Strata provides expert project management and owner’s-representative services for home projects. We help homeowners plan, scope, bid, budget, schedule, and oversee their projects from start to finish — acting as your dedicated advocate and guide.

Most homeowners don’t realize this type of support exists because the home services industry traditionally expects homeowners to manage projects on their own. Contractors focus on building, not guiding. Designers focus on aesthetics, not bids or scheduling. And real estate professionals guide buying and selling, not renovating.

Strata fills the gap in the middle — offering the same trusted guidance you had when you bought your home, but for the home projects that come afterward.

Because the home improvement world hasn’t changed much in decades. Most people hire a contractor and attempt to manage everything themselves, but this leaves unresolved the homeowner’s need for clear scope, unbiased advice, saving time, transparent bids, and steady guidance.

Strata is part of a new wave of homeowner-focused support built around advocacy, transparency, and project confidence.

Sites like Angi’s, HomeAdvisor, and Thumbtack are built to generate leads for contractors. Their business model is based on selling your information to multiple contractors so those contractors can try to win your business.

Strata is the opposite.
We don’t sell your information, we don’t earn money from contractors, and we don’t benefit if you choose one contractor over another. Our only job is to advocate for you — helping you compare bids clearly, understand scope and pricing, and choose the right contractor for your project.

We work for homeowners, not contractors.

Most homeowners underestimate how many decisions, risks, and complexities come with home projects. Contractors expect you to understand scope, pricing, and timelines, but most people don’t have the background or time to navigate it confidently.

Strata gives you:

• Clear guidance

• Transparent bid comparisons

• Help understanding options and tradeoffs

• Schedule and budget organization

• A trusted advocate protecting your interests

You get confidence, not overwhelm.

No. Strata does not receive referral fees or kickbacks from contractors. Our only responsibility is advocating for you. We help you identify and vet qualified contractors, gather multiple bids, compare them clearly, and select the contractor who best fits your project and needs.

A general contractor performs the construction work and manages subcontractors. Strata does not perform the construction. Instead, we work for you, the homeowner, to ensure your project is well-planned, fairly priced, clearly scoped, and well-executed. We help you choose the right contractor, manage costs and keep the project on track.

We don’t replace GCs, we work alongside them. Think of Strata as your professional representative ensuring:

• The scope is right

• A good, clear contract is in place

• The schedule is realistic

• The work stays aligned with expectations

GCs build. We protect your interests.

Strata bills at $125 per hour. Most homeowners spend between $500 and $5,000, depending on project complexity, the number of contractors involved, and how involved you want us to be.

You choose how much support you need — no long-term commitment.

In many cases, yes. We often help homeowners:

• Avoid unnecessary scope or upgrades

• Gain an understanding of fair pricing by soliciting numerous bids

• Compare bids accurately (apples to apples)

• Identify inflated costs or cost saving opportunities

• Prevent change orders through careful planning

Even on smaller projects, a few hours of oversight can prevent costly mistakes.

Many homeowners see cost savings in the 10–20% range, depending on the project. The reason is simple: most homeowners don’t have the time, tools, or insider perspective to compare contractor bids, spot unnecessary scope, or negotiate pricing.

Here’s how Strata helps you save real money:

• Transparent, apples-to-apples bid comparisons
  We often find major differences in labor, materials, scope, and contingencies that homeowners would never catch on their own.

• Right-sizing the scope
  Contractors sometimes recommend more work than necessary. We help you understand what’s essential, what’s optional, and what’s truly worth the investment.

• Preventing costly change orders
  Better planning upfront means fewer surprises later. Change orders are one of the biggest budget killers — and we help avoid them.

• Knowing where pricing should land and when you should buy materials yourself
  Because we see many bids, we can quickly spot outliers. Sometimes the highest or lowest number isn’t the best option. For materials, they are often marked up by contractors. We help you identify when it makes sense for you to purchase items directly - saving money without disrupting the contractor’s workflow.

• Improving scheduling and coordination
  Delays, miscommunications, and mistakes cost money. Strata keeps your project organized so you’re not paying for inefficiency.

Even if the savings are smaller than 10–20%, many homeowners still save far more than our fee — and avoid expensive mistakes that can cost thousands later.

Not necessarily. We help with different types of projects of all sizes. If the project involves decisions, bids, or coordinating one or more contractors, we can add value.

That works too.
You can use Strata as much or as little as you need. Some homeowners hire us only for bid comparisons or contract review; others want full oversight throughout the project. We’re flexible.

The earlier, the better. We can help you:

• Clarify goals and scope before contractors arrive

• Get accurate, comparable bids

• Choose the right contractor

• Avoid pitfalls during planning

But we can also jump in at any point if you need help.

No. Strata never accepts referral fees, sales commissions, or kickbacks of any kind.

Many contractor-matching sites are paid by contractors behind the scenes. We’re paid only by you — which means every recommendation is unbiased and solely focused on what’s best for your home, your budget, and your project.

Because our service model is customizable, Strata can provide support for any project involving one or more contractors or specialists (e.g., architects, designers, engineers).

Strata is based in Lake Oswego and serves homeowners throughout the greater Portland metro area, including West Linn, Tigard, Tualatin, Beaverton, Oregon City, Sherwood and surrounding communities.

Simply schedule a free consultation. We’ll discuss your project, your goals, and where we can add the most value. From there, you decide how much support you want.