What Separates Design-Build Remodeling From Regular Remodeling and Why It Matters For Your Sarasota Home
At Sennes Design Build, we’ve helped countless homeowners across Sarasota transform their spaces into something more functional, beautiful, and tailored to their lifestyle. And if there’s one question we hear all the time, it’s this:
What’s the difference between design-build and regular remodeling?
This is a great question, and an important one. Remodeling your home is a major investment of time, money, and trust. Understanding the difference between design-build and design-bid-build (traditional remodeling) can help you make a more confident and informed decision about how to approach your next home renovation in Sarasota.
Let’s break it down.
Design-Build is Faster
One of the biggest advantages of the design-build method is speed and accuracy.. In a traditional remodel, the homeowner first hires a designer or architect to draw up plans. Then, those plans go out for bids to contractors. Once the builder is chosen, construction begins.
That process takes time. And if there are revisions or budget issues, everything slows down even more.
In contrast, design-build brings everything under one roof. The design and construction teams work side by side from day one. Because the project is being developed and priced simultaneously, decisions are made more efficiently, changes are easier to manage, and construction can often begin while parts of the design are still being finalized.
For Sarasota homeowners looking to avoid lengthy delays and drawn-out construction timelines, design-build remodeling delivers results faster and more efficiently.
Design-Build is a More All-Encompassing Process
Another major difference? Design-build is more holistic. Instead of juggling multiple contracts and points of contact, you work with one unified team that guides your remodel from concept to completion.
At Sennes Design Build, we manage:
Initial design consultations
Architectural planning and permitting
Interior design and material selections
Construction and project management
All of it, all in one place.
This all-inclusive approach gives Sarasota homeowners a smoother, more personalized remodeling experience. Our designers and builders collaborate with you to align every detail with your budget, style, and goals. That means less stress, better communication, and a finished product that reflects your vision without compromise.
Design-Bid-Build Opens the Door for Improper Bidding
In traditional remodeling, the process typically involves design-bid-build. This means you hire an architect or designer first, then send the plans out to contractors for bids.
Sounds straightforward, right? Not always.
The issue is that contractors are often bidding on incomplete or overly ambitious designs without enough collaboration during the planning stage. They may underbid just to win the job, only to hit you with change orders later when they "discover" something that wasn't accounted for.
This bidding model encourages competition, but it also encourages cut corners, lowball pricing, and hidden costs.
With a design-build firm like ours, the design and construction teams work together on pricing from the beginning. We give you a realistic, transparent estimate that reflects actual costs, not guesses. There’s no incentive to underbid or mislead. Our goal is a successful project, not a quick contract.
Design-Bid-Build Allows for Architectural Mistakes That the Owner Pays For
Another downside of traditional remodeling is the disconnect between the architect and the builder. Designers may create a stunning concept, but if they aren’t involved in construction, they may not catch technical or budgetary issues in time.
That’s where Sarasota homeowners can get stuck.
When the plans are handed off to a builder, any mistakes, omissions, or impractical design elements often become the homeowner’s financial responsibility. Worse, some contractors won’t flag those issues until construction is well underway, leading to costly redesigns and frustrating delays.
In a design-build system, the entire team reviews the plans together. The builder can raise red flags early. The designer can adapt accordingly. And because everyone is working toward the same goal, the final design is buildable, beautiful, and within your budget.
You don’t get stuck footing the bill for misaligned plans.
Design-Bid-Build Is a Three-Way Finger-Pointing Situation
Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of traditional remodeling is the lack of accountability.
When you hire an architect and a contractor separately, you’re the one stuck in the middle. If something goes wrong on-site, the builder might blame the designer. The designer might blame the builder. And you’re left trying to sort it out while paying the price in time and money.
In contrast, design-build eliminates the blame game.
With one unified team, everyone is responsible for the full outcome. There’s a single point of contact, a single contract, and a shared commitment to your satisfaction. At Sennes Design Build, we own every step of the process, and that means we’re accountable for quality, communication, and results.
One Team, One Contract
This is the heart of the design-build model: a unified team under a single contract.
Rather than coordinating separate contracts with multiple vendors, you sign one agreement with a design-build firm. That means your entire project, design, pricing, construction, and project management, is handled by one experienced, cohesive team.
This simplifies everything. Communication is streamlined. Decisions are faster. The risk of miscommunication, delays, and errors drops dramatically.
And when you hire a Sarasota-based team like ours, you get the added benefit of working with professionals who know the local permitting process, zoning codes, hurricane regulations, and construction best practices.
Faster Project Timelines
Sarasota homeowners don’t want to wait six months just to start a kitchen renovation. With design-bid-build, delays are common:
Waiting for designs to be finalized
Bidding processes that take weeks or months
Construction that starts only after multiple rounds of revisions
Design-build shortens the timeline by overlapping design and construction planning. As the design progresses, our construction team begins preparing the schedule, materials, and permitting. We don’t wait to get moving.
This collaborative approach accelerates your renovation while maintaining quality and attention to detail.
Cost Certainty & Budget Control
In traditional remodeling, budget surprises are common. Often, the design is completed with little input from a contractor. Then the homeowner discovers the project will cost much more than expected.
With design-build, we start with your budget. From day one, our design and construction teams collaborate to ensure your plans are realistic and cost-effective.
That means:
Transparent, upfront pricing
Value engineering to find smarter solutions
Fewer change orders and last-minute expenses
We believe that Sarasota homeowners deserve cost clarity, not cost shock. Design-build makes that possible.
Collaborative Problem Solving
When builders and designers work together from the beginning, you get smarter solutions. Whether it’s figuring out how to open up a kitchen layout, add storage to a bathroom, or optimize energy efficiency in your home, collaboration leads to better outcomes.
And that collaboration extends to you.
We involve our Sarasota clients in the design-build process, guiding you through material selections, finishes, and layout decisions. We offer practical insight and creative alternatives when needed. It’s not just our project, it’s yours.
This synergy between team members and the client is something you rarely see in a traditional remodel.
Higher Accountability and Better Quality
In design-bid-build, if something goes wrong, it’s hard to know who’s responsible. The architect might say the builder didn’t follow the plans. The builder might say the plans were flawed.
In design-build, the team is responsible for everything. We’re not just creating the plans or just swinging the hammers, we’re accountable for the final product, start to finish.
This leads to:
Better quality control
Fewer miscommunications
A deeper sense of ownership and pride in the work
At Sennes Design Build, we treat every project like it's our own home. That level of commitment sets us apart.
Why It Matters for Your Sarasota Home
Sarasota is full of beautiful homes, from historic bungalows to modern coastal builds. Whether you’re remodeling your kitchen, updating a mid-century home, or planning a full addition, choosing the right remodeling approach makes a huge difference.
Design-build gives you:
A faster, smoother renovation
Greater control over your budget
One team who understands your goals
Higher quality craftsmanship and accountability
Less stress and fewer surprises
At Sennes Design Build, we’ve proudly served homeowners throughout Sarasota and the surrounding areas with a design-build approach that’s rooted in trust, communication, and excellence.
If you’re thinking about a remodel, we’d love to show you what’s possible.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation. Let’s bring your vision to life the design-build way
