The class of 2005 Leading Residential Design/Build Firms is diverse in many ways. They are based in all areas of the country, from the Northeast, Midwest, South, Southwest, Mid-Atlantic states and even Canada. They employ anywhere from a handful to a bus load of employees. They build homes in different architectural styles, and sell them in different price ranges.

But these firms are similar in many ways, too. They are most similar in their devotion to the design/build process. They use design/build because it makes the construction process easier for their clients, ensures solid communication between everyone involved in a project, brings jobs in on time and within budget, increases profits and gives builders more control over scheduling and costs.

Successfully controlling schedules and costs is a best practice that makes these firms successful leaders, but that’s not the only thing. For instance, in the Bryan, Texas area, the number of home builders is exploding, and 2D Homes hired an extra designer to bring fresh design ideas to the mix, but also for the ability to handle more work, and do it more quickly.

Being in a market that necessitates hiring more staff is a position most builders would like to be in, and many are. In situations like this, it could be easy to take on too much work, but not at Franklin & Associates in Akron, Ohio. The culture of controlled growth at this Midwestern design/build firm keeps the business safely moving forward.

“Rule No. 1 is not to overextend yourself,” says Tim Franklin, president. “You’ll make a better product as a result, which improves the referral rate.” Maintaining this culture sometimes means turning down or postponing new business, but that’s just fine with Franklin. The design/builder doesn’t lose new business when forced to postpone it to finish current jobs. “(N)ew clients know they’ll get the same treatment some day.”