4 Rules of thumb for Saving Design Time

One of the biggest pitfalls some homeowners face is creating a reasonable timeline for the new design for their home or business. This is especially true for those who are unfamiliar with the construction industry. In general, many people underestimate how long the design phase can take, before they want construction to begin. This is normal!

Although this is normal, unfortunately this just happens to be crucial timing because if you begin designing too late you will not start construction within the parameters you had in mind. Ultimately, it won’t be “on time” according to your specified needs.

Let's look at some rules of thumb to help you avoid doing just that:

Rule of thumb 1: There is no such thing as plenty of time.

The biggest folly is thinking you have plenty of time. You never want to start construction with half completed plans, so just remember you will need much more design time than you think. Contractors need completed plans in hand in order to plan correctly and build well to your exact specifications. More importantly, you will also need more time to decide who you want to work with - both architects and builders!

Rule of thumb 2: The bigger the building, the greater the amount of design time you are going to need.

You never want contractors to “just guess” (as we talked about previously in another post, We Just Guessed) when you can spell a design out well in a plan. The general rule in Architectural Design is the bigger the building, the greater the amount of design time you are going to need. Add in much more time if you are truly indecisive - no judgment here, you just need to really look at who you are.

Rule of thumb 3: The more indecisive you are, the more time you will need.

Let's be real here - designing your forever home is one of the biggest decisions you'll ever make, and there are a TON of decisions to be made. Where should the dining room go? How many windows will I need? How big, and where should they go? Which tile should I choose, and where does it go? Does it complement the other tiles I have over there? Does it play well off of the light fixture I selected?

It's easy to get overwhelmed by the details, and, while a good designer will help you navigate the process, it can still take a while to narrow down all of your choices. Like whether you want the 12"x12" tile or the 24"x24" tile. Or whether that wood trim should be oak stained, or mahogany. This is where architects and designers can really help you with visualization, but that all takes time.

Full disclosure here: I’m one of those folks. I can be very indecisive. I know this and I do not want to be rushed along in my process. I know I will need much more decision time for my custom built “forever” home. These are simply the facts about me. I know who I am when it comes to important decisions - and something you will have to live with every single day is an important decision!

Rule of thumb 4 : Great design teams help save time by really understanding you.

Deciding who will help you walk through the process, and help you navigate the pitfalls, is of the greatest importance.

The design team you choose will either speed up the process by being available, giving you options, and, generally, “get you” as a person, or they can severely hinder your project by being unavailable, uncommunicative, and making decisions without you.

Regardless of which design firm you decide to go with, depending on the size and scope of your project you should give yourself at least four months of lead time for simply creating the design, once you have chosen your team.

If it's a small renovation, the design might be completed in as little as a month or two. If it's a custom home, the design process is much more complicated and can easily take over a year to complete.

When following these rules of thumb you will be sure to find the designer to fit your needs and help you create your ideal space, all while giving you plenty of time to do so.