One of the most consistent pieces of feedback we hear from EAC Design Build clients after their projects are complete is that they wish they had understood the process better before it started. Not because anything went wrong, but because the design-build process is genuinely different from the standard remodeling experience, and the differences are almost all advantages that homeowners do not know to expect.
This post describes exactly what working with EAC Design Build looks like, from the first phone call through the final walk-through. No marketing language. Just an honest account of how the process works.
The Initial Consultation
Every EAC Design Build project begins with an in-person consultation at your home. This is not a sales call. It is a design conversation. Charles attends the initial consultation on significant kitchen and whole-home projects, which means the person assessing your home and listening to what you want is the architect who will design it.
The initial consultation typically takes 60 to 90 minutes. We walk the relevant spaces. We ask a lot of questions: about how you use the kitchen, what frustrates you about it, what your daily household patterns are, what design references appeal to you and why. We look at the existing conditions: the structure, the systems, the relationship between rooms.
At the end of the consultation, we give you an honest preliminary assessment: what the project could be, what the range of scope options looks like, and a rough indication of the budget range those options imply. We do not provide a firm price at this stage because the design has not happened yet. We provide enough information for you to decide whether you want to move forward with the design phase.
The Design Phase
If you decide to proceed, the design phase begins. EAC Design Build charges a design fee for this phase, which is separate from the construction cost. The design fee covers Charles’s architectural work, the production of design drawings, and the coordination required to develop the project to construction document level.
The design phase unfolds in two stages.
Schematic Design: 2 to 4 Weeks
Schematic design produces conceptual drawings: floor plans showing the proposed layout, elevations of the key walls showing cabinet and feature design, and a written description of the material and finish direction. This is the phase where the big ideas are tested and refined.
We present schematic design in person. You see the drawings, ask questions, push back on anything that does not feel right, and provide direction for refinement. Most schematic designs go through one to two rounds of revision before the design direction is locked.
Construction Documentation: 4 to 8 Weeks
Construction documentation translates the approved schematic design into the detailed drawings and specifications required to build it accurately. This includes precise cabinet drawings, structural details if walls are being modified, finish schedules specifying every material and product, and electrical and plumbing plans.
These documents are what the construction team builds from. Their completeness and accuracy are what allow the construction phase to proceed without improvisation, which is one of the primary sources of cost overruns and design compromises in projects where documentation is inadequate.
Pricing and Contract
Once construction documents are complete, EAC Design Build produces a detailed itemized cost estimate based on the actual specified scope. This is not an estimate based on square foot averages or rule-of-thumb pricing. It is a line-item breakdown of every element of the project priced against the specific drawings.
We review the estimate with you in detail. If the cost exceeds the available budget, we identify where scope adjustments can be made without compromising the design’s integrity and produce a revised estimate. We do not proceed to construction until both the scope and the price are agreed upon in writing.
The construction contract specifies the scope, the price, the payment schedule, the projected timeline, the change order process, and the warranty terms. It is a complete document designed to protect both parties and eliminate ambiguity.
The Construction Phase
EAC Design Build manages construction with the same team that designed the project. Charles remains involved throughout construction, conducting site visits at key milestones and being available to answer questions as they arise in the field.
Our project manager communicates with you on a defined schedule throughout construction. You receive weekly updates on progress and upcoming phases. You are notified promptly if any condition is discovered that affects the scope or the timeline. Change orders are documented in writing and approved by you before any additional work proceeds.
We do not consider a phase complete until it has been inspected and meets the standard specified in the construction documents. Required inspections by Austin’s building department are scheduled and passed at the appropriate phases.
The Final Walk-Through and Handoff
At project completion, Charles and the project manager conduct a detailed walk-through with you of the finished kitchen. We review every element of the work against the original design intent. Any items that do not meet the specified standard are documented and corrected before final payment is made.
The handoff includes documentation of all installed systems, materials, and maintenance requirements. You receive care instructions for every natural stone surface, information on the appliances and fixtures installed, and contact information for any suppliers or subcontractors whose products carry independent warranties.
Final payment is made after the walk-through confirms that the project is complete and meets the agreed standard.
Understanding the process makes it much easier to plan a remodel with realistic expectations. See the typical Austin kitchen remodel timeline or learn how to choose the right kitchen remodeling contractor before moving forward.
After the Project
EAC Design Build’s relationship with clients does not end at the walk-through. We stand behind our work. If anything covered by our warranty requires attention in the months following completion, we address it. Many of our most significant projects came from clients who worked with us on a first project, experienced the process, and returned for a second.
If you want to understand what the design-build process could produce for your Austin kitchen or home, contact us to schedule an initial consultation.
