Homes We Have Built
Site, Feasibility, and Design
Before anyone draws a line, we assess the lot: topography and orientation, zoning and setbacks, soil conditions, utility access, easements, flood and fire zone status, coastal zone applicability, and HOA review requirements. If the parcel has a problem, you find out now — not after you've paid for plans that won't get approved. More than once, David has talked a client out of a lot before they bought it, which is the cheapest construction advice they ever got.
Then design begins, with David collaborating directly with architects who know Ventura County residential construction — so structural feasibility, budget, and permitting are baked into the plans instead of discovered later. No beautiful drawings that are unbuildable or wildly over budget. Modern coastal, Spanish Mediterranean, farmhouse, transitional, or something entirely your own: we've built it.
How Long a Custom Home Takes to Build
Once the design is far enough along, we produce a line-item budget covering every trade and every phase, foundation to landscaping — no ballparks, no hidden line items, presented and explained before you commit to anything. Typical construction timelines by finish level:
| Build Type | Construction Timeline |
|---|---|
| Standard quality construction | 12 - 14 months |
| Mid-range custom with upgraded finishes | 14 - 16 months |
| High-end custom with premium materials | 16 - 20+ months |
Those timelines cover construction, breaking ground to move-in. Design and permitting come first and can add six months to a year, and we recommend a 10–15% contingency for unforeseen conditions. The usual causes of a long project — coastal development permits, hillside foundation engineering, design-review boards — are all identified during feasibility, not mid-build.
Permitting and Approvals
Building permits, grading permits, coastal development permits, fire review, design boards — we run all of it, from plan submittal through corrections. David has worked with building departments across Ventura County for 30 years, and in Santa Barbara we prepare submittals that anticipate what the Architectural Board of Review expects. This is where custom projects usually stall; ours arrive prepared for the questions before they're asked.
Foundation, Framing, and Systems
Construction starts in the ground: clearing, grading, drainage, and a foundation matched to your actual soil and slope — slab-on-grade, raised, or engineered caissons for hillside lots like Malibu's bluffs and canyons, with the geotechnical and structural engineering coordinated by us. Framing turns the floor plan into a structure, cut precisely because every cabinet run and window line depends on it, then the shell closes weather-tight with moisture barriers and flashing specified for the coastal climate. Plumbing, electrical, HVAC, low-voltage, and fire sprinklers rough in behind the walls and pass inspection before anything closes, with California's Title 24 energy requirements built into the design rather than patched on at the end.
Finishes, Outdoor Living, and Move-In
Drywall and paint set the canvas, then flooring, cabinetry, stone, tile, and fixtures bring the house to life — the kitchen and bathrooms get the most detail-intensive treatment in the home. Outside, stucco or siding, hardscape, landscaping, and any pool, patio, outdoor kitchen, or deck run in parallel to keep the schedule efficient, with defensible-space rules shaping the planting plan in fire zones. Then final inspections for every permitted system, certificate of occupancy, and a walkthrough where every door, faucet, and outlet is checked — punch list complete before handoff, with warranty and maintenance guidance so you know how to protect the investment.
Where We Build Custom Homes
Most of our new construction is in Oxnard and Ventura, and we build across Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, and Westlake Village — where gated communities like Lake Sherwood and North Ranch add HOA design review we handle as part of the job — plus Malibu and Santa Barbara. Prefer to expand instead of build new? We do room additions and ADUs to the same standard, and our clients' reviews tell you how it goes.
Questions We Hear About Building Custom
How long does it take to build a custom home in Ventura County?
Twelve to twenty months of construction for most homes, depending on size, site, and finish level. Design and permitting come before that, so from first conversation to move-in, two to two-and-a-half years is a realistic horizon. Anyone who quotes you dramatically less is either building something simpler than you're picturing or planning to disappoint you.
Can you help me find a lot?
Yes — and ideally before you buy it. We evaluate parcels for buildability, utility access, soil conditions, and permitting exposure so you know what a lot really costs before you own its problems. A feasibility read on a candidate property is one of the most valuable hours you can spend with us.
Do you take on teardown-rebuilds?
Regularly. Replacing an aging structure on a lot you already own is often the most direct path to a custom home — the utilities exist, the neighborhood is established, and you already know the views. We handle demolition permits and the rebuild as one continuous project.
Can I make changes once construction starts?
Yes. Custom means custom, and minds change when drywall goes up and you can finally stand in the space. Every change goes through a written change order with the cost and schedule impact spelled out before we proceed — you decide with real numbers, never after the fact.
Start With a Site Walk
If you own a lot, have a property you want to tear down and rebuild, or are still searching for the right parcel, we can help. David will meet with you to discuss your vision, evaluate the site, and give you an honest assessment of what it will take to build. No obligation, no sales pitch, just three decades of experience applied to your project from the very first conversation.
Review
I have worked with David Nicodemus on several projects, from building a fence, to a kitchen/bath remodel, to developing a high-end luxury custom home, and have been very pleased with the outcome on each. Time and again, David has proved himself to be a knowledgeable general contractor with a strong network of skilled subcontractors, who strives for perfection in his work.