Sparrow + Aire Studio

Trauma Unit
Joshua Tree Retreat

A development & design proposal prepared for DJ Trauma

Three Parcels · Joshua Tree, CA
THE VISION

Three parcels, one working strategy.

A fast, cost-efficient investment property that funds a weekend home built for hosting, designed from the start as an experience, not a commodity build. Both parcels are built using manufactured/prefab construction, the same build process, customized differently for each parcel's needs. Sparrow + Aire Studio will act as Development & Design Director across the full engagement: land development, manufactured home selection and production, construction management, and design of the finished spaces.

THE THREE PARCELS

What each parcel is for.

01

Investment Property

Manufactured/prefab home(s), chosen for speed and cost efficiency. Designed to generate income and fund Parcel 2.

02

Weekend Home

Full land development & design-build, same process as Parcel 1. Interior design and amenities are the final layer, added once the structure is fully built.

  • Pool & guest house
  • Tennis court
  • Lounge / grill area
  • Covered patio & outdoor kitchen
  • Flex space (yoga / private dinners)
  • Outdoor showers
03

Reserved

Use to be determined pending findings from Phase 1 land development across all three parcels.

THE ENGAGEMENT

How this unfolds.

Land Development

90 days · All 3 parcels

Feasibility, utilities, entitlements pathway, and two site plans across all three parcels before capital commits to construction: a design master plan (Sparrow + Aire) and an engineered site plan for permit submittal (licensed civil engineer, client-paid).

Manufactured Home Selection & Concept

60 days · Parcels 1 & 2

Vendor sourcing, customization, and siting/design concepts for both parcels, same build process, specified differently: cost-efficient for Parcel 1, experience-driven for Parcel 2.

Construction Management

Parcels 1 & 2 build-out

Site prep, utility hookup, and manufactured home installation through certificate of occupancy, same process on both parcels, sequenced per the selected rollout option.

Finishing & Interior Design

Parcel 2, after both parcels are fully built

Landscape design, exterior amenities, and interior design, added once Parcel 2's manufactured structure is complete. Parcel 2 goes through the same land development, home selection, and construction phases as Parcel 1 above, this is the finishing layer, not the build itself.

HOW THIS RUNS

Development Process & Protocol.

How this engagement flows from land development through move-in ready handoff, and how we stay aligned every step. This protocol is referenced in the agreement and shared with vendors at kickoff.

ENGAGEMENT FLOW
01Phase

Land Development

Feasibility, entitlements, and master site plan across all 3 parcels
Due Diligence Percolation Testing Utility Feasibility Entitlement Pathway STR Permit Check Design Master Plan
Covered under Director retainer · $4,500/mo

Work begins immediately upon signed agreement and first retainer payment. Due diligence, feasibility testing, and entitlement coordination run across all three parcels concurrently. Design master plan delivered by week 13; engineered site plan (licensed civil engineer) billed at cost.

Ongoing

Development & Design Director Coordination

Runs from signing through project completion, alongside every phase below
Weekly Vendor Check-Ins County Liaison Weekly Client Update Site Visits Change Request Log
$4,500/mo · Billed monthly, in advance

Sparrow + Aire is the sole point of contact with surveyors, the county, manufactured home vendors, and contractors. DJ Trauma is not contacted directly by any third party, and receives one written update each week.

Milestone

Master Plan Approved

Client signs off on the design master plan and Phase 2 scope
Phase 2 statement of work issued at approval

Once the design master plan and entitlement roadmap are approved, Phase 2 scope, vendor budget, and the confirmed Parcel 2 program are finalized based on Phase 1 findings. This milestone gates the move into home selection.

02Phase

Manufactured Home Selection & Concept

Vendor sourcing, concept development, and customization for both parcels
Concept & Brand Positioning Homes Direct: Parcel 1 Blue View: Parcel 2 Floor Plan Customization Production Scheduling
20% sourcing fee · $3,500 concept fee · PM $125/hr

Vendor comparisons and customization run in parallel for both parcels. Written cost summaries are sent for approval before any deposit is placed with either vendor.

Milestone

Home Packages Approved

Client signs off on vendor selections and final floor plans
Production deposit due at approval

Once both home packages are approved in writing, production orders and delivery scheduling begin. This milestone gates the move into active construction.

03Phase

Construction Management

Site prep through certificate of occupancy, both parcels
Site Prep & Foundation Utility Hookup Home Delivery & Set Punch List Tracking Inspections Certificate of Occupancy
PM $125/hr · capped 20–25 hrs/week

Given the 2-hour distance to Joshua Tree, on-site presence is milestone-driven rather than routine. Sparrow + Aire coordinates all trades and inspections remotely between visits; DJ Trauma is not required to manage any contractor personally.

