I converted a study room in my three cars garage without a building permit years ago. It was…read morealways been my goal to legalize it but didn't have time and energy to do it until my retirement now. I didn't have any idea as where to start the project. I joined a Facebook ADU Group and started learning about the permit and construction process. It was suggested that I should start finding an architect to draw up a design plan and submit it to the City for approval. I read through many Yelp reviews and found Wafaa at waArchitecture + Design for she had great reviews and the professionalism I was searching for. Wafaa helped me designed and received building permit for converting my existing garage room and laundry space into a 270 square foot JADU of one bedroom. Waffaa was responsive, patient, and flexible during the design phase. What impressed me the most was that her and her team's speed of correspondence. There were no revision requested from the City and my JADU design plan was submitted the first week of February and was approved by the City of Fremont at the end of April. If you are looking for a responsible, highly skilled professional Architect, look no further, I highly recommend Waffaa of waArchitecture + Design.

Wafa was very responsive to my call inquiry about a new property I acquired in Sonoma County. She…read morewas generous in giving me her time on a zoom call to go over the scope of the project. Though I elected to forgo my plan to redesign the roofline, if I had decided to go through with it, I would absolutely have gone with Wafa. Her knowledge and experience is strong and she was very easy and pleasant to talk with. We elected to keep the house roof line as it is, and focus on interior upgrades and improvements. Thank you Wafa, for being so kind and amazing. We will definitely choose to use her services in the future when a new architectural need arises. Recommend.

We hired Element Engineering to assist with a residential matter involving encroaching roots from a…read morenearby tree impacting our home and patio. Andrew was flexible with his schedule to meet us early on a weekend morning. He was on-time, pleasant and extremely knowledgeable. He explained the current situation in terms we could understand and highlighted both the immediate risks and future risks. He pointed out other issues we had failed to notice that needed immediate attention. He provided a well documented and thorough professional report in a timely manner.

Extremely responsive, thorough, competent and reasonable…read more Thoroughly enjoyed working with Andrew.

They were responsive and provided a very fair price for their service, it's unfortunate that I…read morecould not use them because my client went in a different direction. However, I will certainly call them on a future when I have another project. I need Engineering and Design. I appreciate when you're working with someone in the trades and they're responsive and helpful.

Arash came out to a potential house we were buying on short notice and reviewed our drainage and…read morefoundation. Before making such a large purchase, I wanted to be sure our house had proper drainage and would be secure in an earthquake. Arash did a thorough inspection going into each crawl space, taking photos and showing me the report. He communicated with me regularly during his inspection, taking time for me to understand what he was showing me. Everything worked out great and I wouldn't hesitate to hire them again or for future foundation work. Thanks guys!

I hired Mark for a medium-sized remodeling project (about 6 weeks) . He provided a low estimate…read morecompared to other bids. He then said that his workers were all covered by Worker's Comp, among other benefits, and that he paid a fair wage, and that he was the most ethical contractor in the industry, resulting in his workers' being highly productive and efficient leading to shorter project times. This sealed the deal for me. Furthermore, he claimed that the extra 30% or so that he was billing for his workers, was due of the worker's comp insurance, which only he provided to his workers (as opposed to the many unscrupulous other contractors that were around). As a property owner, you could be held liable for workers' injuries if the contractor did not carry worker's comp, and so, I agreed to Mark's deal. Within a few days, Mark had exceeded the estimate he had quoted, and was very difficult to get hold of. Furthermore, his workers would come and go at all times of the day (between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm) and I simply lost track of how many "cooks" were in the kitchen. As of last count, I noticed some 15+ names on the invoices, and some would appear for a couple of hours, and then disappear. But Mark would send me invoices claiming that his workers spent the entire day at the property - which was simply untrue. Mark would not be interested in even listening to me or investigating my grievances. Instead, he would brag that he did me a big favor by accepting my project, and that he typically only did multi-million dollar gigs, and not pittances like mine. Long story short, the project budget exceeded the estimate by more than 100%. Mark became extremely aggressive and feisty, and it was impossible to work or reason with him. I hired a Private Investigator to find out who this person really was -- like a Dr. Jekyl Mr. Hyde. Turns out that he had been sued for fraud, but more importantly, the whole worker's comp, fairness, ethical contractor, and so on, charade, was ALL ONE BIG LIE. It also appears that Mark may have left the Better Business Bureau due to bad reviews and that he may have hired a reputation defending company to increase his Yelp reviews to 5 stars by questionable tactics. Good Guy Builders license has been suspended for Worker's Comp violations and is under investigation. After my PI reported this, I found on the CSLB site: "License is under suspension for failure to comply with Workers Comp. A workers´ compensation certificate or exemption statement may have been received by the Board but not yet processed. Once the certificate or exemption statement is processed the suspension will be lifted retroactively to the effective date of the certificate or exemption statement. Ask the contractor for proof of worker's compensation and contact the insurance company to verify coverage." Here is the URL: https://www.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/LicenseDetail.aspx?LicNum=1016932 Please see image below. This is one of the greatest betrayals where I was charged an arm and a leg, and told a romantic story of workers being taken good care of, and so on, all the while, when Mark was simply pocketing the money that was supposed to cover his workers' safety and well being. Such greed, deception, and dishonesty, in my opinion, does not deserve a second chance. You decide whether you want to hire this company and deal with Mark. --- Addendum to Mr. Santosh R's note: 1. I am a real person. I was threatened by Mark that I would be sued if I posted anything negative on Yelp. 2. Yes, I did edit my posts before finally settling on one. Anyone in my position would do the same. 3. Finally, the facts remain unchanged. Good Guy Builder's license is under suspension and this may be independently verified on the CSLB website (see link). Likewise, the lawsuits against them may be independently verified. People like Santosh and Mark are the real culprits who boost their yelp ratings in a manner that skews it in their favor - by attacking anyone who posts negative reviews, and threatening those in dispute with defamation lawsuits. Do not believe anything Santosh or Mark say. The suspension is more than ample evidence that Good Guy Builders is a crooked business and not one that you should be patronizing.

