New Construction FAQs Answered By A Licensed Contractor
These new construction FAQs are answered by H&A My Design, a licensed California general contractor (CSLB #999603) that has designed, permitted and built homes for more than 20 years. Serving Southern California and the surrounding areas.
Licensed & bonded California general contractor — CSLB #999603. Ask us anything; the first conversation is free.
The New Construction FAQs Homeowners Actually Ask
We have grouped these new construction FAQs into four areas: planning and budget, permits and approvals, what happens on site, and working with our team. Where the honest answer is “it depends”, we say so and explain exactly what it depends on.
Why Vague Answers Cost You Money
Among the new construction FAQs we hear most, pricing comes first. A contractor who gives you a confident square-foot price before seeing your lot is guessing, and that guess will be corrected later — usually upward, usually after you are committed. Honest uncertainty up front is far cheaper than false precision.
What A Good Answer Looks Like
It names the variables, explains which apply to your property, and tells you what would need to happen to narrow the range.
Questions Worth Asking Any Builder
These belong in everyone’s list of new construction FAQs. Whoever you end up hiring, they separate a professional operation from an optimistic one.
- Is your licence current, and what is the number?
- Who prepares and files the permit submittal?
- What is in the scope, what is an allowance, and what is excluded?
- How are change orders priced and approved?
- Who is my single point of contact, and will that change?
New Construction FAQs: Money, Scope And Getting Started
What does it cost to build a new home?
There is no honest single figure. Cost is driven by size, site conditions, foundation type, finish level and jurisdiction, and two houses of identical square footage can differ substantially. We give you a range after reviewing your parcel and scope, then refine it as the drawings develop.
What should I have ready before the first meeting?
The address or parcel number, a budget range you are comfortable with, your must-haves separated from your nice-to-haves, and any documents you hold such as a survey, soils report or previous plans.
Do I need to own the lot first?
Not to start the conversation. We are often asked to review a parcel before purchase, which is a sensible time to find out what can actually be built on it.
How are allowances handled?
Allowances cover items you have not selected yet, such as tile or fixtures. They are stated in the contract, and when your selection costs more or less than the allowance the difference is reconciled in writing.
Can the project be phased?
Often yes — for example building a main residence first and an ADU later. Phasing has cost implications because some site work and mobilisation happen twice, so we compare the options honestly during planning.
New Construction FAQs: Permits And Approvals
Who handles the permits?
We do, as part of the contract. H&A My Design prepares the submittal, responds to plan-check corrections and schedules inspections. See new home permits for the full sequence.
How long does plan check take?
It depends on the department, the complexity of the project and current workload, and it is measured in weeks to months. Property inside the City of Los Angeles goes through LADBS; other cities run their own departments with their own queues.
Why do corrections come back?
A first-round correction list is routine. Reviewers check the set against building, zoning, energy, fire and accessibility rules, and comments are a normal part of that exchange rather than a sign of a poor drawing set.
What other approvals might I need?
Depending on the site: grading, sewer and drainage, trade permits, fire clearance, utility connections and Title 24 energy documentation. Hillside, coastal, historic and hazard-zone parcels carry additional review.
Can I start work before the permit is issued?
Structural work cannot begin without an issued building permit. Some preparatory activities may be permitted separately, but we plan schedules around issuance rather than assuming it.
New Construction FAQs: On Site And Timelines
How long does construction take?
For a new home it is generally measured in months and varies with size, complexity, weather windows, inspection scheduling and material lead times. You receive a project-specific schedule rather than a generic estimate.
Where do I live during the build?
If your existing home is being demolished or gutted you will need alternative accommodation. Plan the rental period against a realistic schedule with contingency built in.
How do changes get handled?
Every change is described, priced and approved in writing before it is carried out. Nothing appears on a final invoice that you have not already seen and agreed.
How disruptive is it for neighbours?
