The Design Build Process

At Comito Building and Design, we utilize a Design-Build approach for designing and building our luxury custom homes. This approach brings together professional design and construction experience into a fluid process.

Our company handles both the architectural design and the actual construction of the project, which means you enjoy greater continuity of service throughout the process. This joining of services will also save you time and money, and helps make you more of a partner in the construction of your new home or remodel. It is also important to note that we can become your building team at any point during the planning phase. While we prefer the Design-Build approach, we would love the opportunity to talk with you about any blueprints you have already created.

Design Phase

Preliminary Planning

In this phase of the design process, we will take the time to get to know your ideas, tastes, space needs and goals for your new home or remodel. We will discuss generalities such as ideal square footage, architectural style, the building site and any opportunities (views, privacy, etc.) or restraints (setbacks, topography, soils conditions) it presents. We will also talk about your budgetary goals, throughout the design phase we will guide you with the design, size and complexity of your home, based on our knowledge of costs, to make sure the project matches your budget.

  • Discuss ideas, style, size needs, and goals of the home
  • Discuss budgetary goals and design the home to meet your budget

Architectural Design

At this point in our design phase, we will introduce one of our architects or designers to start the blueprints for your home. The designer/architect will take into account the previously discussed ideas, needs and goals along with any site conditions and building code requirements, and combine these elements to create your preliminary design/sketches. As the customer, you are the most important member of the design-build team; your wishes and ideas drive the design, materials selection, and budget. Our firm provides the building experience, knowledge and skills that turn your ideas into reality. At the close of this phase we will have refined those preliminary sketches into a final design.

  • Enlist the services of one of our architects or designers
  • Start preliminary sketches
  • Refine the preliminary sketches into final design blueprints

Materials Selection and Pricing

Once we have established a final design and many times before the blueprints are complete, we will begin to look at the different materials that are available for your new home. Our dedicated Client Coordinator will walk you through the process of preliminary shopping and decision-making on finishes featured throughout your home; including cabinets, floor coverings, exterior finishes, plumbing fixtures, etc. With these preliminary selections we can then generate a final contract price.

Benefits of working with a Design-Build Team from the start
  • Work with the same dedicated team from start of design through construction completion
  • Design the home to meet your budget with an experienced builder that has extensive knowledge of building and materials costs
  • Because the planning takes into account the realities of the construction process, this process greatly reduces the chances of costly surprises
  • The design of your home is strongly rooted in practical application and experience ~ a thought out design and plan will save time and money

Construction Phase

At this phase we are under contract and the construction begins. The timeframe for this phase will vary depending on the site conditions, time of year and size of home. Throughout the construction phase, you, the client, will be involved in all the material selections and the design decisions. You are an integral part of the building team to make certain that the home being constructed exceeds your expectations. We will assign one of our top-notch project managers to your project, he along with our Client Coordinator, Debbie, will keep in constant contact with you to keep you up to date on job progress and guide you though the decisions that need to be made throughout construction.

Project Manager

Our project managers are the best in the industry and will ensure that the job runs smoothly and precisely in accordance with your selections and decisions. They will be out on site daily supervising and relaying your decisions to our quality subcontractors and suppliers.

Client Coordinator

Debbie Comito, our client coordinator will arrange and attend all of your selection meetings with the various showrooms and tradesmen. Her role ensures that decisions are made on time and relayed to the construction site accurately. Debbie has been an integral part of custom building with husband Claude for over 2 decades. Debbie has the unique ability to ease client’s minds as they navigate the building process together. Fluent in interior design, and always on the lookout for great value, Debbie brings an honest and forthright collaborative approach to ensure Comito clients receive the best possible quality and service available—before and after the sale.