Trigger

Furnishings Sourcing Begins

Parcel 2 structure complete: procurement opens
Written notice sent · client confirmation required · clock starts

Once Parcel 2's manufactured structure is set and move-in ready for finishing, a formal written notice is sent confirming the sourcing phase is opening. DJ Trauma confirms in writing before any procurement hours begin.

04Phase

Finishing & Interior Design

The final layer, added after Parcel 2's structure is fully built, not the build itself
Landscape Design Interior Design Procurement & Furnishings Installation & Staging
$8/sqft or per-room · procurement $125/hr + 20% · install $500/day

Parcel 2 completes the same land development, home selection, and construction phases as Parcel 1 above. Once that structure is fully built, this phase layers on landscape, exterior amenities, and interior design. All samples and finishes are invoiced to DJ Trauma before any order is placed, with no purchase made without written approval and pre-payment.

Closeout

Closeout

Final walkthrough, punch list, and handoff
Punch List Review Final Walkthrough Handoff Documentation
Final retainer invoice issued at completion

Sparrow + Aire reviews completed work against the design master plan and approved specifications before handing both parcels over move-in ready.

SITE & VENDOR COORDINATION

Site Coordination Protocol.

This protocol is referenced in the project agreement and introduced to every vendor and contractor at kickoff. It is how every phase stays on schedule and on budget, without DJ Trauma having to manage any vendor directly.

Weekly Client Check-In

One written update sent each week during active phases, covering progress, decisions needed, and what's next.

  • What was completed this week and what is still outstanding
  • What is behind schedule and why
  • Decisions needed from you before Monday
  • What is scheduled for the following week
  • Site photos included when gathered from a milestone visit or shared by trades
  • Ad hoc calls available for time-sensitive decisions between check-ins
Vendor & Production Meetings

Every other week during Phases 2 and 4, a structured meeting covers vendor selections, production status, and sourcing decisions.

  • Homes Direct & Blue View production status
  • Floor plan and finish selections requiring approval
  • Furnishings and material sourcing decisions
  • Budget tracking against sourcing and procurement fees
01
Vendor & Trade Introduction at Kickoff

At kickoff, Sparrow + Aire is introduced to every vendor and trade, Homes Direct, Blue View, the civil engineer, surveyor, and contractors, as DJ Trauma's design and coordination point of contact. This is documented in the project agreement and communicated in writing to all parties.

02
Weekly Client Check-In

One written update is sent each week during active phases, covering what was completed, what is behind schedule and why, and what decisions are needed before Monday. Ad hoc calls are available for time-sensitive decisions between check-ins.

03
Weekly Schedule to Vendors

Every Monday, Sparrow + Aire sends a written schedule to the active vendor or contractor confirming what is expected on site or in production that week. This keeps every phase sequenced regardless of vendor lead times.

04
48-Hour Confirmation

48 hours before any scheduled delivery, install, or critical milestone, Sparrow + Aire confirms with the vendor or contractor. If something is slipping at this point, there is still time to adjust sequencing or escalate, protecting the timeline from last-minute disruption.

05
Milestone Site Visits

Joshua Tree is 2 hours away, so on-site presence is milestone-driven, not routine. Phase 1 land development is largely administrative and coordinated remotely. Physical visits are required at key milestones: home selection walkthroughs, survey/staking confirmation on each parcel, water and septic placement, and exterior landscaping build-outs. Between milestones, updates are gathered directly from vendors, surveyors, and trades and passed to DJ Trauma in the weekly report.

06
Escalation Protocol

Sparrow + Aire coordinates every vendor and trade but does not hold final authority over budget or scope, DJ Trauma does. When a delay, deviation, or quality issue arises, it is documented immediately and flagged in writing with the timeline impact and a recommended next step. DJ Trauma directs the next move from there.

07
Friday Status Report

Every Friday, a concise written summary is sent: what was completed, what is behind and why, what decisions are needed before Monday, and what is scheduled for the following week. Site photos are included when gathered from a milestone visit or shared by trades on site.

Vendor coordination, site logging, schedule management, and weekly check-ins are all billable PM time at $125/hr, not absorbed into the Director retainer. All hours are tracked and reported monthly so DJ Trauma always sees exactly what he is being billed for.
WHO OWNS WHAT

Responsibility matrix.

