The experience of designing and building a house should be an enjoyable one. Most architects bill on an hourly basis, which gives them no incentive for closure. Jim works on a fixed fee. Good communication is critical. During the design process, Jim has frequent meetings with his clients, followed by meeting minutes, to insure that all of his client's ideas are incorporated in the design. As a sole practitioner, Jim has drawn every line and written every word in the specifications. He is the only one the client will ever talk to.
For the Construction Phase, Jim’s services include the selection of a good contractor, weekly construction conferences (followed by minutes), and a careful tracking of project costs.