HORRIBLE! Was 100k off of estimate given; workers were very bad - one was drinking alcohol (could…read moresmell on breath) He and I were having some issues and told him NOT to call my partner as he was in Oregon dealing with his mother's death. He called anyway! He raised his voice more than once (I was at the time 76 years old)

We had the pleasure of working with Jill Finn of TANGERINEdesign LLC when our longtime designer was…read moreunavailable -- so she walked into a situation where we were already feeling a bit off balance. But from day one, Jill exceeded our expectations. The project involved tearing down an old, dilapidated screened-in porch that had never really worked for us -- too cold in the winter, too hot in the summer -- and transforming it into a usable interior room. We wanted to keep the light and airy feel of a porch while gaining insulation, comfort, and year-round usability. We also wanted ideas for built-ins: maybe a window seat, maybe bookshelves -- we weren't quite sure. Other contractors over the years had taken one look at the porch and declined to get involved due to its age and condition. Not Jill. She had ideas right away. Jill brings so much energy, creativity, and practical knowledge to the table. Even while juggling big personal commitments (like her son's graduation across the country), she delivered several strong design ideas within a few weeks -- and they were fresh, inspiring, and budget-conscious. She collaborated easily with our civil engineer, adjusting her drawings quickly to meet his needs. She also understands our local codes and regulations really well, and met directly with our contractors to make sure her designs were realistic and executable before we got too far into the process. On top of all that, Jill has a fantastic personality. She made the experience fun and engaging, and she brought a sense of momentum and confidence that really helped us move forward. I can't recommend Jill highly enough -- her creativity, responsiveness, and enthusiasm make her a true gem. If you're considering working with TANGERINEdesign LLC, you're in excellent hands. Karen & Greg Marriner 6/22/25

My fiancee and I met with Jill to explore building an ADU in our backyard from the ground up along…read morewith a home expansion. We were glad that we chose Jill; she brings with her a wealth of knowledge in all facets of the construction phase, and she was very friendly and easy to talk to also! Most of the time we would ask her a question, then just let her talk, as she was very detailed with all of her answers and did a great job teaching. We also appreciated that Jill also has no problem telling you if your idea is a bad idea, but will provide the context and reasoning why. Lastly, we loved tapping her creative mind; she has the ability to look at a space and give you plenty of ideas for it that you might not have even thought of! We would definitely recommend her and would work with her again.

Antonio you are my inspiration , *_* I'm very sad , the…read morebest engineer ever!!! , and best person ever !!! the most professional person i know , i still cant believe it I'm very sad hope you are in a good place because you deserve it !!! love to work with you so much ,you inspire not only me a lot of customers and people with your vision , i already miss are work together, its gone a be difficult whiteout you if you can hear me you always on my hart all love

Funny to read the bad reviews here, people probably don't understand the liability and…read moreresponsibility of an engineer, im in the construction industry for few years and i saw it all, Antonio is definitely someone to trust on, he did a lot of plans for me and never ask for extra money for revisions or corrections, we always agreed about what make sense according to the situation, who ever that can't understand it probably don't under this business, it's construction not a ice cream machine, the is verity of issues that can happen, any structure is different and build in a different codes down the years, im happy for any job i did with Antonio and also my clients, I always got more business thanks to that, he literally brings his daughter to one of the meetings and show her how the attic reflects the way that the house build, its was really nice to see, thanks for everything

We used Raskop and Lu for a large remodel/rebuild project (over $1 Million) in Oakland. We…read moreselected Ryan after interviewing 10 architects, all of which we found online. A project of this scale is always stressful and has high uncertainty, particularly with respect to details, cost and schedule; our case was complicated further because we were living out of state and our design had some unique details that created constructibility challenges. From the beginning, we were extremely satisfied and comforted with the level of communication, the patience to educate us on the full project cycle requirements, the high level of pro-activity and engagement, and the ability to find creative solutions when we needed them. The work is high quality and they work very efficiently and patiently with the builders and engineers. We have been very impressed at how calm and supportive they are no matter what the stress level. We would have no hesitation in strongly recommending Raskop and Lu for large or small projects. David and Peggy McKay

