I've been through a couple projects now using design-build companies, and here's what I usually do to keep things running smoothly: first, I make sure to clearly outline my goals and expectations upfront—like really detailed, you know, even the nitpicky stuff. Then I set regular check-ins (weekly usually) to catch any issues early. And finally, I always keep a little buffer in the budget and timeline because, um, surprises happen.
Curious if anyone has a different approach or some handy tips they've picked up along the way?
Your approach sounds pretty spot-on, actually. I'm currently in the middle of my first major renovation and your tips line up with what I've learned (sometimes the hard way, lol). One thing I'd add though—I've found it really helpful to keep a shared doc or spreadsheet that tracks decisions, changes, and approvals as we go. Nothing fancy, just something everyone can access easily. It saves a lot of "wait, didn't we agree on something else?" moments later.
Also, I try to be mindful about how often I communicate with the team between check-ins. Too much back-and-forth can slow things down or cause confusion. So I jot down questions as they come up and save them for our weekly meetings. Of course, if it's urgent, that's different.
And yeah, definitely learned the buffer thing the hard way... thought I'd planned everything perfectly until we found some sketchy wiring behind the drywall. 😅 Live and learn, right?
