isolation, then ask a builder to price and fix what the plans did not consider. Early coordination shortens the path from concept to keys.
Reduced Risk
Shared context across the team lowers the chance of errors. Specialty trades such as electrical, HVAC, and plumbing weigh in during design, so routing, clearances, and service locations are planned in advance. Materials with long lead times are identified early to avoid delays.
How Design Build Works In Practice
Scenario One: Traditional Path Without a Design Build Team
A homeowner buys land, designs a dream plan, then looks for a builder. Late builder involvement reveals site constraints, foundation costs, and system routing issues that could have been avoided. Multiple firms exchange emails and revisions which stretches timelines and adds risk.
Scenario Two: Design Build From Day One
The homeowner first interviews a team. Builder and designer help assess land, align plans with budget, manage permits, and coordinate trades. The same team carries the project through construction, warranty, and homeowner education on systems and maintenance.
The Power Of An Integrated Team
Technical Knowledge Meets Practical Experience
Designers bring code, zoning, and CAD expertise. Builders bring field experience and constructability insight. Working together creates more resilient plans. Example: a large structural beam in a basement can impact ceiling height and duct routes. When builder and designer collaborate, bulkheads are avoided or turned into intentional features.
Plan Systems Pathways Early
Every element travels from point A to point B on site. Ducts, plumbing, and wiring need space. Design build maps these paths during design so ceilings, soffits, and chases are planned, not accidental.
Planning Your Custom Home
Define Your North Star
Decide which spaces matter most and how you live in them. Identify rooms that deserve priority, how daylight should work in bedrooms and living areas, and what functions the home must support.
Build Your Team Early
Interview designers and builders first. Include excavation and key trades in early conversations so site work, access, and logistics are planned with the whole picture in mind.
Protect The Budget
Choose a team that treats the budget like a top requirement. Continuous alignment on priorities keeps spending focused on what matters most to you.
Risk Management And Communication
Risk Management Plan
As projects move from pre construction into construction, the team produces a risk management plan. It outlines known risks, material lead times, and coordination items so surprises are minimized.
Communication Culture
Buck Robertson Contracting operates with a simple promise: contracting with communication. Clear updates and shared understanding keep the project moving in the right direction.
Closing
This first episode sets the foundation for future topics and interviews with realtors, builders, specialty trades, and apprentices. The goal is to educate homeowners and guide them through every step so each custom home feels tailored, thoughtful, and well executed.
