Serving the Bay Area

One of our experienced project leads will visit your home at a time that works for your schedule. We walk through the space together, talk through your vision, and ask questions about how you use your home today versus how you want to use it. We also assess structural and site factors – lot size, existing footprint, utility access, local zoning – all of which vary significantly across Bay Area cities and jurisdictions. Most visits take 60-90 minutes.

No homework required, but it helps to have a sense of: (1) which areas of the home are in scope, (2) a rough budget range you are comfortable sharing, and (3) any inspiration images or examples of projects you admire. If you have existing floor plans or survey documents, bring those – they help us move faster. If not, we will work with what is there.

We can tell you whether your budget is realistic for the scope you are describing – but we cannot responsibly give a firm number before design plans exist. Project costs across the Bay Area vary significantly depending on scope, city, existing conditions, and finish level. What we will give you at the consultation is an honest, informed read – including anything we see that could affect cost that you should know about upfront.

After the consultation, we move into Preliminary Design – where our in-house design team develops plans tailored to your goals and budget. Depending on project complexity, this typically takes 2-4 weeks. Once design is finalized, we prepare a full proposal with itemized costs, a phased project timeline, and everything you need to make a confident decision.

The design phase is collaborative. We need your input on how the space should function, your design and finish preferences (we walk you through material options and 3D renderings to help you decide), any must-haves or constraints, and your preferred timeline. The more specific you can be about what matters most to you – and what you want to avoid – the better the design will fit your life.

Yes – that is exactly what the Preliminary Design phase is for. We work through refinements at the design stage rather than mid-construction. Once the contract is signed, scope changes are handled through a written change order process, documented and approved by you before any cost impact.

Permits are entirely our responsibility. As a full design-build firm, we manage the permitting process from start to finish – preparing plans to each city’s specifications, submitting applications, responding to plan check comments, and tracking approvals. Bay Area permit timelines vary widely by city: some jurisdictions move in 4-6 weeks while others, like San Jose and Palo Alto, can take 10-16 weeks depending on project type. We factor all of this into your project schedule from day one and keep you informed throughout without requiring you to interact with any city office.

It depends on the city and project type. Faster cities like Campbell and Sunnyvale can approve standard permits in 4-8 weeks. Mid-range cities like Santa Clara and Mountain View typically run 6-12 weeks. Larger or more complex jurisdictions like San Jose, Palo Alto, and cities with design review requirements can take 10-16 weeks or longer. ADU projects generally add 2-4 weeks to these ranges. We know each city’s permitting environment and build realistic timelines into your project plan.

We submit for permits immediately after the contract is signed and design is finalized. Once permits are approved, construction is typically scheduled to start within 1-2 weeks. Your contract will include a projected start date so you always know where you stand.

Our contract is a detailed, written agreement covering the full scope of work, all finishes and materials selected, a phased project timeline, total project cost with a clear payment schedule, and the process for handling any change orders. Before you sign, our team walks through every section with you so there are no surprises. We do not rush this stage – a client who signs with complete understanding has the best possible project experience.

Our design-build model is structured to minimize surprises. Because design and construction are managed by the same in-house team, most issues are identified during the planning phase – not mid-build. When something unexpected does arise, we notify you immediately, explain the situation and your options, and get written approval before any additional cost is incurred. Our average cost overrun is under 5%, compared to a 15% industry standard.

We have served homeowners throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties since 2005 with a fully in-house design-build model. That means your architects, designers, and construction crew all work together under one roof – eliminating the miscommunication and finger-pointing that causes overruns when design and construction are handled separately. We staff our own demolition, framing, and foundation crews so you are never waiting on a subcontractor who does not show up. One team, from first call through final walkthrough.