Integrating Systems, Finance, and Permits

This unit develops the integrative skills required to coordinate site evaluation, financing, permitting, insurance, systems selection, and interior/landscape decisions for a custom home project. Students will synthesize technical, financial, and management considerations to produce a cohesive construction plan that reduces risk and prepares the project for final execution.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze site conditions, lot characteristics, and teardown scenarios to determine impacts on design, permitting, site development costs, and project feasibility
• Apply permitting, insurance requirements, financing calculations, and draw reimbursement procedures to produce a project cash flow and draw schedule for a sample build
• Evaluate construction assemblies and systems (e.g., sheathing, flashing, insulation, timber-frame/post-and-beam, mechanical and technology options, and softscaping) for cost, durability, energy performance, and resale value
• Demonstrate owner-builder responsibilities, dispute resolution techniques, risk-mitigation strategies, and methods to align program goals (the ‘golden thread’) with client expectations and potential revenue outcomes