YOUR DESIGN / BUILD DREAM TEAM
Built by Design was founded in an Olathe neighborhood cul-de-sac in 2004 by David Schmidt & Mike Schwartz. Tired of corporate life in a cubicle, we decided to follow our mutual dream of owning our own company & using our project management expertise in more creative ways. Since then, we have completed hundreds of projects for satisfied clients, won numerous industry awards & our work has been featured in 435 Magazine, The Kansas City Star & Country Living Magazine.
David Schmidt – Co-Owner/Space Planner
Mike Schwartz – Co-Owner/Business Manager
Kristen Schwartz – Interior Design Consultant
WE LIVE BY THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES
INTEGRITY
We act with honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior; always striving for clear communication with our clients.
QUALITY
We deliver high-quality craftsmanship, materials, and attention to detail from start to finish.
CLIENT SATISFACTION
We focus on homeowner needs to bring each unique design to life.
TIMELINESS
We work tirelessly with our subcontractors and vendors to adhere to project schedules.
SAFETY
We take pride in our job-site safety procedures not only for our subcontractors, but for our clients and their families.
OUR 5 STEP DESIGN / BUILD PROCESS
Your “Built by Design Experience” begins the moment you send us a Consultation Request. It is our belief that everyone that reaches out deserves a response: one of our team will contact you even if we’re not a good fit for your request. We believe an educated homeowner is better able to navigate their remodel regardless of who their contractor is & are happy to provide referrals. If we are a good fit for your project we provide 2 complimentary site visits, a detailed scope of work, design elevations, a 3D design walkthrough & a project budget. We specialize in high-end, custom & refined scopes of work. We refuse to cut corners or lower our standards. Depending on the square footage & types of options desired, prospective clients can expect our bids to reflect these high standards. Once the design & budget are approved, we will move toward construction. Below is our 5 Step Design / Build Process that is the footprint to the success of our clients’ projects.
STEP 1: Design Consultation
If we are a good fit for your project, you will meet with our Space Planner to discuss your project in detail. He will walk through the space, take measurements & photos, & will focus on learning the goals, wants & must haves of your project. He will also make sure you get to know Built by Design, our team & our processes.
STEP 2: Design Presentation
Our Space Planner will return with a design based on the layout of your space, your project goals & your budget. He will walk you through an architect-sized floor plan, present a detailed scope of work based on the design, show you a 3D view of the design & provide a fixed price contract document that outlines our payment terms. During this meeting he will make changes to the design based on your comments to dial in the details. At the conclusion of the meeting, he will leave you with the scope of work & contract (the designs remain our property until a contract is signed). He will then make the necessary adjustments to the documents & designs, sending those revised documents to you for approval. If a 3rd meeting is needed, that can be scheduled at this time.
STEP 3: Preconstruction
For us, this is where the rubber meets the road. You will be assigned a project manager from our team of professionals & will begin working with our Interior Design Consultant to finalize design material selections & refine the scope of work. Your project manager will reach out to discuss pre-construction details & answer any questions you may have. Preconstruction planning reduces the potential for communication breakdown & unexpected cost increases.
STEP 4: Construction
Prior to beginning work we will perform a project walkthrough where your Project Manager will review the scope of work with the Space Planner & discuss logistics with you, such as your work schedule, pet considerations, home access & anything unique to your lifestyle. During the lifetime of your project, your Project Manager will keep you abreast of the project schedule & any key dates through a weekly project update email so that you have a clear understanding of how the work is to proceed.
