1. Share your property and wish list
Tell me the address and what you hope to do: a second story, an ADU, opening up the plan, a whole-home transformation. That is all I need to prepare.
For San Diego homeowners planning a major remodel
Before you spend $300,000 remodeling your home, spend 30 minutes with an architect.
The Remodel Strategy Session is a free 30-minute call with Micah Winkelstein, AIA, a licensed architect with over 20 years of San Diego residential experience. No sales pitch. You leave with a clear picture of what your home can become, what it will realistically cost, and the smartest way to get there.
Designed while Director of Design at Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel
One conversation. Three ways to build. Build it yourself as owner-builder · Hire your own contractor with me as your architect · Have one team handle design through construction
How it works
A clear path in three steps
2. We talk through what is possible
In 30 minutes we cover what your lot and zoning actually allow, a realistic construction budget range, and how permitting will go in your jurisdiction.
3. You leave with a path
Build it yourself, hire your own contractor with me as your architect, or have one team handle everything from design through construction. You choose what fits.
Frequently asked questions
What does a major remodel actually cost in San Diego?
Most whole-home remodels, additions, and second stories land between $300,000 and $900,000 depending on scope, structure, and finishes. On the call I will give you a realistic range for your specific project and explain what drives the number up or down.
Should we add out, add up, or move?
It depends on your lot, zoning, and what you want the house to do for your family. This is exactly the question the strategy session is built to answer with real information instead of guesswork.
Do I need an architect, or can a contractor handle the design?
For substantial projects, design decisions made early determine most of the cost and nearly all of the result. A licensed architect works for you, not the build schedule. I also work smoothly with contractors: yours, mine, or a fully integrated team.
What does the strategy session cost?
Nothing. It is 30 minutes, free, with no obligation. If the project is not feasible or not ready, I will tell you that too.
What happens after the call?
You get clear next steps for whichever path fits: guidance to proceed on your own, a design proposal with me as your architect, or an introduction to a fully managed design-build process. No pressure in any direction.
Do you work outside the City of San Diego?
Yes. I work across San Diego County, including County jurisdiction, coastal communities, and the surrounding cities, and I know how each one reviews a permit.
Request your Remodel Strategy Session
Designed while Director of Design at Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel