Full disclosure - due to unrelated budget constraints we shelved the project for a bit. But wanted add a review for the team atleast for initial interactions We had a great experience working with John and team from Urbatect for the initial proposal to contract. They were always transparent and very prompt compared to others I have experienced. Site visit was informational and he gave us most of the info needed there and quickly followed up with a rough estimate. read more

I'm writing this review because it was the only way to get their attention. I've been working with this company since January 2023 on a project to build an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). We have already paid for the entire job, which is still incomplete and riddled with problems. The operations manager (David Mendoza) doesn't know what he's doing. He tells me the foundation is too low, but they designed the plans and installed it themselves. In addition, the drainage system was installed incorrectly, with no drains in the bathrooms, the kitchen ceiling lights are misplaced, there's no ventilation in the kitchen, etc. David provides me with a schedule that he never adheres to and says it's Eric Martinez's fault, who isn't paying for materials or labor, even though payment was made at the beginning of the construction phase. I hired them because they claimed to be professionals, but I've found out they don't have their own workers and subcontract everything. That's not the problem; the problem is that they hire inexperienced people, perhaps from Home Depot, and the worst part is that I've received complaints that they aren't paying them. Right now, my project is a disaster, and I don't know how I'm going to finish it. If I call them too often, they say I'm harassing them and not letting them work. Perhaps they don't care about the interest I'm paying on the loan or the rental income I'm losing. Please think twice before hiring them. I've signed two addendums to extend the completion date, and they simply don't care. Please think twice before giving them any money. read more

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We have been working with this organization since 12/2024 for an ADU garage conversion. We have not even broken ground one year later. We have already paid $150,000 for work that has yet to be done and at this point we do not think it will get done. It is boarding on breach of contract. Management does not take this issue serious and has been unprofessional during calls to rectify the issues (doing other activities while on the call, not paying full attention, not available for screen share because they are driving or not at the office). During calls it is clear they do not take notes to capture what was discussed because they are often away from the desk, do not provide meeting agendas/follow ups (as the client we have taken this action), and cannot give a reliable work schedule. You may get a good sales pitch but you will not get good service. read more

John was professional And a pleasure to work with. He took the time to explore all possible ideas and brainstorm some new ones. Highly recommend! read more

He was great he was very detailed oriented. He walked me through the whole process and the cost even was less before the team was great I would highly recommend them for your next project!!! The service requested was outstanding service! Service Requested was don with excellent quality and service! read more

They will just spam you non-stop but never actually deliver a quote. I'm not sure if they are in the design/build business or the spam business. It is very confusing. You will get email and SMS spam, so if you enjoy both types of spam, this is the place for you. read more

Although we ultimately didn't move forward with our project,I had an outstanding experience with John from Urbatect and felt compelled to leave a review. I was exploring building an attached ADU on a property complicated by backyard easements. John was fantastic. He took the time to explain the complex rules and regulations and even went above and beyond to check directly with the city to see what was possible for my unique situation. He was incredibly informative, outlined my options clearly, and provided creative solutions to maximize my limited space. His help was invaluable. If you're considering an ADU, especially on a tricky lot, I highly recommend reaching out to John specifically for his expertise and dedication. read more

After the permits were approved, the project stayed on schedule for only the first month. Soon after, significant delays became apparent, even as our substantial upfront payments were received by Urbatect Development at the start of the development. A project that was supposed to take 4-5 months has now dragged on for several years and is still nowhere near completion. I would not recommend this company to anyone. Recent internet search reveals more pertaining information: California Architect Board recently sanctioned Urbatect Development's owner Eric Martinez-Lucio with multiple counts of violations and citations: https://www.cab.ca.gov/enf/enf_actions/m.shtml There are also ongoing lawsuits in San Diego with plaintiffs alleging breach of contract. read more

Run, do not walk away from this company! This review is based on actual facts. We contracted with Urbatect in September 2023 to build an ADU with a contractual obligation to finish the project within 6 months. This project still has to complete after 2 years and 5 months! The company employs the cheapest possible labor and did not pay many of the sub-contractors who have threatened to put a lien on our property! The work quality is poor and many items had to be redone several times before they were acceptable by the inspector. The company also has a consumer complaint with Contractors State License Board (CSLB) at this time. Beware of this company and do not give your business to them! read more

