Watch the video on Design Centers.
Outfitting a home with fixtures, color, and furnishings can be the most stressful part of new home ownership for both the homebuyer and the builder. Getting the customer to make choices early in the process can reduce tension, but without a formal plan of attack, the design phase can drag on, and revisions can lead to lost time on the jobsite and hair-pulling frustration for everyone involved.
While the budget usually determines the lot size, lot orientation, and floor plan, the interior look-and-feel is largely determined by the tastes and preferences of the homebuyer. Particular aesthetic options and functioning details, such as plumbing and fixtures, may be considered standard by the builder, but they might not be what customers want in their home.
Often, to keep on schedule, builders have to make assumptions on the behalf of the homebuyer. With so many options to choose from, it's a good bet that at least a few of the choices the builder makes won't satisfy the homebuyer. An unhappy homebuyer can result in increased tension, costly callbacks, and ultimately an unhappy home buyer.
Using a design center
One tool builders can use to help improve communication, set proper expectations, and provide buyers with a high level of service is a design center. A design center is a central hub of all of the choices homebuyers have regarding the look, feel, and functionality of their home. It can help ensure that before construction begins, homebuyers have a clear expectation of what they're going to see when they move in.
Design centers help homebuyers by showing them, in an organized and centralized way, all of the choices they can and have to make during their home's construction. Everything from door knobs to ceiling fans to floor tile and shower heads can be selected in a design center.
For builders, a design center takes the guess work out of the construction process. It can greatly help builders manage the construction schedule; they'll know everything that needs to be ordered and can make sure all materials arrive on the jobsite when they're needed.
While large production homebuilders may have their own design centers, smaller or custom builders can take advantage of this service as well. Local home improvement stores like The Home Depot and Lowe's will often have a full service design center that homeowners can use.
Builders can also suggest that homebuyers work with a private designer who will help them make choices for their new home. A qualified designer can be a great asset to a builder; a designer should understand the building production schedule and be able to help the buyer work within budget to create the home they want.
Poor communication and documentation of choices can lead to a delay in closing and having to return and repurchase materials to meet the homeowner's expectations. The design center process helps to set clear expectations for both the homebuyer and the builder. It helps the builder manage the construction process, as well as costs, and ensures that buyers receive the home they desire.
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