How to save time and money on construction projects.
When it comes to building your dream home, all contractors and clients have the same goal: Save money and get it built as soon as possible, and that is exactly what they should be trying to accomplish, but how do you do it? I love the example of hiring the least expensive mason to lay out the house, pour the footings and slab, and then build the block walls. The number one priority with the foundation is that it has to be SQUARE, LEVEL AND PLUMB, or the job is a complete mess and everyone is fighting with the obstacles to get their job done until the finish. If you really want to save money and time, it is necessary to hire the absolute best mason that money can buy.
I also have potential clients who complain about the cost of plans as well as how long it takes to complete them. They say that they want the plans as soon as possible and at the lowest cost. The truth is they really want the entire project finished as soon as possible and at the lowest cost.
We typically try to charge 3% of the construction cost. (see 2025 Architect Costs | Fees to Draw Plans & Designs) and (Discover the True Cost of House Plans: A Comprehensive Guide – Houseplanstory)
How Quality and Detail Affect Plans for Savings
Will the quality and detail of the plans affect the cost of the home and time to build it? Our plans have all of the details and sections required to have subcontractors and suppliers bid the job correctly with very few RFI’s (request for information). A poorly detailed set of plans may require bidders to add a percentage for unknown cost factors and the slightest mistake may drag out the time of completion.
Is the house structurally designed to be easy to build with as few beams as possible? We design a beautiful home that is easy to build and that saves time and money.
Plan review from the Jurisdiction is also a factor. We have had plans go through plan review with little to no comments. The sooner the plans are approved the sooner you can start construction. It is REALLY important for the architect you hire to get through plan review quickly. You can’t start construction until the plans are approved.
Does the architect respond quickly to issues in the field? We go out of our way to quickly resolve any problems and that keeps the project moving. An unresponsive architect could force the job to shut down if the job is stopped because of an issue in the field. Once sub-contractors leave a job it may be hard to get them to return.
If the home is going to cost $1,000,000, our plans should be around $30,000. If you asked the designer to reduce their fee by $5000 you would be reducing the total cost of construction by one half percent but the architect would be reducing their fee by 16.6%.
If a good architect was able to reduce construction cost by 5% you would reduce construction cost by $50,000 and if time is money, well, I’ll let you figure that one out.
Get Started with Tampa Bay Design Group
Ready to start your next project? Contact Tampa Bay Design Group today to schedule a consultation and discover how we can transform your home. Visit our website to learn more about our services and see examples of our work.
Name of Author – Lee Curtis