Navigating the Bidding and Value Engineering Journey with Zaga Design Group
Why We Offer Bidding and Value Engineering
At Zaga Design Group, we prioritize the smooth execution of your residential project from conception to completion. With our decades of experience in residential architecture, we have discovered that the most effective way to ensure the success of our clients' projects is by engaging the architect from start to finish. For this reason, we provide our residential clients comprehensive services that include the Bidding, Value Engineering, and Construction Administration phases. Our Bidding and Value Engineering (BVE) process helps secure a competitive, efficient, and cost-effective project. This process typically runs concurrently with your municipality's review of your Construction Documents for approval. In this blog post, we will outline the benefits of our BVE process and the steps we take to help our clients achieve a successful project outcome.
The Process:
Identifying Contractors and Site Visits
Our BVE process begins with helping you find three suitable contractors. We can recommend contractors based on our established relationships or consider those recommended to you by your network. To familiarize the contractors with your project, we arrange site visits to your existing home so they can assess the conditions and ask any questions about the project. Some general contractors may bring specific trades along for these visits to further clarify their scope of work.
Bid Analysis and Comparison
Contractors typically require 4-6 weeks to prepare their bids. We analyze these bids and compile them into a comparative spreadsheet to identify any discrepancies and outliers in the numbers. Our primary goal is to ensure that all contractors are bidding on the same scope of work, minimizing potential misunderstandings and difficult conversations during construction.
Client Review and Contractor Interviews
Once we have completed our analysis, we provide you with a comprehensive package for review. We also assist you in interviewing each contractor from a communication and process standpoint, helping you ask essential questions about their change order process, lien waiver releases, and warranties, among other items.
Adjustments and Value Engineering
Based on the feedback received from contractors and the bids, we may make changes to the project scope. This stage allows us to implement cost-saving ideas and adjust the drawings as necessary for contractors to reprice specific items. By engaging with contractors in this phase, we can better align the final scope with your project goals.
Contract Review and Negotiation
Before signing an agreement with a contractor, we review the contract to ensure that necessary protections and clearly defined roles and processes are in place. We may also negotiate on your behalf, addressing aspects such as project delivery timelines or deposit requirements.
While the Bidding and Value Engineering process may not be the most glamorous aspect of a residential project, our clients have found immense value in it. By eliminating surprise costs and ensuring all parties have a clear understanding of the project scope, we can deliver a more efficient and satisfying construction experience. Moreover, the BVE process allows us to remain up-to-date on industry pricing and become better designers in the process. Ultimately, the BVE process is just one of the many unique and valuable offerings we provide here at Zaga Design Group.