Issue 001 cover story
Do You Need an Architect, or Just a Better First Step?
A homeowner-first Bay Area guide to deciding when a licensed architect is worth it, when another path is cleaner, and what to ask before hiring anyone.
By Lillian ChiaIssue 001 · Bay Area Architect
Before you hire anyone,read the plans.
A homeowner-first architecture newspaper for Bay Area remodels, ADUs, additions, permit drawings, and the expensive moment before the first consultation call.
Issue 001 / Field Guides
All guides
Issue 001 field guide
Architect vs. Designer vs. Design-Build: Who Should You Call First?
A Bay Area homeowner guide to choosing the right first call: licensed architect, residential designer, design-build firm, or permit drawing team.
By Ryan Nakamoto
Plans desk
Permit Drawings vs. Architectural Plans
A homeowner-first Bay Area guide to knowing whether you need a permit set, a design set, or a fuller drawing package before you pay for plans.
By Kelly Braz
Permit field note
Why Home Plans Get Rejected by the City
A Bay Area homeowner guide to the plan-check comments that delay ADUs, additions, and remodels, and how to reduce resubmittals before you submit.
By Vivian Ni
Issue 001 field guide
What Architects Usually Do Not Include
A Bay Area homeowner guide to architect proposal exclusions: consultants, permit fees, interiors, pricing, and construction-phase support.
By Michael Schultz
Issue 001 field guide
Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Architect
A Bay Area homeowner interview script for testing scope, fees, consultants, permits, budget reality, and construction support before signing.
By Michael SchultzIssue Map
Read the issue 01
Do You Need an Architect, or Just a Better First Step?
A homeowner-first Bay Area guide to deciding when a licensed architect is worth it, when another path is cleaner, and what to ask before hiring anyone.
02Architect vs. Designer vs. Design-Build: Who Should You Call First?
A Bay Area homeowner guide to choosing the right first call: licensed architect, residential designer, design-build firm, or permit drawing team.
03Permit Drawings vs. Architectural Plans
A homeowner-first Bay Area guide to knowing whether you need a permit set, a design set, or a fuller drawing package before you pay for plans.
04Why Home Plans Get Rejected by the City
A Bay Area homeowner guide to the plan-check comments that delay ADUs, additions, and remodels, and how to reduce resubmittals before you submit.
05What Architects Usually Do Not Include
A Bay Area homeowner guide to architect proposal exclusions: consultants, permit fees, interiors, pricing, and construction-phase support.
06Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Architect
A Bay Area homeowner interview script for testing scope, fees, consultants, permits, budget reality, and construction support before signing.
Publication Notes
A smaller front door, on purpose.
City pages, cost pages, event pages, and directory profiles will come back when they have enough reporting to deserve search traffic. For now, the site is Issue 001: six strong guides, a masthead, a method, and a newsletter.