5 Reasons to Hire a Designer Before Building Your Dream Home

Building your dream home is an exciting process, but it can also be overwhelming. With so many decisions to make, it's easy to get lost in the details. It can be stressful when your builder needs to know where every light fixture in the home needs to go before the first hammer is swung. That's where a designer comes in. Hiring a designer first can actually save you time, money, and stress in the long run. In this blog post, we'll explore the reasons why hiring a designer should be your first step in building your dream home.

Accurate Pricing

Without a detailed plan and design for your home, builders can only guess at the final cost of your project. This can lead to inaccurate estimates and unexpected expenses down the line. Hiring a designer for your initial design and plan will allow builders to price your project more accurately and help you avoid surprises in the budget.

When building your dream home, there are a lot of moving parts to keep in mind. One important consideration is the builder's budget allowances, which can sometimes fall short of the quality and options you have in mind for your home. If you push a builder to hit a certain price point, they may resort to trimming their budget to meet that goal. Unfortunately, this can result in disappointment and frustration when it comes time to select light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, cabinetry hardware, and other details, only to find that the budget doesn't allow for what you had in mind. This can feel like a bait and switch situation, requiring costly upcharges and change orders to achieve the desired results. This is where the guidance of a designer can prove invaluable, as they can help keep your expectations and budget aligned from the outset, ensuring that your vision for your dream home is realized without any unpleasant surprises.

There are also items that your finished dream home can't be without that may not be included in your builders budget and plan. Drapery and blinds, landscaping, outdoor patio spaces, closet hardware, smart home tech, A/V systems, custom cabinetry, etc. may not be part of the builder's bid package. A designer can help you identify the gaps that may not be covered, help you find providers for those services you can't do without, and keep you from being surprised by an expense at the end of the build that needs to be part of your dream home.

Avoid Costly Mistakes and Changes

Designers are experienced in helping homeowners make smart design decisions. They understand how materials work together and how to communicate design details with suppliers and contractors. By hiring a designer, you can avoid costly mistakes, such as ordering inappropriate materials, and ensure that your home will be beautiful, functional, and perfectly tailored to your family's needs.

Once you have a complete design plan, you'll be less inclined to add last-minute changes that can delay the project and add unnecessary costs. A comprehensive design plan gives you a clear vision of the end result and helps avoid the temptation of adding on extra features that aren't necessary.

Save Time

There are literally hundreds of decisions to make when building a home. A detailed design plan sets the foundation for a smooth building process. With a detailed plan in place, builders can move forward more quickly and efficiently, reducing the overall build time.

Don't spend your time obsessing over where the light switches should be located in each room or where to hang each light fixture while the electrician is standing around waiting for your response. An experienced designer can make short work of these seemingly mundane decisions and keep the project on track. This means less time for you spent in meetings and on construction sites and quicker move-in dates for you and your family.

Improve Your Builder's Experience

Your builder will appreciate working with a designer. Having a complete design plan and materials selections ready before construction begins will help your builder stay on schedule and avoid delays. By taking the lead with design decisions, you'll alleviate stress and frustration from your builder, and they will thank you for it.

Make Your Home Stunning

While builders and architects are great at adding form and function to a house, an experienced designer will insert beauty and elegance into your dream home.

From the very first step inside, a designer knows exactly how to create an eye-catching focal point in each room, ensuring a seamless flow throughout your home. They possess a keen understanding of furniture placement and layout optimization, guaranteeing an ideal arrangement and placement of fixtures that maximizes both style and comfort.

And let's not forget the value of curb appeal. A designer will turn the exterior of your home into a genuine work of art, leaving passersby in awe and inspiring inevitable camera clicks of admiration from curious onlookers.

Conclusion

Building a new home is a significant investment, both financially and emotionally. By hiring a designer, you can ensure that your dream home is designed with accuracy, efficiency, and style in mind. A professional designer not only creates a beautiful space but also provides a comprehensive plan for your builder, saves you time and money, and helps you avoid costly mistakes. With all of these benefits, hiring a designer should be your first step in building your dream home.