From the owner: Established in 2017, Raskop and Lu is an architecture, engineering, and development company that…read morehelps homeowners, real estate investors, and builders navigate the design, permitting, and construction process successfully. With a combined 30+ years of industry experience, we provide our clients and community with informative, considerate, and attentive services with the aim of being a trusted steward of our built environment. We believe in the possibility of developing real estate more harmoniously with the people and places involved. Economically integrating today's ideals and values for the built world requires not only deep knowledge, but also a commitment to solve these complex challenges. Achieving this mission means we show up every day ready to serve our community.

My husband and I highly recommend Martinkovic Milford Architects! Blake, Amanda, and Amelia were…read moreour brilliant team of architects overseen by Brian Milford. They designed our dream home and also monitored the construction/renovation process in addition to recommending a great contractor to build our home.

Disappointed by my experience here. I got more value from a 15 minute phone conversation with a…read moredifferent architecture firm than I did from my interaction with this firm, which involved multiple hours of billable research.

I want to express our gratitude for Zenith Engineers Inc. prompt, professional, and outstanding…read moreservice throughout our remodeling project. From the very beginning, we were impressed with Senthil, Ryan and other members of Zenith team's level of professionalism, prompt response, architectural knowledge and effective communication.This level of service was seamless through our entire engagement with Zenith Engineers Inc., from obtaining the building permit to successfully passing all necessary inspections by the SF Building Department. No one questions their architectural work because they are so good at what they do. We had some initial concerns after reading negative reviews, but as the project progressed, it became clear that those comments were based on personal grievances, rather than valid concerns. The team at Zenith Engineers Inc. has a high level of professional ethics and integrity. Zenith's management team had explained to us early on in the project, the strict adherence to code and compliance was paramount throughout the project. If Zenith compromises to satisfy unsatisfied clients, the building will end up being non-compliant and more importantly unsafe. We truly appreciate Zenith's commitment to quality and integrity, even if it means earning a few negative reviews along the way, which seem rather unfair to them as they are simply doing their job. I am extremely satisfied with the professional and excellent work the team at Zenith Engineers Inc. provided us and will hire them in a heartbeat for all our future structural and/or seismic engineering needs. Thank you Senthil, Ryan and the Zenith engineering team for your professionalism and support. It was our best decision to work with you and experience such high standard of professionalism, work ethic, and integrity.

After having used Zenith for multiple projects in the last few years, looks like it's finally time…read moreto look for someone else for the next one. We started using Zenith because of its responsiveness and effectiveness when it came to structural design. With them as part of our team, we were able to keep up with the City submittal and response timelines we had set. Fast forward to today, and we can't get a hold of anyone. When we do, it's always an excuse for why they didn't respond, without a resolution. We sent them the last City comments 30 days ago and have yet to get anything viable to re-submit back to the city. Given that this is a 30-unit hotel project, going with a different firm now will mean a complete re-design of the project; an absolutely painful exercise that will set us back months. Zenith knows that. So it's absolutely shameful for them to act in a way that would even suggest that our only choice is to get the entire project re-designed by another firm just to have it keep moving forward. So much for "we respond to emails within 30 minutes and always answer phone calls" as outlined on one of their online profile. Knowing how we were treated on this round of City comments and the fact that the entire company seems complacent about what they try to embody in their rhetoric, I would stay away for any future project.

We found our way to Winder Gibson through our realtor and could not be more grateful. We worked…read moreclosely with Geoff and Daniel to design our dream home. They were an absolute pleasure to work with and took on all details at every stage, including handling a difficult neighbor. At the same time, they were efficient and budget conscious, helping us stay on track both financially and time-line wise. They made what could be an overwhelming process move smoothly and enjoyably. We unreservedly recommend Winder Gibson.

My wife and I had the pleasure of working with Geoff and his team on a full demolition and new…read moreconstruction of a single family home with ADU in San Francisco. We loved our experience and wholeheartedly endorse Winder Gibson to anyone looking for a full service architecture firm. From the outset, Geoff and his team demonstrated an exceptional understanding of our family's needs, which they transformed into a beautiful house design that resonates with our aspirations and lifestyle. We are currently transitioning to the construction phase, and are excited to raise our family in such a thoughtfully designed space. Also, Geoff and team are true experts at navigating the San Francisco permitting process. They efficiently moved us through permitting, both reacting to feedback from the city and helping us manage our neighbors. Honestly, we could not have permitted the house without their guidance. In a city where building homes can be difficult, the one two punch of beautiful design + the knowledge and skill to get it across the line was invaluable. We are so appreciative of Geoff and team.