I am an apartment owner/investor and want to let other apartment owners know about my experience…read morewith Reverence Engineering. Last year, I obtained an inspection of the deck and balcony at my family's 10 unit apartment complex in order to comply with Senate Bill 721. After learning that our cantilevered balcony needed structural work, I began calling engineering firms. I chose Reverence Engineering because I wanted to work with a smaller firm and I was impressed with my initial call with principal engineer Brett Sauers. During that conversation, he explained in simple terms how he would approach creating plans and seeking permits for a major retrofit of our balcony walkway. From there, I was kept well informed by email at every step of the way. Because I live out of state and was not able to be present for any site visits, Brett prepared an explanatory video for me so that I could see exactly what he was seeing and understand how we could solve the structural challenges. The draft plans were ready more quickly than I expected and Brett personally addressed all my questions with patience and precision. The City took longer than I had hoped to do its plan review, but Brett's staff sent me weekly updates. In addition, they walked me through all the forms that I needed to sign so it ended up being a pain-free process from start to finish. I really couldn't be happier with the attentiveness of Brett and his team, as well as the outcome. They deserve accolades for exceptional structural engineering work, at a very reasonable cost.

I submitted a request to Reverence for an Architect in early January 2026, I received a call back…read morefrom Brett to go over the services Reverence provides and their approach to support the clients. At the end of the call, Brett stated he would work on the contract and send over for review. The following week, I called Reverence to better understand the timeline for contract creation so I could maintain realistic expectations; I was told I should have the contract that day (January 13) or the following day (January 14). I contacted Reverence on January 20, after not receiving a response and was advised a message would be sent to Brett for an update. I again did not receive a response (no callback nor email) and contacted Reverence on January 22 and again on February 2, and was provided a similar response (that I should receive the contract soon if not today or the next). I subsequently left a message on February 4, indicating that I no longer wished to proceed with their services and would look elsewhere. I have no doubt that Reverence provides customers with solid service once contracted, however, I find it is equally important to effectively communicate with prospective clients to ensure transparency. I would have gladly waited a few more weeks if that was the standard and was communicated to me. Hopefully future clients will have a better experience.

Chris and his team are great! They listen to what you want, what you need, and your budget. They're…read moreplans are great and design is top notch. They are also VERY reasonably priced.

From the owner: 85 Design started to help homeowners go from project design to building permit. Because of…read morehomeowners like you, we became the company we are today. Our mission is to help bring great ideas to life and make it easy for the client during the process.

We bought a cool mid-century modern house that was full of bad 1980s updates, so we wanted to hire…read morean architect to help us turn it into our dream home. Although there was plenty of room in the house for two of us, the space was not well-planned. We were feeling overwhelmed by what needed to be done in our new home, and hiring Ken to design our interior was easily the best decision that we made. He took the time to get to know us and we felt he really understood our needs and how we would use each area of our home. There were many design challenges and Ken's out of the box thinking both met those challenges and improved the space. He was very easy to work with and his calm energy was a perfect fit for us. We knew from the plans that our house would be spectacular when finished, and it definitely exceeded those expectations. Everything about the house is improved, and there are a couple of the design elements that consistently draw an amazed response from visitors to our home.

Setting a goal to build an ADU was both scary and exciting, since I have had terrible experiences…read morewith construction professionals in past projects. I knew I needed someone, who was knowledgeable about local ADU laws and the nuance in the construction process to help us make this dream come true. After interviewing different companies, we ended up hiring Ken and his team at One World Architecture. Ken and his team's professionalism was second to none. They were quick to respond whenever I have inquiries. Ken understands the process is scary for homeowners, and never made us feel that our concerns weren't important, no matter how insignificant they were. He was not only our architect, but he was also our therapist during this process. He listened to our needs, provided ideas we never even considered, and set up multiple meeting until we found the right contractor. He didn't just design and let us fend for ourselves. He was proud of his work and guide us though the completion of the project. I now have a beautiful home office, a place for my elder parents to live in and an opportunity to supplement my retirement income many years down the road. I'd recommend One World Architecture wholeheartedly. In fact, I had so much joy working with Ken, I would personally vouch for him to work on any of my families' and friends' projects. I know they will be taken care of!