The project manager and his design team are professional and detailed and keep us informed on a regular basis. The sales executive was knowledgeable of ADU design features for our property size and knowledgeable of city codes to consider. My family feel confident that the end result will be as we planned. The cost was reasonable the features we desired for a non-detached ADU behind the main home. read more

I hired Urbatect to build an ADU for a handicapped individual. The contract was for 13 months, it took 25 months. Lots of slow and poor quality work by the architect, and the subcontractor. No on-site quality oversight by Urbatect as I was told would be done by the sales staff so I had to do the inspection and lots of the rework was also done by me. It took 13 months to get a building permit because as Eric stated, it was the building season and he was too busy with other work to get my permit timely. At about 5 months into the job he promised to make up for lost time and would complete the job on time. That did not happen. The subcontractor stopped work about 4 times totaling about 5 months of no work being done as he was not paid timely by Urbatect. At the 1st work stoppage the subcontractor was told by Eric that I was a slow pay so he had no money to pay when I actually paid by the terms of the contract which was way in advance of the subcontractors request of partial payments. I kept pleading with Eric, no more delays as the handicapped person was waiting, to which he agreed but the delays continued. Several poor quality examples include: The architect would continually make changes to the plans not requested, not make the requested changes, or not do the changes as requested--even when the corrections were verbal and followed up in writing. The roofer did not roof the roof flashings or roof vents properly, guaranteeing leaks, so I paid a real roofing company to do the repairs. The kitchen window was not centered above the kitchen sink as was on the plans, so I will have to live with it. The electrician did not use code required ceiling fan boxes to mount the ceiling fans, he used standard boxes and refused to install the proper heavy duty boxes, so I corrected it. I wish Eric and Urbatect well and I hope no one gets abused as I was abused. read more

After speaking with several construction companies on getting a permitted ADU built at a property, Urbatect seemed to be the most organized and reasonable in terms of timeline, quality, and cost. Special mention to John Soliz who gave a detailed explanation of the project timeline and really convinced me Urbatect was the right company for my needs. Also, the design project manager Akanksha has been amazing. Akanksha has been timely in getting different steps of the drawings/plans/permits finished and provided me with regular updates and additional information to keep me informed. I look forward to the construction phase and plan to update my review on that part of the process when it is finished. read more

I was in a panic. I have been trying for 5 months to simply put in a window through hcd because I have a manufactured home. Endless delays. After being told I could do a quick sketch and attach it to an email to get my permit, I was told that yet again the inspector wanted something else. An engineering stamp. I've put in Windows before and manufactured homes and never had to do this. Plus it was going to cost me $500. I almost think it is because I'm a retired widow. A person I contracted with said he knew someone and of course I didn't hear a word. So I just went out on my own and found Urbatect.com. I formulated a rather verbose text and thought I would probably not hear back from them. To my shock, I got a return email immediately. Not only that they also immediately provided an engineering stamp. I couldn't believe the fast service. Such a relief and I pray I can put my stupid window in at long last. I just moved to Paso Robles and I've been living with this wall in front of me all this time and the new window leaning on it waiting to go in. It's been driving me crazy! Thank you to this accommodating business that no doubt has many more important things to do than my engineering stamp! THANK YOU AGAIN A MILLION TIMES OVER. Eric Martinez Principal (559) 412-8841 emartinez@urbatect.com read more

We are in the process of purchasing a property with enough room for an ADU. Urbatect and Luis Mendoza are extremely helpful. He helped me get connected with a real estate agent he personally knows and I am very satisfied with the referral. We are in escrow and will be pulling the trigger with our new ADU. read more

