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A Guide for Custom Home Building

10 Things That Go Wrong When Design and Build Teams Don’t Align

Building or remodeling a home in the Roanoke valley should be exciting, not stressful. But when your design team and your build team aren’t on the same page, things can go downhill fast. Miscommunication, delays, and surprise costs are just a few of the problems homeowners face.

Let’s look at 10 things that can go wrong when your architect and builder don’t work together. Then we’ll talk about how a design-build firm, like TAS DesignBuild in Roanoke, Virginia, helps keep your project smooth from start to finish.

1. Design Plans That Can’t Actually Be Built

It’s common for architects to design a home with features that look amazing—but aren’t practical or safe to build. This could be a roofline that doesn’t meet building codes in Virginia, or a wall full of windows that’s too expensive or won’t pass energy-efficiency rules. Sometimes designers place plumbing or HVAC systems in spots that just don’t work with the structure of the house.

Why this matters:

Builders then have to make changes on the fly or go back to the drawing board. That causes expensive delays and extra planning. In some cases, parts of the plan may need to be totally redone, which frustrates everyone.

2. Blowing Past the Budget Before the First Nail is Hammered

Designers might choose finishes, materials, or layouts without knowing the full cost of labor and materials in your local market. In Roanoke and Southwest Virginia, prices can vary a lot depending on season, supply, and demand. Without input from the builder during planning, the budget can be way off from the start.

Real-world example:

A homeowner might be shown high-end stone countertops or custom cabinets in the design. Then when the builder adds up the real numbers, the project is tens of thousands over what the homeowner expected to spend.

3. Construction Delays That Slow Everything Down

When builders start working from plans they didn’t help create, they often run into surprises. Maybe the framing layout doesn’t line up with the foundation, or the electrical plan interferes with the plumbing. Even one mistake can cause a chain reaction that halts work for days or even weeks.

Why it happens:

Without teamwork early in the process, small design details don’t get double-checked. Builders might need to call in engineers or get updated permits, which takes time and adds stress.

4. Too Many Change Orders Midway Through the Project

Change orders are requests to change something after construction has already started. While some are normal, too many can overwhelm your project. These can be things like moving a wall, changing cabinet layouts, or switching to different siding.

What this means for you:

Each change adds cost, delays your move-in date, and can cause confusion. Change orders are often needed because the original design didn’t include builder input, so it wasn’t practical to begin with.

5. Mixed Messages to the Homeowner

If your designer and builder aren’t in sync, you might get two different answers to one question. Maybe you ask the builder if a wall can be moved and they say yes—but the designer says no because it affects the flow of the layout.

How this plays out:

You feel caught in the middle. It can feel like your project is being pulled in two directions, which leads to frustration and lost trust.

6. Designs That Don’t Match Virginia’s Weather and Codes

In Roanoke and throughout Southwest Virginia, we get hot summers, freezing winters, and humid conditions in between. A home needs to be designed to handle all of that—especially when it comes to insulation, roofing, drainage, and ventilation.

When teams don’t align:

The architect might use materials that look good on paper but can’t stand up to local weather. Or they may not follow county codes closely, which means the builder has to fix things to pass inspection—costing more money and time.

7. Wasted Materials and Missed Deliveries

When the build team gets a plan that’s not complete or has errors, they may order the wrong materials or more than they need. For example, ordering the wrong size windows or trim that doesn’t match the wall measurements.

Why that’s bad:

Not only does this waste money, it also slows the schedule. Waiting on replacement orders can mean shutting down the job site until they arrive, especially in rural parts of Southwest Virginia where delivery can take longer.

8. Job Site Safety Becomes a Problem

Safety should always come first. But when plans don’t match real-world building methods, crews can be put at risk. Maybe a structural beam was left out of the original plans, or a staircase isn’t properly supported. These things are dangerous.

Who gets hurt by this:

Builders, subcontractors, and even inspectors may face injury risks. Fixing safety issues late in the process is costly, and in some cases, could bring fines or failed inspections.

9. Stressed and Confused Homeowners

When things go wrong, you’re the one stuck in the middle. You may feel like you're managing two different companies who are pointing fingers at each other. Instead of enjoying your new space, you’re spending time solving problems you didn’t create.

How this happens:

Without one team guiding the entire process, there’s no clear communication plan. You might have meetings with the designer one day, then different instructions from the builder the next.

10. The Final Home Doesn’t Match Your Dream

One of the worst outcomes is that your finished home just doesn’t feel right. Maybe a window was moved, a ceiling lowered, or a special feature like a fireplace or built-in shelf was cut because of construction limits.

Why it’s disappointing:

You had a clear vision, but no one kept that vision front and center throughout the whole project. Changes along the way watered it down, and now you’re left wishing things had been done differently.

How a Design-Build Firm Fixes All of This

A design-build firm, like TAS Design in Roanoke, brings the designer, builder, and project manager together as one team. Everyone works under the same roof and shares the same goal: building your dream home the right way.

Here’s what that means for you:

One Point of Contact

You talk to one team. There’s no back and forth between an outside architect and a separate builder. This keeps things simple and clear.

Better Planning from Day One

The build team is part of the design process, and the designer stays involved during construction. That means fewer changes and faster decisions.

Smart Budgeting

We know how much things cost in Southwest Virginia. Our team helps guide choices that match your style and your budget.

Local Knowledge

We design homes that stand up to Virginia weather, meet local codes, and fit the look and feel of the area. You’ll get a home that’s built to last.

FAQs

1. What’s the biggest advantage of using a design-build firm?

The biggest benefit is that everything is handled by one team. That means better communication, faster progress, and fewer surprises.

2. Will I still have input on the design?

Yes! You work closely with the design team to bring your vision to life. We just make sure it’s also practical to build.

3. Can a design-build firm handle small remodels or just new builds?

We do both. Whether it’s a new custom home or a kitchen remodel, our team handles the whole process from start to finish.

4. Is design-build more expensive than hiring separate teams?

No. In fact, it often costs less because we catch problems early and avoid expensive changes later.

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