How Florida Interior Designers Work With A General Contractor

If you have been involved in a home design project before or know someone who is undergoing a renovation, you might be familiar with the term “general contractor.” Or perhaps you have no clear idea of what the role of a general contractor role is. No worries – we’re here to help! This post will help you understand what a general contractor is, and the role it plays in any home design project.

As Miami-based interior designers, we are used to working with different general contractor teams for our residential projects. Whether it’s a new build or remodel, the collaboration between interior designers and general contractors working as a team is key for the success of any home improvement project.

But what is the role of a general contractor? The general contractor is the individual or company whose responsibility is the day-to-day activities of an entire construction project. They ensure that it is executed as smoothly as possible.

A general contractor is also responsible for hiring quality subcontractors to complete specific tasks on the construction project and must have experience managing them. A general contractor works closely with not only subcontractors such as carpenters, plumbers, and painters, but also with the designers.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENERAL CONTRACTOR AND DESIGNERS

Let’s talk about the relationship between interior designers and contractors, because it’s a very important one! We all know that construction projects might have challenging moments and having a trusted extended team member by your side to deal with them makes all the difference!

As interior designers, we translate our clients’ needs for their new spaces into functional and creative designs that are a reflection of who they are. When creating these designs, we select materials, finishes and custom features based on the looks we want to accomplish. Our general goal is that the interior spaces we create meet both the aesthetic and functional needs of our clients.

The general contractor’s role when working with the design team is to understand its vision and guide the construction needed to make them happen.

In order to do that, they need to review the scope of the project, estimate costs, and decide what is the best way to accomplish the design vision, even being honest about whether that vision is possible or not according to construction factors. They are also responsible for obtaining building permits, suggesting solutions, defining timelines for execution, etc.

IS IT ALWAYS NECESSARY TO WORK WITH A GENERAL CONTRACTOR?

This question is on the top ten list of most asked questions when talking with new clients. The answer is, a general contractor is not needed for decorating projects. But any interior project that involves construction work, structural changes or demolition requires the services of a general contractor.

The key to a successful relationship between the designer and general contractor is communication and attention to details.

TIPS FOR A GOOD RELATIONSHIP AND SUCCESSFUL PROJECT

We have experience working with various general contractor teams. Because of that, we have a clear understanding of the key to a successful relationship: communication and a focus on details. There are four key elements that help us create and maintain good relationships with these extended teams. In this post, we share them with you!

COMMUNICATION AND RESPECT

As with any extended team we work with, we strive to create a relationship built on respect and excellent communication. When working on a construction project that requires solving multiple challenges, having an open and honest communication is key for a positive collaboration.

For clear and effective communication, we establish clear and precise communication paths and points of contacts at the beginning of each project. Every party knows whom to contact starting on Day 1, and the most effective way to do it.

Clear communication also means being honest and transparent, even in difficult moments, and knowing how to work together to find the best solutions for our clients. We strive to communicate seamlessly during all the phases of the process. You should always be on the same page as your general contractor. Being kept updated on the status of the project is also important.

DETAILED GC PACKAGES

There are never too many details in a construction project. The more details, the better. Our interior design team is known for its detailed general contractor packages.

We’ve established technical specification packages and drawings with all the necessary information to clearly translate our design intent to general contractors.

We prepare them with the details we know they need and present them in a way that is easy to understand, saving them time, making the process easier and avoiding back-and-forth communications to solve problems.

As a result, the questions are minimal, and the contractor is able to run execution just by relying on our detailed packages. Everything is made clear, from the color of grout to the tile layout.

Not only is it important to include details in the packages, but also to have them completed on time according to the agreed-upon timeline and be ready to be adjusted based on revisions and changes, if needed.

SET MEETINGS REGULARLY

The initial meeting and walkthrough are important. Additionally, you will also need to meet regularly with your general contractor team to stay updated on the project.

We like to meet weekly or biweekly on site during the construction process. During these meetings, we review status, the work recently done, and any problem that needs to be solved. The next step in the process is to review the tasks that need to be done by both parties.

When possible, we like to conduct these meetings on site, since this is a great opportunity for all the teams involved to see the progress made. Also, it is important that the general contractor teams do a constant on-site supervision, and keep the design team updated.

TEAM EFFORT

We both share the same goal: to have happy clients and to build quality, well-designed homes for them. We consider general contractors as part of our team . When a problem needs to be handled, we like to do it together.

Team effort is also key to creating a good relationship. Our efforts are joined in every step of the process. When a team culture is shared with the general contractor, together we accept the bad and good news. Both, with the same collaborative approach. That’s why it is so important to work with a trusted contractor that shares the same  values as your company.

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