Molly W. and her husband Bob wanted very much to build an addition on their Oahu home, but their apprehensions about the project made it hard for them to get it off the ground. Until they discovered Graham Builders, that is.
“We entered the remodel with such hesitancy and fear, having heard so many horror stories from others about their experiences in home construction,” Molly wrote in a testimonial for the company. “Our experience was nothing of the kind. We felt heard and cared for from beginning to end.”
In particular, they were deeply impressed by the methodology employed by Graham Builders. “Your design/build plan, with your tree of meetings, is a stroke of genius,” Molly added. “It had such an organized feel to it, moving step by step, and confirming at the beginning of each meeting what was decided at the last meeting.”
The multiple benefits of design/build
With the traditional method of construction (sometimes called design-bid/build), the homeowner hires an architect to create a new design, then solicits construction bids from contractors and subcontractors.
Through the design/build delivery method, the homeowner works with only one company—a single entity that handles all design, estimating, and construction functions. As of 2025, nearly half the new projects in this country are constructed through design/build. It simply outperforms other methods in terms of cost, speed of delivery, and reduced risk for homeowners.
When homeowner Douglas K. looked into renovating his home, which was built in 1967 and had suffered termite damage over the years, he realized that the costs of renovation and improvement were comparable to rebuilding. He attended a free “Building Your Home For Life” seminar hosted by Graham Builders and decided to move forward with them on the project.
“As an architect, I believe the design-build collaboration with Graham Builders’ team resulted in a better (and faster) product than if I had produced the construction drawings myself and put them out to bid,” he comments.
Mike N., another Oahu client, agrees that the methodology helped streamline his new build project. “A total home construction project is always going to be a complicated and stressful situation,” he says, “but I know that Graham Builders made constant efforts to help in any way possible. The design-build model helped to simplify the project. It made it so that the process was seamless, from design to completed home.”
This year marks 35 years of excellence for Graham Builders, one of Hawaii’s very first residential design/build firms and the only contractor in Hawaii to receive the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for ethics in small business. You’re cordially invited to attend Graham Builders’ FREE “Building Your Home for Life” seminar on Saturday, December 13, from 9–11 a.m. Register at grahambuilders.com or call 808/593-2808.