So sue me for libel, Eric. You know what the defense to libel is? The truth. Good luck with that. You do know that all court records are public information, right? Traffic citations, criminal cases, property records, liens, state licensing information, etc. You also know that anyone can go to www.sjpermits.org and then search "Permits, Property & Zoning", then enter our permit # 2021017432. That will show exactly when Urbatect started "work," and will show the TWENTY failed inspection permit cards with comments that specifically state why inspection wasn't passed. I could add more photos if you're really that proud of the "work" you've done, or if you take offense to the ones I've posted here-- I can add more as I do have hundreds. Or you can continue to deflect, blame, make excuses, and lie. I think people who read my review should simply look up my property (which is public information), of which I own (and therefore, sadly, am your client/victim) and drive by and look at the carnage for themselves. Or anyone wanting to hire you can contact me. I'd be happy to show them anything. Would you do the same? Buyer beware, and all. I'd also like to point people to scrutinize the photos that Urbatect posts as their own. A simple Google photo search will show all of the screen grabs of work that is not theirs. read more

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We are very satisfied with the work that Urbatect has provided us. We have worked together on several engineering projects and the team has always provided us with a superior product at a fair price. Thank You! read more

Amazing service, excellent quality on design , for sure they will be my engineers for all my projects. I highly recommend them. read more

Luis from Urbatec is very attentive. He is very knowledgeable when it comes to consulting, recommending and addressing our concerns. He Answers questions and went the extra mile to address our needs and concerns. Well recommended. Thank you Luis! read more

Worked with Urbatect Development to build an ADU in backyard. They worked with us getting the price we wanted as well as including upgrades that were deal breakers for us. I would highly recommend them as they were professional, prompt and extremely amenable to our needs! read more

Luis was very knowledgeable and helpful. Goes above and beyond and I would recommend reaching out to him with potential projects!

Had the privilege of meeting with Luis Mendoza. He is highly knowledgeable when it comes to designing and architecture work for any residential, commercial or multi family residence. There quality of work speaks on its own. I definitely recommend getting in touch with him. He can guide you to your next architectural project with a great team that will provide optimum service and quality materials. read more

I have been on an look out trying to figure out who would be suitable, reliable and have faith in to what their customers want when it comes to getting an ADU built. Thanks to Luis Mendoza, he was able to give me a good layout and some ideas as to what I wanted to do to my ADU. Not everyone is capable of doing that, but he was able to work with me and my wife and find us the perfect layout that we both love. Keep up the hard work and making your customers happy! read more

Urbatect development, has the best services regarding construction needs. It's a one place in all for all your construction needs the value that they have compares to non. Luis Mendoza, the sales consultant is a great and easy person to work with reliable, responsive anything and everything that you need they will solve well highly recommend them. read more

Jason Cortez was a huge help with our ADU project. He was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions which made my parents feel confident this was the right choice. He also spoke Spanish which was a huge help in communicating with my parents. I definitely recommend him as your first stop when it comes to a new ADU Check out Urbatect Development read more

I worked with Urbatech to plan the construction of an detached ADU in the backyard of my home. I had contacted several ADU construction companies to discuss the process and cost. I found Urbatech to be the very best. My sales consultant, John Stoliz, was outstanding. He was very knowledgeable, patient, a great listener and was very customer focused. He carefully guided my wife and I through the planning process working closely with his team to develop a plan for construction that met our needs. We asked numerous questions and John always responded and did an outstanding job of informing/coaching us on how best to proceed based on our needs. John was always patient with us. We never felt rushed or under pressure to sign a contract. I enjoyed working with John and his team. Outstanding group. I found their pricing to be very competitive as well. I would highly recommend Urbatech for your ADU needs. read more

Urbatect has been great to work with and coordinate details for customers window portion of their project. Prompt and knowledgeable responses - I have no doubt the level of customer service we see on the B2B side translates directly to the customers they design and build homes for. -Travis, Construction Windows read more

I got a good glimpse at the ADU projects Urbatect Development designs and builds. I must say I am very impressed with the quality they provide. Luis Mendoza is very helpful, helping me select the adequate ADU size and design for my lot. I have a close friend who build an ADU in town with Urbatect and what I see aligns to what he tells me. read more

