Four phases. One process. No guesswork.
Every owner-built project moves through the same stages. I’ve mapped them so you always know what’s next, and what it depends on.
01 / PLANS
Before anything gets permitted, you need a set of plans — and choosing the right designer, draftsman, or architect for your project is the first real decision you’ll make. The right choice depends on scope: a straightforward ADU might only need a draftsman, while a structural addition or full remodel usually calls for a licensed architect, plus specialty consultants depending on your project — structural, civil, and landscape engineers, a Title 24 energy consultant, a HERS Rater, special inspectors, deputy inspectors, and third-party inspectors, along with fire sprinkler, electrical, and mechanical engineers where required. Defining the full scope of work up front is what keeps this phase from turning into a moving target. I’ll help you understand what your specific project needs, how to evaluate the team you’ll need, and what a complete, permit-ready plan set actually includes before you pay for one.
02 / PERMITS
Permitting is where owner-builder projects most often stall — not because the work is hard, but because the process is unfamiliar. Different agencies handle different approvals, and the sequence matters: building, planning, and sometimes fire or utility sign-offs each have their own requirements and timelines. I’ll walk you through which agencies you’ll actually deal with for your project, what they’ll ask for, and a realistic timeline so you’re not caught off guard by how long approval takes.
03 / POWER TEAM
Your power team is everyone who touches your project — subcontractors, material vendors, and the third-party and deputy inspectors your plans call for — and finding the right ones is a skill in itself. How many bids should you get before deciding? What questions actually reveal whether a contractor is reliable? How do you verify their insurance and check references in a way that tells you something real? I’ll teach you how to source subcontractors and vendors, confirm insurance and licensing, coordinate your inspectors, and put together the team that will actually build your project well.
04 / PRODUCTION
Production is where plans and permits turn into an actual building — and it’s also where the schedule, the materials, and the money need the most discipline. You’ll need signed contracts with every subcontractor, a project schedule that sequences trades correctly, a materials ordering plan that gets the right products on site before each trade needs them, a draw schedule that pays for completed work rather than promised work, and a clear understanding of when third-party inspections are required versus city inspections. I’ll help you build all of it into a system that runs smoothly and protects you if something goes wrong.