Design-Build vs. Plans & Bid

Choosing the Best Path for Your Remodel, Addition, or New Construction.

When you’re planning a large remodel, home addition, or even a new construction project, one of the first decisions you’ll make is how to hire your builder. Should you work with an architect first and then gather contractor bids (known as the Plans & Bid method)? Or should you choose a Design-Build contractor who manages the process from start to finish?

What Is the Plans & Bid Method?

The traditional Plans & Bid process separates design and construction into two steps:

1. You hire an architect or plan drafter to create drawings.

2. Once plans are complete, you send them to multiple contractors for bids.

Pros:

• You can compare several contractor quotes.

• You start with a set of finished plans.

Cons:

• Bids often vary widely, making comparisons difficult.

• Architects may design without real-time cost insight, leading to overbuilt plans that blow past your budget.

• Change orders and plan revisions add time and cost.

• The process can create tension between homeowner, architect, and contractor.

What Is Design-Build?

In the Design-Build method, one team (your builder) manages both design and construction. Budget, design, and build are integrated from day one.

Pros:

• Better preparation and planning before the project begins.

• Contractor acts as an advocate for the homeowner during the design phase.

• Cost feedback is built into the design process.

• Smoother communication with architects or drafters.

• Fewer surprises, delays, and costly revisions.

• Faster project timelines since design and construction overlap.

Cons:

• Requires trust in your contractor’s expertise.

• Less about competitive bidding, more about partnership.

Our Approach

At McNamara Contracting, we handle plan drafting in-house for most residential jobs—meaning you often don’t need to hire a full architect. This makes the process less expensive and far more comprehensive than just hiring an architect alone.

By managing the pre-construction process, we ensure that your addition plans or new construction designs are realistic, affordable, and buildable. Without contractor involvement early on, plans are often drawn without price knowledge, which leads to wasted money and wasted time.

When you work with us as your local contractor, you get:

• A smoother design process.

• Realistic budgets from day one.

• A trusted partner who advocates for your vision and priorities.

Which Approach Should You Choose?

• Plans & Bid may work for smaller, straightforward projects where cost flexibility isn’t a concern.

• Design-Build is the best choice for large remodels, home additions, and new construction, where preparation, budget alignment, and peace of mind matter most.

Get Started on the Right Foot

At McNamara Contracting, we specialize in Design-Build projects that eliminate confusion and deliver results. Whether you’re adding an addition, planning a major remodel, or designing a new home, our process keeps everything aligned from the first sketch to the final nail.

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