Owner’s Representative for Portland Custom Homes, Remodels, and ADUs
Independent, architect-led guidance for homeowners and small commercial owners who need help with permitting, contractor bids, change orders, construction oversight, or project rescue.
Common Questions We Help Homeowners Answer
Can this property support my project?
How do I avoid expensive surprises?
How do I compare contractor bids?
Can I build an ADU here?
Can I use plans I got online?
Why was my permit application rejected?
An Independent Advocate For Your Project
Owner Representation places a licensed architect, ICC-certified Residential Plans Examiner, and Residential Building Inspector directly on the owner's side of the table. Unlike a general contractor — whose responsibility is to execute the work — the Owner Representative protects the owner's financial, contractual, and technical interests throughout the project lifecycle.
JRDBA provides independent oversight to:
Evaluate contractor proposals
Monitor construction progress
Review cost documentation
Validate change orders
Coordinate communication between parties
Reduce risk and prevent avoidable disputes
This role may be engaged alongside JRDBA’s architectural services or retained independently for projects designed by others.
Know Before You Commit
ADU & Conversion Feasibility Review
Evaluate attached ADUs, detached ADUs, garages, attics, and basements.
Zoning & Entitlement Strategy
Understand setbacks, overlays, FAR, trees, and review requirements.
Property Purchase Feasibility Audit
Can the property support your intended remodel, addition, ADU, or conversion.
Permit History & Unpermitted Work Audit
Identify hidden permit and legalization risks.
Stock Plan Permit Readiness Review
Determine whether purchased plans can actually be permitted.
Scope, Budget & Phasing Workshop
Align expectations before spending money on design.
Not Sure Where To Start?
Navigate the Process
For homeowners moving from concept into permitting and contractor selection.
Permit Package Completion
We assemble and submit a complete, jurisdiction-ready permit package — drawings, forms, energy compliance, and consultant coordination included.
Code, Energy & REScheck Reviews
We verify your project meets current Oregon residential code and prepare REScheck energy compliance documentation required for most permitted work.
Builder Procurement & Bid-Leveling
We help you find qualified contractors, structure the bid process, and compare proposals on an apples-to-apples basis so you're choosing on value, not just price.
Permit Rescue & Checksheet Management
If your permit has been rejected or flagged with corrections, we respond to the checksheet, resolve the technical issues, and get your application back on track.
Design Oversight & Constructability Reviews
We review design documents for buildability, code compliance, and scope clarity before they go to permit or bid — catching problems while they're still cheap to fix.
Contract & Contingency Reviews
Before you sign a construction contract, we review the scope, schedule, payment terms, and contingency structure to ensure your interests are protected from day one.
Already Have Plans?
Many homeowners come to us with plans already in hand — stock plans purchased online, free ADU templates, contractor sketches, or drawings left by a previous owner. It's a great head start, but there's a catch most people don't find out until they're at the permit counter.
Most plans aren't permit-ready.
Plans designed for general use rarely account for your specific site conditions, local jurisdiction requirements, or current Oregon code. What looks complete on paper can trigger costly revisions, delays, or outright rejection once it hits a plans examiner's desk.
We close that gap.
As a licensed architect and ICC-certified Residential Plans Examiner, our principal reviews your existing plans with the same critical eye a building department will — before you submit. We identify what needs to change, coordinate any required consultants, and prepare a complete permit package ready for submission.
Our plan review services include:
✓ Permit-readiness review
✓ Code compliance analysis
✓ Site-specific adaptation
✓ Consultant coordination
✓ REScheck energy compliance
✓ Complete permit package preparation
Permit Problems?
A rejected, stalled, or expired permit isn't the end of the road — but navigating the path forward requires someone who understands both the technical code issues and how building departments actually operate.
We understand both sides of the counter.
As a licensed architect and ICC-certified Residential Plans Examiner and Building Inspector, our principal understands exactly how jurisdictions evaluate submissions, write correction notices, and close out troubled applications. That perspective is hard to replicate — and it's exactly what a stuck permit needs.
We help homeowners get unstuck.
Whether your permit was rejected, has been sitting in limbo, or expired before construction could begin, we step in, assess where things broke down, and build a clear path to approval.
Our permit rescue services include:
✓ Rejected permit response & resubmittal
✓ Stalled application recovery
✓ Expired permit reinstatement
✓ Correction notice & checksheet responses
✓ Inherited or transferred applications
✓ Ownership change processing
✓ Consultant coordination
Protect Your Investment During Construction
Construction is often when homeowners feel most exposed
Decisions move fast, change orders stack up, and it's easy to lose track of what you agreed to and what you're actually getting. We stay in your corner throughout.