Eric and his team will provide competitive estimates and good customer service. give him a try if this is what your looking for. my firm was awarded a few job working with Eric and his team. -Cooper Construction and Engineering read more

Urbatect remodeled our store in full very quickly and very efficiently. We were on a tight timeline due to business demands so it was super critical to be done by the deadline. Urbatect managed to finish before schedule despite having an aggressive schedule. Communication and attention to detail to all the finishes was great! We spent a lot of time in the store and saw the process and care Urbatect did all the installations. For anyone looking for a great contractor and design company, Urbatect is it. They do an excellent job and have referred them to other colleagues who have also had the same experience. Thank you, thank you!!! read more

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If you're looking to build an ADU or a specific project I recommend John Soliz & Urbatect Development. They have a great process and communicated everything with me really well and thoroughly. I couldn't be happier. Thanks guys!!!! read more

My family & I are so excited about our ADU project coming to reality! We are about to pour concrete on our 1,000SF ADU! The Urbatect team has been nothing but phenomenal from day one. From the design phase to permitting and until now during construction, everything has been amazing! For anyone looking for a team that's very easy to work with and that cares, the Urbatect team is the one especially if you are building an ADU. They specialize in ADU builds! We are so looking forward to finalizing the job. Special thanks to David who has been holding our hand since day one!!!! read more

Suburban Tech Design - General Contractors Near Me - Watsonville, California

Although there was some variability in the people I worked with as a client to Urbatect, I'm going to focus my evaluation on the outstanding engineer I worked with, Jay. He was definitely a bright spot in our experience with Urbatect. He was very competent and responsive. My particular build was an unusual build in that it combined mixing an 1800s barn structure with a modern, traditional framing to meet code. Jay did a great job of working with the two types of build. There were a few details that the builder needed that didn't seem to be in the plans but Jay has always been excellent about responding to those issues in a timely way. It was especially impressive because the build has been happening over time (still on-going), but Jay always seems familiar with the details. He definitely reflected a combination of friendliness and expertise. If you become a client of Urbatect, I highly recommend him as your engineer for your structural plans. read more

We needed to complete an entire project for our home renovation and after I researched all over the internet, I found Eric and Urbatect. He was the first person I felt I could trust and actually cared about our project, our home, and our family. He always delivered everything on time and helped us understand the complicated world of home construction. There are a lot of scammers whose quotes seem to be much lower than the final bill, but not the case if you work with Urbatect. They know how to do the job right while taking care of their customers. You need to hire these guys! read more

I wish I can select Zero Star. I Got into a contract with Urbatect on 04/20/2021 for the pre-construction phase, it has been 3+ years while the contract stated 3 months, and haven't gotten the building permit yet. At the end of this horrifying process, I discovered that they were not licensed Architect in California when the county asked them to stamp the Architectural drawings, they couldn't even have a Zoom meeting with the county building examiner to go over incorrect items, missing details, item needs clarifications or discussing other options! They only work through emails so they can search answers. Now I'm left with over $150k in expenses and no permit! Please note that the contract stated that the contractor is responsible for obtaining the permit however I have been running back and forth between the county building officials and the contractor for the past year and a half trying to expedite the process otherwise it would probably take over 5 years to get to where we are now. Thank you read more

Urbatect did a fantastic job with my new home. The price was very competitive and despite the busy construction season, they managed to finish before they promised. Very knowledgeable in all aspects of construction and great communication throughout the whole process. I highly recommend! read more

I was looking for a structural engineer to help me with an addition immediately as we were in the middle of the construction. I called several engineers who told me it would take them several weeks and they also quoted me a much higher price. I called Eric on a Friday and he was able to give me the the required plans and calculations in less than a week. Eric is very fast, easy to work with, great communication and I would highly recommend him and gladly use his services again. read more

Urbatect just helped us get plans approved in the city of LA. Top marks all around. Competing pricing and super fast. The reason we used them is because they communicated very well with the general contractor and client. I can't stress how fast they got RTI permits. read more

Eric did a fantastic job writing a letter to clear up a structural concern. He was very understanding of my situation and addressed the situation almost immediately. Very nice people! Thank you!!!! read more