Working late on some proposals and had the pleasure of watching cupcake wars on the food network with my wife.
As I watched the players get whittled down to just 2 finalist, I started to see the similarities between this popular show and design build contracting.
Round 1- Flavor
Cupcake Wars- the contestants (4) have to pick from ingredients on a table and come up with 3 delicious cupcakes for the judges to critique sole based on flavor. 3 contestants will advance to round 2.
Design/ Build remodeling- the contractor is given 30 min- 1 hour to meet with the homeowner to quickly evaluate the house and give some ideas on the fly about how they would renovate and how much it should cost. If they have good ideas and are a personality fit with the client, they make to round 2.
Round 2- Flavor and Style
Cupcake wars- the contestants have to not only create a delicious cupcake, they have to theme it as well based on the event that their final presentation will be showcased. (Tonight’s how was the world series of poker).
Contracting- If the contractor made it to this round, they get to bring their design team into the mix and show that personality and style are a good match for the client. They are also have to come up with ideas that can fit within the client’s budget as well.
Round 3- Final Presentation
Cupcake Wars- 2 contestants battle it out with a 1000 cupcake display. They have to have tastefully decorated cupcakes displayed this time so they are judged on taste, individual presentation and over all display. Winner gets to showcase their display at the event that their display is themed after.
Contracting- By this point the contractor is competing against the budget and the scope. Hopefully, they asked enough questions in the beginning so the design covers the clients wishes, and the scope of work falls within the budget. If so, the contractor gets to build the project and show it off to the clients friends and neighbors.
How to combine 3 rounds into 1. If you win on cupcake wars, clients know that your cupcakes taste good and will not have to sample from 3 different stores. They will go to your storefront and buy them based on reputation.
In design build contracting, clients can look at the contractors experience, talk to other clients that have worked with them, and look up their credentials on the internet. This can get you to the final round with your contractor much quicker knowing that you have made a wise choice based on experience.
This post sponsored by SawHorse, “The Sign of Renovation in Your Neighborhood ®.”
Note- SawHorse has won over 125 design awards, been contracting for over 33 years and is a top 10 contractor in Atlanta.
