Know the Numbers, Before you Design

There are some phenomenal home designs that come from custom architecture. But, there are also a lot of designs that never had a chance to get built at all.

Why?

The clients and architect engage and start designing from a blank page. Neither the client nor the architect has much handle on the price of construction until AFTER the design is largely complete.

By the time the design is developed to the point that contractors can be solicited for bids, a lot of design thinking and production is already done (and already paid for by the client). Those design decisions were agreed upon, drafted, documented (maybe even permitted) without very meaningful guidance on the impact they might have on construction costs or ROI. That can work well for someone with a blank check, but tends to fall apart when there are budget constraints.

The result?

Beautifully designed projects that aren’t financially viable, or desirable, for the client. Could lead to a major redesign if the client has the stomach to keep pushing forward. More often, though, it’s another set of expensive home plans that will sit on the shelf, and no house to show for it.

What a bummer.

We hear that tale quite often from clients that started their home design and development journey elsewhere before finding HUTS.

Most of our HUTS studio team members come from the world of high-end architecture firms, with a focus on residential. We believe that exceptional design is table stakes for our homes. We’ve chosen, then, to build our process with a solution to this pricing-at-the-end problem, and make it the core of our approach and our value-add that we can accurately advise on costs right from the very beginning.

About 85% of our projects start from our Standards. These aren’t just home plans. They are fully-developed home products with construction methods and assemblies defined, material take-offs and options fully specified, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems developed, foundation and structural details to account for all types of regional conditions. Most importantly, they are developed such that from the start we know what they cost to build, usually within 10%.

(Check out our pricing guide for the Hudson Valley, one of many such regional tools we provide clients to accurately set build cost expectations right from the get-go).

Why does that matter?

Well, after we choose a starting Standard that matches a client’s budget and usage goals, we begin to modify it to meet the parcel conditions, local code, aesthetic perspective and unique considerations. That usually comes with design thoughts from the client. But, rather than just making those drawings, we can accurately advise on the impact of any given change on the construction costs and decide whether it’s worth it. We don’t need to wait on a GC to give us pricing, and more often than not we determine for our builders what the material, finish and fixture costs of our home designs will be.

The result?

Without pricing surprises, our clients actually build their HUTS homes at a significantly higher rate than through any other design and construction approach. And they do so on homes that are stunningly beautiful with customizations that make them unique to each individual client.

Want to learn more about our approach?

Check out our Webinar Series on our YouTube channel.