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+--- Thread: Dragging their heels... (/showthread.php?tid=23794)
Dragging their heels... - mtnjew - 12-24-2025
Aloha,
we are working with Argus Builders and Lennie Okana-Hendrik for the construction of a small home in HPP. Since paying Argus the prelims in November, we have heard ABSOLUTELY NOTHING re: architectural drafts, submission for permitting, etc. Lennie has not drafted septic plans for us because she has not gotten anything from Argus. When our contractor friend reached out to both Argus and Lennie, Argus was rather abrupt and when he reached out to Lennie, she said she would draft simple septic for a one bedroom and send plans to our contractor friend. This did not happen.
This has been ongoing since September when I first met with Argus Builders about the project. I have a good friend who recommended Argus, and others who recommended Lennie. I am wondering: Since we put a payment down for the drafting of final plans to be submitted, and this was 3 months ago, is it possible to get our money back and work with HPM or someone else? We do have a PRELIMINARY draft which we approved. Argus was going to submit the prelims to his architect/draftsperson, and this never transpired. Can we use the preliminary draft and take it to HPM to forward to their people and create a final architect draft to be submitted for permitting? I know permitting takes a LONG time, and these plans could have been submitted months ago.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am pretty irritated and saddened by these events. I wonder if, because this is a "small" project, if he slipped it onto the back burner since there are likely more lucrative projects for him to work on?
Aloha,
Lisa
RE: Dragging their heels... - HiloJulie - 12-24-2025
Lisa,
There is a bit of confusion with respect to your post - You said you paid Argus for the prelims in November but then you said its been 3 months?
If you did put money down 3 months ago, I'd suggest an in person visit to Argus to see the status. If you paid the down payment in November, I'd say you're still in the waiting time frame of permit approval.
Good Luck
RE: Dragging their heels... - HereOnThePrimalEdge - 12-24-2025
I would ask them for specific dates.
Architectural drafts - by what date?
Submission for permitting - when?
Simple septic - when?
If they can’t provide you with the deadlines, ask why? What is required to meet that deadline? Best if you press them for department names, contacts, reasons you can verify.
RE: Dragging their heels... - tikicarver - 01-10-2026
3 years ago I wanted to build a garage as an Owner Builder, so I needs stamped drawings to get a permit.
HPM and Honsador were not interested in just a garage so got no help from them..
I found out Argus had some "pre-approved" plans for garages. So I went with them. Here is how it went...
I went to the office on Jan 4 2023 and bought plans for a garage.
Argus had a spec sheet where I could list the details of what I wanted that we a little different from the stnadard plan.
Things like, I wanted 9ft walls, only 2 windows, only 1 dorr, etc.
I paid $2640 , ( that included $500 for the architect stamp and $700 admin fee, so $1440 for the drawings)
He said it would take about 4-5 weeks to get preliminary plans for review and once I approved the drawings they would handle applying for the permit.
About month later, I had not heard anything. I called to get an update. They said their drafter was a little backed up but should have preliminary drawings in a week or 2.. Finally on 3/16 I got email with the preliminary plans.. To my surprise, nothing I had requested was on the drawings!! it showed 8ft walls, 4 windows, 2 doors,,, it looked exactly like the standard plans he showed me atthe first meeting. So either Arugs never pasted on my specs or the drafter just forgot to make the changes.
I made detailed notes on the drawings and sent them in for the changes.
on 4/6 I got the updated pre-liminary drawings that had my changes. ( keep in mind these were simple drawings, not the final version the changes really could have been done in a few hours. He did not have to reraw anythign, just delete extra windows and doors and chane some notes)
Finally on 5/5 I recieved the Final Detailed drawings with the architect stamp. ( this was only 3 pages because it was a simple garage)
So 4 months from first meeting were I paid in full, until I got the stamped drawings that could be submitted to the Building Dept..
I figured out after all this, that Argus is just sub-contracting to a local drafter. I figured that out because the guy's name is on the drawings and I looked him up, he has his own drafting business. And the famous Robert Smelker stamped them..
Argus did submit the drawings and apply for the permit. But I realized later this is something you can easily do yourself. The County requires everything to be submitted via the EPIC system. They have a lot of guides on their website to tell you how to do it. You have to create the account in your name anyway.. I ended up handling all the dealings with the permit office after the intial apllication. I figured it would just be quick for me to did rathr than have to call Argus every time and then they send stuff in.
The plans were submitted on 5/12
Land use reviewed approved on 6/4
Building plan review on 6/30
It was going quick, but then I got message from Planning saying I did not include the name of the Licensed electrician on the declaration.
I emailed back told them there was no electrical in this garage.
they responed with the same message. I called them and got some guy that was trying to tell me that electrical was required by code.
I consulted a few electricians, they said the guy does know what he is talking about. Going back and forth with emails was slow and useless.
So I went in person to the Building Dept all ready to argue my case with copies of the Code... The lady at
reception was very nice, I explained the situation. She went in the back and talked to a few inspectors, came back and said you are correct, not required, I will update your file in EPIC.
So finally got the permit on 8/19
I think you have similiar issue to what I had.. Argus is just a middle man, sending the draft drawing to the drafter. That guy is probably busy because he runs his own business. He is just fitting these Argus jobs inbetween other work....So they take forever to get done. Since you already paid Argus, I would bug them to submit to the drafter and ask when can you expect a completed drawing.
The problem with going with the other guys, it probably does not change the process.
When I walked into Honsador to talk to them about garage drawings, they said out right they don't have them, but then handed me a business card and said. "this is the guy that does our home drawings, he might be able to help you" So they sub-contract their drawings too.
( I did call that guy and he said,, " I only do new homes for Honsador")
I'm guessing HPM also does not have and in house drafter, but I never asked..