Responsibility Sparrow + Aire Licensed Third Party DJ Trauma
Design master planAuthors & deliversReviews & approves
Engineered site planCoordinatesCivil engineer stamps & deliversPays at cost
Vendor sourcing & comparisonLeadsApproves final selection
County & permittingCoordinates & tracksCounty issues permitsSigns applications as owner of record
Construction managementOverseesContractor buildsApproves change orders
Interior design & furnishingsDesigns & sourcesApproves selections & budget
Timely decisions & accessProvides approvals & property access on schedule
TWO ROLLOUT PATHS

Rollout options, side by side.

Same brief, invest the least, return the most. They just define "most" differently: capital preserved, or time to enjoying the land.

Criteria OPTION ACapital First OPTION BExperience First
Parcel 1Manufactured/prefab, cost-minimized, built purely for speedManufactured/prefab, still fast, built to one strong siting & design concept
Parcel 2Manufactured/prefab, held until Parcel 1 income funds full amenity buildManufactured/prefab, launches in parallel, guest house & plunge pool first
Full build-outComplete ~Month 12–18+Usable Month 5–9, fully built by Month 18
Upfront capitalLowest, true bootstrap sequenceModerately higher, still controlled
Time to personal useDelayed until Parcel 1 stabilizesWithin the first year
Funds Parcel 2 viaParcel 1 income onlyParcel 1 income + early Parcel 2 revenue
Design riskLow upside if Parcel 1 is repositioned laterNeeds disciplined phasing to avoid scope creep
Best fitCapital discipline firstEnjoying the land sooner

Option A minimizes capital. Option B minimizes time to enjoyment. Both answer the same brief.

INVESTMENT

Fee Structure

Development & Design Director

Ongoing retainer, runs monthly across the full engagement
Director retainerSingle point of contact coordinating surveyors, county, manufactured home vendors, contractors, and eventually landscape/interior across all phases
$4,500/mo

Project Management

Phase-specific hourly work beyond the retainer's general oversight
PM hoursVendor coordination, production scheduling, construction oversight
$125/hr

Development & Design Director

The strategic layer, judgment, not tasks
  • Owns the vision across all 3 parcels
  • Authors the design master plan & concept
  • Single accountable point of contact
  • Makes the calls with no script, vendor pushback, failed tests, scope tradeoffs
  • Available even in quiet weeks
Billed flat, monthly, accountability doesn't scale with hours

Project Management

The tactical layer, execution, not vision
  • Schedules inspections & deliveries
  • Tracks specific dates & punch-list items
  • Fluctuates by phase, heavy in construction, light in permitting
  • Time-based, hands-on work
Billed hourly, as incurred, pay for time actually spent

Concept & Brand Positioning

New line item, engineering the experience premium
Concept developmentNaming, material & design language, site experience mapping across Parcel 1's units before vendor selection
$3,500 flat

Sourcing & Procurement

Manufactured home sourcingApplied to vendor package cost
20%
Furnishings & finishes procurementApplied to all sourced items, Parcel 2
$125/hr + 20%

Interior Design: Parcel 2

Design services fee, separate from procurement and construction. Applied once square footage / room count is confirmed in Phase 1
Interior design servicesMoodboards, 3D renders, floor plans, design concepts, material boards, whole-home sqft rate or per-room, whichever nets higher
$8/sqft or $1,800–$2,800/room
Installation & stagingOverseeing deliveries, layout, assembly, mounting
$500/day

Phase 1: Land Development

90 days · All 3 parcels
Coordination & oversightDue diligence, feasibility testing, entitlement pathway, design master plan
Covered under Director retainer
Passthrough costsSurveyor, licensed civil engineer (engineered site plan, grading, drainage, septic, utility routing), perc test, county fees, billed at cost, no markup
Billed as incurred

Phase 2: Manufactured Home Selection

60 days · Parcels 1 & 2, same process, specified per parcel's needs
Vendor split: Homes Direct (Perris, CA), factory-direct, $30K–$150K base, for Parcel 1's cost-minimized units. Blue View Manufactured & Modular (adobe/Spanish style, custom), $200–$360/sf, as the design reference for Parcel 2, pending budget confirmation.
Concept & brand positioning
$3,500
Vendor sourcing fee20% of manufactured home package cost, each parcel
20%
PM hoursCapped at 40 hrs for this phase, $125/hr beyond
$125/hr

Phase 3: Construction Management

Parcels 1 & 2 build-out through CO
PM hoursCapped at 20–25 hrs/week
$125/hr

Phase 4: Finishing & Interior Design (Parcel 2)

The final layer, applied after Parcel 2's structure is fully built in Phases 1–3 above, separate from construction costs
Interior design servicesMoodboards, 3D renders, floor plans, concepts, material boards
$8/sqft or $1,800–$2,800/room
Procurement & furnishingsSourcing and purchasing all furniture and finishes
$125/hr + 20%
Installation & staging
$500/day

