I use exactly the approach Richard Shugar suggests, as often as my clients will allow, on commercial as well as residential projects. It generally depends on how successful I am in convincing them that design - not bidding - is where the money is saved, and having a contractor on the team, early in the process, gives us a reliable source of pricing information that can lead to better-informed decisions. As a sole practitioner, I don't have the estimating resources a builder has, and I appreciate the information and experience they bring to the table.
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Woodson Parrish AIA
Sole Practitioner
Woodson Parrish, Architect
Charlottesville VA
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