Why do you call yourself a 'Homebuilder' rather than a 'Contractor'?
Homebuilders are real estate developers - we are responsible for the entire process - while Contractors are only responsible for the construction. Contractors bid a set of plans, while Homebuilders plan the entire build to be sure it comes in at cost. In the rebuilds, each homeowner - with a piece of land, an insurance policy and a vision - has been forced into the role of Homebuilder. With 25 years experience as a homebuilder, Heyday Build is uniquely qualified to assist with the homeowner's project.
Can I build differently from what I had, still covered by insurance?
Yes, you can fix the problems of the old house! And still be in the fast-track for LA County Like-for-Like projects. There are limits, we understand them. This is why we call ourselves Homebuilders - we understand the entire process and holistically achieve the best outcome for you.
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How did you design the business to be able to build for insurance policies?
We started from a good place - we know how to build a really good home for a great price. But then we had to add insurance estimating and customer service while reducing the price. We connected with larger custom homebuilders outside Los Angeles to learn their best practices. The two major strategies are technology (SaaS) and Even Flow Production, a homebuilding strategy to give subcontractors consistent and constant work to get their best crews for the best rates. The software services market in the homebuilding industry has recently exploded with excellent enterprise (ERP) and accounting tools to lower costs and increase client service and reporting. We've partnered with a team of homebuilding consultants from around the country to implement best practices and new technology.
How can you say you will rebuild our home for insurance proceeds?
We use the same estimating software as the insurance industry, and we build to those accepted costs. When you send our estimate to your insuror, it's already in their language and there should be little to contest. The software contains 25,000 cost codes adjusted by zip code and the estimates are typically ~100 pages. Our estimator specializes in total loss claims and has performed thousands of estimates for wildfires and hurricanes.
What if my insurance proceeds are too little?
When we take your job, we are agreeing to work with insurance to get to a number that is buildable; we don't want to waste our time or yours - we think we can get there. Using the industry standard estimating software, we know what the industry wants us to build for; we know what we can build for - they are similar.
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What about historic elements of the lost house?
Historic details and features need to be estimated separately, by specific trades and suppliers. We have deep experience in this, having just completed the restoration of a 1933 synagogue for which we won a 2025 LA Conservancy Historic preservation Award. For instance, we used three different stained-glass window artists on that project and a shipwright to restore the most difficult millwork.
What is a homebuilder versus a custom builder or general contractor?
Homebuilders are developers, not only contractors - we finance, design, permit and construct the home. When we propose a project to our equity & debt partners, we set a budget- and we have to stick to it. It’s a lot of pressure to deliver a project to a budget with your own equity and a personally guaranteed construction loan (I have signed over 50 personal guarantees and delivered every single one).
But a General Contractor - It’s a lot less pressure & risk to simply bid a set of plans and see if you get the job.
While custom home contractors will tell you what they will build a home for, I have been building homes for what I am told to for twenty five years. We commit to construction prices when we buy land - typically years before construction - and we answer to a capital stack that is at risk, so we better get it right. We manage the project from the beginning, to be sure we can deliver. That’s why we feel our experience is a lot like yours - you need to deliver for insurance proceeds, just like me delivering to a budget for investors.
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Why do you want to be involved from the beginning?
Home builders are not solely contractors. Our experience is in managing the entire process to be sure that the end product is the highest quality for a buildable price. This is is necessary for us to be confident we can build your home for insurance proceeds. Beside, we are working with the best designers and expeditors (permitting) in the specific realm of single family homes in Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Our goal is to get you moved into your rebuilt home for no more than what insurance is paying - it’s not easy, but we are taking it very seriously.
What is an 'Insurance Estimate'?
We provide insurance estimates in the format standard to the industry, typically around 100 pages of detail. This is the format the industry uses, and by speaking their language, we empower you to negotiate faster and to a higher final value than using the normal spreadsheet type 'estimate' typical of contractors.
Where did you learn how to work with insurance?
We knew this was the key missing component of our fire response so we identified and partnered with the industry-leading consultant who is expert in specifically estimating Total Loss Insurance Claims. He normally works in Texas and Florida on hurricane disasters and we are his primary client on the Los Angeles Wildifires response.
But you’ve built mostly three story townhomes with roof decks, why do you think you are competitive at single story Altadena homes?
It's true, our experience - and most development in Los Angeles - is more dense - and more complicated - than most rebuilds in Altadena. The framing, plumbing and waterproofing are the trades most different. We are an excellent builder because of our processes and practices, rather than specializing in a single product type.
What are you doing to scale to the size of this problem, we want everyone to have the opportunity for a local builder?
We have built a platform to serve as many people as possible. We all need to try to step up and get a lot done here, the task is overwhelming. We are bringing in the industry’s top custom homebuilding CRM partner, hiring VP customer service and Construction management, each with 30 years experience in their fields. Bringing on a union mason with 25 years experience to manage concrete and a skilled accounting team to get the subs paid fast. Because keeping subs happy is the key to production the next couple years. [Add ERP and AI empowered accounting and Melissa Ledbeker]
Will you get over extended with volume?
At some point we will start to say ‘no’ to new jobs. I don’t know if that will be in weeks or months. Our even flow production model is the key to delivering quality on budget and with a great customer service experience - and most importantly to keep the trades happy. Unfortunately, this limits our construction start slots. We wish we could say yes to every person, but to deliver a great product we have to limit our starts to regular periods, which will create a backlog at some point. The best thing to do is get started now!
What’s the warranty on a new home?
The warranty on a new home is defined by statute in SB800. It is ten years on major elements (earth, structure, foundation, some waterproofing), and shorter on many trades like electrical, plumbing, air conditioning. The Fit and Finish warranty is one year. Manufactured items (windows, flooring, equipment, fixtures) are one year, but often have a longer warranty from the manufacturer. Be sure your contractor has a plan to service the house if they are from out-of-area.
If you have so much experience, why is your license number new?
Most of my experience was with Heyday Development Corporation, #824034 (from 2002), and I was the qualifier on that license. When my brother and I went different directions, we retired this license.
Tell me more about Hardy, the owner?
He's really good at building a house and also a pretty good father, husband, sailor and trail runner. He speaks Spanish on the job, having gained fluency while working in Chile. Give Hardy a call 323-309-2041.
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Why would you need a Masters of Real Estate Development education to build a house?
When Hardy pivoted to Real Estate in Los Angeles in 2000 (leaving a career in Naval Architecture in Iquique, Chile), he first looked at Masters of Construction Management degrees. But then discovered a very unique degree - Masters of Real Estate Development (MRED), which solves a much bigger problem than construction - what to build for economic sense. Real Estate Development is putting together capital, land and labor/trades/consultants to design and build a successful project. While Construction is only the final phase of the project. We believe the distinction is particularly suited to the rebuild situation, in which the homeowner is acting as Real Estate Developer in the role of Homebuilder.