Parcel 3

Use TBDScoped and priced once direction is set from Phase 1 findings
Reserved

Development & Design Director Retainer

Mo. 1
Due at signingSecures engagement start, Phase 1 begins
Mo. 2+
Billed monthly, in advanceContinues across all phases through project completion

Phase-Specific Fees

100%
Concept & brand positioningDue at Phase 2 kickoff
Sourcing, procurement & PM hoursInvoiced monthly as incurred
Phase 4 interior design fees are invoiced once Parcel 2 square footage and room count are confirmed from Phase 1 findings. Furnishings are billed separately through procurement, as items are sourced and purchased.
  • Two site plans, two ownersThe design master plan (unit placement, sightlines, privacy, amenity fit) is Sparrow + Aire's work, design authorship, included in the Director retainer. The engineered site plan (grading, drainage, septic, utility routing) requires a licensed civil engineer's stamp for permit submittal, this is not a scope choice, it's a licensure requirement, and is billed to DJ Trauma at cost with no markup.
  • Independent sourcingIf DJ Trauma sources a product similar to a designer-approved selection independently, the 20% coordination fee still applies to the purchase price.
  • Passthrough costsSurveyor, civil engineer, perc testing, and county application fees are billed at cost with no markup during Phase 1, this changes once sourcing/procurement begins in later phases.
  • Timeline expectationsPhase 1 delivers a roadmap and go/no-go decision point, not permits in hand. County entitlement timelines in San Bernardino often extend beyond 90 days.
  • Parcel 3Held as reserved scope. No fee applies until a direction is defined and agreed upon.
  • STR permittingSan Bernardino County caps short-term rental permits per parcel by acreage. If Parcel 1's income model relies on STR revenue, this is confirmed during Phase 1 before capital commits to unit count.
SCHEDULE

Project Timeline

Overall progress0%

Phase 1: Land Development

90 days · All 3 parcels
WEEKS 1–2: Due Diligence & Baseline
WEEKS 3–6: Feasibility Testing
WEEKS 7–10: Entitlement Pathway
WEEKS 11–13: Master Plan & Handoff
Deliverables: Days 1–90
  • Due diligence binder, title, surveys, APN records
  • Zoning compliance memo, manufactured housing permitted, Rural Living setbacks confirmed
  • Utility feasibility report, water/well, power/solar, septic, cost ranges per parcel
  • Percolation/soil test results
  • Fire district & dark sky ordinance compliance notes
  • Flood/wash zone clearance
  • STR permit eligibility confirmation, per parcel
  • Design master plan, unit placement across all 3 parcels, sightlines/privacy relationships, go/no-go read on whether Parcel 2's full amenity program fits (Sparrow + Aire, included in retainer)
  • Engineered site plan, grading, drainage, septic leach field, utility routing, sized for permit submittal (licensed civil engineer, billed at cost to client)
  • Preliminary site-prep budgets, Parcels 1 & 2
  • Phase 2 statement of work

Phase 2: Manufactured Home Selection

60 days · Parcels 1 & 2
Deliverables: Days 91–150
  • Concept & brand positioning document, naming, material palette, site experience narrative
  • Vendor shortlist & comparison matrix: Homes Direct (Perris, CA) for Parcel 1; Blue View Manufactured & Modular (adobe/Spanish style) for Parcel 2
  • Selected home packages: 2 units on Parcel 1 (~800–1,000 sqft each), main home + guest house on Parcel 2 (~1,400–1,800 sqft + ~500–700 sqft)
  • Finalized floor plans and customization specs per unit
  • Production order, deposit, and delivery schedule
  • Updated Parcel 2 program, amenities confirmed based on Phase 1 space findings

Phase 3: Construction Management

Parcels 1 & 2 build-out
Deliverables: Build-Out
  • Weekly PM status reports through the build
  • Site prep, foundation, and utility hookup sign-off, both parcels
  • Manufactured home delivery & set, all units
  • Punch list and inspection tracking
  • Certificate of Occupancy, Parcel 1, income-ready milestone
  • Certificate of Occupancy, Parcel 2 main structure, timing depends on selected rollout option

Phase 4: Finishing & Interior Design

Month ~9–18 · Parcel 2, after structure is fully built
Deliverables: Month 9–18
  • Landscape & exterior amenity design package, pool, lounge/grill, patio, outdoor kitchen, flex space, outdoor showers (tennis court status confirmed per Phase 1)
  • Interior design concept, drawings, and renders (2 revisions included)
  • Procurement and sourcing of furnishings and finishes
  • Installation & staging
  • Final walkthrough and move-in-ready handoff