When you’re beginning the custom home building process, there is one question that must be answered.  “Which Comes First:  The Builder or the Designer?” Just like the proverbial “chicken and egg,” there are a variety of different perspectives, answers, and opinions.  However, at Mueller Homes, we focus on providing a rewarding and memorable building experience, so we believe the answer is clear.  The builder and designer should work collaboratively to ensure the custom home meets the vision and budgetary needs of the client.  In other words, neither the builder or designer comes first – they must work together.  Here is a story to help explain why this is so important.

Mike and Janine met with a local architect to begin the design process.  They discussed their budget, wants and needs.  They gathered ideas from Pinterest, magazines, family and friends to formulate their ‘dream home concept.’  They went through revision after revision to ensure that every room and every detail of their new home was exactly what they wanted.  With plans in hand, they began setting up meetings with local builders to begin the construction process.  After meeting with four different builders, they realized that their dream concept was approximately 40% over their original budget.

It is important to remember that the architect and/or designer is generally responsible for the aesthetics and design of the home while the builder is responsible for the costs and construction.  This means that the builder is an integral part of the design process to ensure that the designs are feasible for the desired budget.  Often, the builder can make recommendations, throughout the design process, to value engineer the project to accomplish the desired results.

At Mueller Homes, we take pride in our ability to work collaboratively with the architect to provide a rewarding and memorable building experience.

Contact Mueller Homes today so we can help you begin designing the luxury home you’ve always dreamed of!