Miles and the team at Lovelace engineering are excellent all around. Their drawings are very clear…read moreand complete. Their calculations are accurate and they don't over engineer things. They have an excellent reputation with the various cities in and around the San Diego area. I recommend them without hesitation.

Miles was so helpful in correcting errors made by our previous engineer on our large kitchen…read moreremodel with removal of a load bearing wall. He was responsive, understanding, reasonably priced, and listened to our concerns. we will use him again if we ever have any additional engineering needs.

If you need an architect that knows his/her stuff from permits to codes to what each city requires…read moreat a fair price. Look no further. I brought our business to him and I have never regretted it! Professional Timely Well Priced Knowledgeable

I hired Rummy from IL Total Design for a major three-story remodel permit that included adding…read moresignificant square footage, and she exceeded expectations in every way! This was not a simple cosmetic project -- it was a complex build with structural changes, multiple levels, and a lot of moving parts in a coastal zone. Throughout the process, Rummy was incredibly resilient. Whenever challenges came up (and with a project this size, they always do), she stayed solution-oriented and kept the project moving forward without hesitation. She was also extremely responsive. Calls were returned, questions were answered quickly, and updates were consistent. I never had to chase her down ever! Communication was clear and direct, which makes a huge difference on a large remodel. What stands out most is her "get it done" mentality. She doesn't give up no matter what the city says -- takes ownership and executes. She handled everything with professionalism and confidence. If you're looking for an architect/design team that is dependable, responsive, resilient, and truly delivers results -- IL Total Design is the perfect choice!

I met Rummy Dechner, owner and lead architect with IL Total, via a design/build firm last year for…read morean ADU project. Eventually, I fired the firm (read my other review), but Rummy stayed with us to help us move forward. Without a city approved design we already sunk $25k into (most of which she probably didn't make) we depended on her almost daily for the first few months after the mess with not one but a second builders as well. We were going solo through the toughest part of the ADU process. I mean we really, really depended on her. Rummy drove this to the end for the permit to finally be granted to us. Through thick and thin she'd be there with updates and keeping us in the loop about forms, payments, and any changes she was forced to make, etc. The design itself is beautiful. She's not only talented but honest and dependable. Answers all questions. Rummy knows ADUs and the ins and outs of city permitting headaches and most of all she's loyal to her clients. I didn't know her firm also does builds as well. If only I met them at the beginning I could have saved myself a ton of time and heartache. Highly recommend! Look at her YouTube channel for all of the ADUs she has designed throughout San Diego. https://youtube.com/@iltotaldesign?si=Lh4BJ_pdmOK5OFG9

So helpful! Ian has brought value with every phone call…read more He comes highly recommended by several real estate agents/colleagues, too, and that referral works for me! Looking forward to working with you on my upcoming project!

Ian Scattergood to the rescue!…read more I had a nightmare experience that lasted about 1.5 years. Thank God I found Ian. What may have been my nightmare was just another day in Ian's life. This is what he does professionally--he helps people navigate the uncertainty of obtaining permits for things that were built without them--and he's damn good at it too! We had several unpermitted items in our backyard, and a neighbor reported us to the city. The code enforcement department came, issued violation fees, and gave us a notice requiring that we either get the items permitted or tear them down. I had no idea where to start, and with three kids (including a newborn) and a business to run, the whole situation felt overwhelming. I found Ian on Google and immediately reached out. He guided me through the process of getting the permits approved. He came out, measured everything, told me in advance what would likely be called out by the city inspector, advised me on what needed to be fixed, drew up all the plans, submitted the paperwork to the city, and even printed and dropped off the plans for approval. He also communicated directly with the code enforcement officer on my behalf. There was even a moment when the inspector asked for an update to the plans. Ian stepped back in and made the necessary revisions. Throughout the entire process--and even after--it was easy to reach him via phone, text, or email. I can't thank Ian enough for getting the ball rolling on this project for me. When it first happened I was so overwhelmed that I felt like I did not have it in me to take the first step... actually I had no clue what the first step even was.. so I probably would've been walking in the wrong direction (lol), but with Ian's help I got through it. It wasn't easy, but it was possible with him by my side. I highly recommend Ian to anyone going through a similar situation. Thank you so much, Ian; a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders thanks to you!