Construction Phase Owner Advocacy Your dedicated point of contact during construction — monitoring progress, flagging issues early, and keeping the contractor accountable to the contract.
Site Observations Periodic on-site visits to document progress, identify deficiencies, and confirm the work matches the permitted drawings and specifications.
Change Order Review Before you sign anything that changes the scope or budget, we review it. Most change orders are legitimate — some aren't, and the difference can cost thousands.
Punch List Review A systematic close-out inspection to capture incomplete or deficient work before final payment — when you still have leverage.
Payment Application Review We verify that payment requests reflect work actually completed before you write the check. A critical protection most homeowners skip.
Closeout & Warranty Planning We help you collect documentation, warranties, and as-built records so you're protected long after the contractor has moved on.
Aging-in-Place & Resilience Planning Forward-looking design advisory to ensure your home works for you now and adapts to your needs over time.
When Owner Representation Is Most Valuable
Owner Representation is particularly beneficial for:
Custom residential projects with significant construction budgets
Owners building for the first time
Projects involving multiple contractors
Investors managing remote construction
Clients seeking independent cost oversight
Commercial property improvements with regulatory complexity
Early engagement reduces downstream exposure.
Why Home Owners Choose JRDBA?
Regulatory Fluency & Technical Discipline
JRDBA’s owners representation services are strengthened by professional credentials beyond architectural licensure.
Licensed Architect (Oregon & Washington)
International Code Council (ICC) Certified Residential Building Inspector
ICC Certified Commercial Building Inspector
ICC Certified Residential Plans Examiner
ICC Certified Commercial Plans Examiner
These certifications reinforce a detailed understanding of:
Building code compliance
Structural and life-safety provisions
Inspection protocols
Plan review standards
Regulatory interpretation
This technical foundation enhances the ability to identify deficiencies, anticipate code-related issues, and ensure that construction aligns with both approved documents and regulatory requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an architect first?
Not necessarily. Owner Representation can be engaged at any stage — before design begins, during permitting, or once construction is already underway. If your project does require architectural services, JRDBA can provide both under one engagement or coordinate alongside your existing design team. Read our article: Do I Need to Hire an Architect for a Home Remodel in Oregon?
Can you help with an ADU?
Yes. ADU projects involve zoning compliance, utility connections, energy code, and jurisdiction-specific requirements that vary significantly across the Portland Metro and SW Washington. We provide feasibility reviews, permit package preparation, plan review, and construction oversight for attached ADUs, detached ADUs, garage conversions, and basement conversions.
Read our insight: Can I Build an ADU on My Property in Portland?
Do you prepare permit documents?
Yes, for qualifying projects. Permit package preparation includes code compliance review, site adaptation of existing plans, REScheck energy compliance, consultant coordination, and submittal assembly. For projects requiring original architectural drawings, those services are provided under JRDBA's residential architecture service line.
Can you review plans I already purchased?
Yes — this is one of our most requested services. Stock plans, online house plans, contractor sketches, and ADU templates are rarely permit-ready as delivered. We review your existing plans against local jurisdiction requirements and current Oregon code, identify what needs to change, and prepare a complete permit package for submission.
Can you help before I buy a property?
Yes, and this is often where independent guidance has the most value. A pre-purchase feasibility review can identify zoning constraints, unpermitted work, permit history issues, ADU potential, and realistic project costs before you're committed. It's a low-cost way to avoid an expensive mistake.
Read our insight: Can I Convert This Building in Portland? What Property Owners Need to Know Before They Buy
Do you work with my contractor?
Yes — and this is by design. The Owner Representative role is collaborative, not adversarial. We coordinate communication between you, your contractor, and any consultants, review documentation on your behalf, and flag issues early. The contractor remains responsible for construction execution; we ensure your interests stay protected throughout.
Can you help with a rejected permit?
Yes. Permit rejections and correction notices are navigable — but the response needs to be technically accurate and jurisdictionally aware. As an ICC-certified Residential Plans Examiner, our principal understands exactly how building departments evaluate submissions and write corrections. We assess what failed, prepare the response, and resubmit.
Do you provide construction oversight?
Yes. Construction phase Owner Representation includes site observations, pay application review, change order analysis, punch list review, and closeout documentation. Engagements are structured as monthly advisory retainers during active construction or as targeted limited-scope reviews for specific milestones.
Planning a Custom Home, Remodel, Addition, or ADU?
Avoid costly surprises before they happen.
Serving Portland and Southwest Washington
Construction oversight services are provided throughout:
Portland
Beaverton
Lake Oswego
Hillsboro
Vancouver
Camas
Battle Ground
Protect Your Investment with Structured Oversight
If you are planning construction or are already under contract with a builder, Owner Representation can provide clarity, documentation discipline, and financial protection throughout the project.