Demolition, grading and framing are the loudest stages. We work within permitted hours, keep the site contained and give neighbours notice ahead of the noisiest work.
What causes most delays?
Three things, in order: plan-check rounds, late client decisions and long-lead materials ordered too late. All three are manageable when they are planned for at the start, which is the entire point of our process.
About H&A My Design
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. H&A My Design is a licensed California general contractor, CSLB #999603, and carries bonding and insurance. We encourage you to verify it, and to verify any contractor you are considering.
Do you do both design and construction?
Yes, and that is the core of how we work. Design, engineering coordination, permitting and construction sit under one contract — see custom home design and build.
Where do you work?
Across Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Westlake, Pasadena, Glendale, Culver City, the South Bay, Santa Clarita Valley, Ventura County, Thousand Oaks, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Malibu, Agoura Hills, Simi Valley, Burbank, Granada Hills, Canoga Park, Reseda and the surrounding areas. If your address is nearby but not listed, ask us; the answer is usually yes.
Can I see your work in person?
You can visit our Canoga Park showroom to see materials, cabinetry and finishes in person, and browse completed work in our projects.
Do you build ADUs as well as houses?
Yes. Detached units, garage conversions and second-storey additions are a significant part of our work — see ADU services.
Ask The New Construction Question That Is Not Listed
If your question is not among the new construction FAQs above, ask it directly. A first consultation costs nothing and carries no obligation. You will get a straight answer about what your project involves, what it is likely to cost and how long it will realistically take.
Where To Go Next
New Construction Process
The eight stages from first call to handover.
Custom Home Construction
A home designed around your lot and household.
New Construction FAQs: The Terms People Ask Us To Explain
Half of the new construction FAQs we receive are really vocabulary questions. Here are the terms that come up most, explained without jargon.
Allowance
A budgeted amount for something you have not chosen yet, such as tile or light fittings. If your final selection costs more or less, the difference is reconciled in writing.
Plan Check And Correction List
Plan check is the city’s review of your drawings. A correction list is the set of comments that comes back. Both are routine, and both appear in most new construction FAQs because they are the least understood part of the timeline.
Long-Lead Item
Anything manufactured to order with a long delivery time — windows, custom cabinetry, specialist appliances. These drive the schedule more than site labour does.
Why It Matters
A long-lead item ordered late delays everything behind it, which is why selections are scheduled during design rather than during construction.
Title 24 And Certificate Of Occupancy
Title 24 is California’s energy standard, demonstrated through calculations filed with your permit set. A certificate of occupancy is the final sign-off confirming the house is legally habitable — the last item in our process.
Real Projects Behind These Answers
Every answer on this page comes from projects like these, built by our own team across Southern California.
Homeowner Experiences
Hear directly from Southern California clients who trusted H&A My Design with their custom homes, ADUs, and additions.
Walk the finished home — navy kitchen with brass fittings, an open living space and a new double-vanity bathroom.
“We’re extremely happy with the results. Without a shadow of doubt, we’ve already recommended them to other neighbors.”
“Everybody was phenomenal to work with, a pleasure to have. Totally fair and wonderful company and great family.”
“H&A made the entire process transparent. Having one GC manage blueprints, city permits, and the build was night and day.”
“Their Canoga Park showroom made selecting our cabinets, quartz, and fixtures so easy. Finished right on schedule.”
“Converted our garage into a 2-bedroom rental. Flawless craftsmanship and leased immediately after final inspection.”
See the full before and after — the original kitchen, the opened-up living space and the finished bathrooms.
“From 3D plans to final city sign-off, H&A handled everything. No surprise change orders, no stress.”
“Built a modern ADU for my parents. The accessibility and aesthetic details exceeded all our expectations.”
Serving Southern California
Licensed throughout Los Angeles & Ventura Counties. HQ Showroom at 6723 Variel Ave, Canoga Park, CA.
MORE SPACE.
MORE VALUE.
Design, permits, showroom selections, and master construction—managed by one accountable team.