Roberto Paz, AIA Info Castellano 
Families that have lost their homes in the Palisades and Eaton Fires of 2025 might feel that they’ve lost more than a house. In the initial days of the event, it’s natural to feel grief over the loss of a sense of security, a lifetime of possessions and the certainty of what comes next.
The loss of a house does put a family in a vulnerable position. We have already been hearing of people trying to take advantage of homeowners in these areas. Here are some tips to protect yourself:
- Don’t sign any documents until you’ve had time to review and consult with lawyers or independent architects, engineers or builders.
- If somebody is trying to pressure you to sign anything as quickly as possible, it is not for a good reason.
- Sometimes, design - build firms or builders may offer to do all design for free if you sign a contract with them for construction. This typically ends with them recovering what they would have charged for design (and more) on markups during construction. An independent architect will represent you before the builder and work to ensure that you are getting the best value for your investment.
- The most outstanding guide I’ve seen for legal advice, including Insurance and FEMA, is this guide from Counsel for Creators
- The best way to learn about the best way to hire an architect and protect yourself during a house design and construction process can be found here: California Architects Board - Consumer’s Guide to Hiring an Architect.
- It will take some time to get your team in place and ready to design and build your house. Please let us know if we can help.