Tips for Builders to Balance Cost and Quality

When phone inquiries and sales begin to drop, it’s common for builders to consider ways they can cut costs. However, today’s buyers are quick to notice cheap shortcuts, and making the wrong cuts can affect sales can even more. Instead of slashing costs, builders can use value engineering, a thoughtful process in which builders review home design and construction practices to make smart improvements, according to a blog post from Denver-based architecture firm KGA Architects. Though it can be viewed as a simple cost-cutting tactic, strategic value engineering focuses on enhancing quality and efficiency without lowering standards. Done properly, it can improve design, building methods, and use of materials, ultimately leading to cost savings as a bonus rather than it being the main goal.

Value engineering in residential architecture takes a whole systems approach and re-examines each phase of a home’s construction life cycle. A thoughtfully designed and high-performance home is imperative to remain competitive, and value engineering opens up dialogue among your team members to make incremental improvements that add value to both the builder and buyer. If you would like to discuss house plan review options, please contact us below for a consultation. Read more