01
Discovery & Feasibility
1–2 weeks · no costWe listen to your goals, walk the property, and assess feasibility against budget and timeline. You leave knowing whether design-build fits.
What is
design-build?
What is design-build?
One firm handles design and construction under a single contract. We have worked this way since 2015. Some clients use our in-house design team; many come with an architect they have already chosen.
The team that designs is the same team that builds. Design is buildable from day one. Budget stays aligned. One team owns accountability. The builder is at the design table early, validating cost before bid-shock derails the project.
One Team. One Contract. Zero Gaps.
Design-Build + Traditional
Design-build vs. traditional.
The traditional construction model (hire an architect, complete the design, then bid the plans to general contractors) has three structural problems that design-build eliminates.
Design-Build
Combined collaboration from day one
Traditional
Design-bid-build · sequential phases
Start
Move-in
Cost locked earlier. Design-build establishes total cost before construction starts — traditional locks it only after bidding is complete.
15–25% faster. Overlapping design + construction planning eliminates the redesign cycles that happen when bids come in over budget.
The Budget Gap
The architect designs without real-time cost feedback. Plans go to bid and come back 20–40% over. Design-build validates every decision against current rates while the plan is still yours to change.
The Accountability Gap
When something goes wrong, the architect blames construction and the contractor blames design. You mediate. Design-build runs on one contract. No ambiguity about who owns the outcome.
The Timeline Gap
Traditional delivery is sequential: design, bid, build. Design-build overlaps phases — preconstruction, trade coordination, and long-lead procurement run in parallel with design. That overlap saves 15–25% on total timeline.
How It + Works
The design-build process.
Five phases. One team owns all of them, so the handoff gaps that plague traditional construction never appear.
02
Preconstruction Agreement
4–8 weeks · paidDesign, engineering, selections, permits, and cost validation against a live model. You end with completed plans, a fixed construction price, and a construction contract. Construction is optional.
03
Design Development
concurrent with preconstructionConstruction validates buildability and flags cost impacts as drawings develop. That overlap eliminates the redesign cycles that happen when bids come in over budget.
04
Construction
varies by scopeThe team that designed the project manages construction. Scope, selections, and costs are defined before the first swing. Whole-home remodels run 6–14 months. Custom homes run 12–18 months.
05
Completion & Closeout
1–2 weeksFinal walkthrough, punch list, formal handover. You receive warranty documentation, maintenance guidance, and the complete project record — every decision, spec, and email on file years later.
What It + Costs
What design-build costs.
Design-build doesn't change the cost of materials and labor. It changes budget predictability.
Change orders are the main source of budget surprises. In design-build they average 3–7% of contract value vs. 10–20% traditional. The difference is earlier cost validation.
The benefit applies whether the design comes from our in-house team or an architect you already trust. What matters is that the builder is in the design conversation before bids.
Custom homes From $700K ($250–$400+/sf)
Whole-home remodels From $200K
Integrated additions From $200K
Commercial tenant improvements Quoted by scope
How to + Evaluate
How to evaluate a design-build firm.
Not every firm calling itself "design-build" actually operates that way. Five criteria separate the real from the rebranded.
01
In-house design capability
The firm employs designers and architects directly, or partners with architects who stay on the team through construction. Not handed off after drawings.
02
A paid preconstruction phase
Firms offering "free estimates" for complex work are cutting corners or burying the cost elsewhere. A paid preconstruction phase is how design-build firms deliver accurate pricing and buildable plans.
03
Published pricing
Fewer than 10% of design-build firms publish investment ranges. Firms that do trust their pricing process.
04
Frequent progress reporting
Weekly check-ins and crisis calls aren't reporting. A committed design-build firm delivers routine updates with photos, milestones, and next steps.
05
Portfolio of similar scope
Ask to see completed projects at your scope and investment level. A firm that builds $50K bathrooms isn't automatically qualified for a $700K custom home.
How Reschka Design Build measures up.
We meet all five. Some clients work with our in-house design team from first sketch. Others arrive with an architect in place and want a builder who'll collaborate. Both paths run the same workflow: preconstruction, cost validation, fixed-price construction contract, one point of accountability.
Every project runs through paid preconstruction. We publish investment ranges. Clients receive weekly progress reports. Our portfolio shows completed work at the scope we build — no $50K bathrooms mixed with $2M custom homes.
Common + Questions
Frequently asked.
Do I need an architect if I hire a design-build firm?
Not always. We offer in-house design and also collaborate with architects our clients bring in. Either path puts the builder in the design conversation from day one and gives you one point of accountability through construction.
Can I use my own architect with a design-build firm?
Yes, and many projects start that way. When you bring an architect you already trust, we join the first working session to validate buildability and cost as design develops. The architect leads design; we bring constructibility and budget intelligence. The contract stays single-source through RDB.
What is a preconstruction agreement?
A paid contract covering design, engineering, and planning. Typically 3–8% of estimated construction value. You end with completed plans, a fixed construction price, and a construction contract. Not obligated to proceed.
How long does a design-build project take?
Whole-home remodels run 6–14 months. Custom homes 14–24 months. Additions vary by scope. Every project includes preconstruction (4–8 weeks) before construction. Design-build timelines typically run 15–25% shorter than traditional.
Is design-build right for every project?
Design-build works best for complex projects: multiple rooms, structural changes, additions, or custom homes. For a straightforward bathroom update or cosmetic refresh under $50,000, a contractor directly is usually simpler.
Last updated: April 2026
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