STEP 5: Project Close Out
We begin every project with the end in mind so that when we complete the job you can enjoy it! During construction, our team is constantly performing quality checks on our subs to eliminate the need for call backs or extensive punch list items that can bog down the project completion. Having said that, it is worth noting that material & labor shortages caused by the pandemic are still affecting our industry. We are, at times, at the mercy of our subs & vendors; we communicate any delays or product unavailability to you as soon as we are made aware, but delays can & should be expected. Our process is designed to provide professional communication throughout the duration of your project & provide opportunities for ongoing dialogue curbing delays & preventing surprises.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Built by Design utilizes a Design Contract anytime a project includes structural alterations such as removing load bearing walls or in extensive whole home remodels. Once the homeowners have met with a company representative to go over design ideas & estimated costs, a Design Contract is signed & a fee is collected. The fee covers the cost of an architect &/or engineer, our design time, as well as any other expenses incurred during the process of creating a fixed price Build Contract. Once both parties have completed their Design Contract deliverables, we present a complete build package to the homeowner that includes stamped architect/engineering prints, all design elevations & showroom selections in a comprehensive Scope of Work. If the homeowners decide to move forward the Design Contract fee is deducted from the Build Contact & the homeowners own everything we’ve done to date.
Built by Design is a custom design / build firm & custom is never “average.” We work diligently to design what homeowners dream of, making certain that the finished project reflects their unique tastes, not what their next-door neighbor has already done. We make every effort to work within the budget parameters given to us & do our best to offer cost-saving ideas that don’t compromise quality.
As a general contractor, Built by Design utilizes the skills & experience of licensed subcontractors on our projects. We have been using the same companies, & in most instances the same tradesmen, for over 19 years. We don’t shop our jobs to find the cheapest labor. Our subs specialize in remodeling (a different beast than new home construction) & they know what we expect of them to meet our very high standards.
Built by Design has 2 project managers with over 50 years of combined experience. Because we are a small company, each project manager can only effectively manage a few jobs simultaneously. Your project manager is assigned by virtue of their current project load.
Yes & no…mostly no. Built by Design is one of the only design/build firms among our peers that does not charge to provide an estimate for interior remodeling work (i.e. lower level finishes, kitchen or bath remodels).
No money exchanges hands until a contract is signed.
When a homeowner is requesting a bid for any type of work that will require the services of an architect or engineer, our process changes in order to account for costs associated with this type of bid. The homeowners still get the free estimate described above, but in order to provide a fixed bid we charge for a Design Contract.This fee pays for the services of an architect & engineer to approve plans, surveys, permits & our design time. The fee for the Design Contract is then applied as a deposit on the contract cost.
We do! Although not a certified interior designer, our Interior Design Consultant, Kristen, has been working in the interior design arena with friends & family since high school. All of our clients work with her to select the foundation pieces for their remodel. This includes appointments with our cabinet shop, countertop showroom & tile showroom, hands-on assistance with selecting plumbing & lighting fixtures, paint colors & flooring. All of this is included in the fixed price bid. For additional help with things like furniture, rugs, window treatments & décor, Kristen works on an hourly basis outside of the Built by Design umbrella.
Yes. If you prefer to do the work yourself, or have a handy family member, our space planner does offer design work. For a flat fee, he will provide:
- 8 hours of design time
- 2 on-site homeowner client meetings
- 4 completed 18×24 construction plans with building details and elevations for interior remodel
- electronic PDF copy of floorplan
- photo suite of 3D renderings of space to be finished (max 30 pictures).
Since the contract our clients sign is a “fixed bid” we’ve both agreed to pay the amount on the document. The only time the price goes up is when the client makes a change or a selection that costs more than the amount specified in the contract. Prior to that change happening, or purchase being made, the client is made aware of the additional cost & is asked to approve the change. This way, the client has total control over their budget & can decide if or where they want to splurge.
As a general rule, yes. We typically recommend at least 10% of the contract. Remodeling can feel like a moving target, for both the contractor & the homeowner! Unseen conditions behind walls or ceilings, old wiring or plumbing that we’re required to bring up to code, original builder cost-cutting measures, or fun ones like falling in love with a level 9 quartzite countertop when your contract allowance was for level 4 quartz. Plan ahead for unexpected project overages & celebrate when you manage to only use 3%!