EL MONTE CUSTOM HOME BUILDER & GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Built With Intention. Flat Streets, Growing Families.
EL MONTE HOMES ARE BUILT DIFFERENTLY
Heart Construction is a general contractor serving El Monte, specializing in custom homes, full renovations, and ADUs and additions for established flat-lot neighborhoods. We work with homeowners, architects, engineers and designers through organized pre-construction, transparent budgeting and steady execution, so every decision is made with the full picture.
El Monte's older homes outgrew their households.
Much of the housing here predates 1970, so the first question is what is already on the property. The City of El Monte Building and Safety Division reviews every permit, and a required inspection when a home is sold can surface older work that was never permitted.
State-law ADU height and setback limits shape what fits on a smaller lot, and a second story may need discretionary design review in some single-family zones. Sequencing records, zoning and design before plans are drawn keeps corrections from stacking up.
We guide the process, starting with a feasibility review, so decisions feel informed, not reactive, and the founder stays accountable throughout.
Projects here are usually ADUs and garage conversions, full remodels, or second-story additions. From homes near El Monte Station to those around Arceo Park, we bring the same structure and discipline we apply across the San Gabriel Valley and every project in Los Angeles.
RECENT PROJECTS
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![Malibu Pier home interior featuring a warm modern living space with built-in seating, layered textures, custom wood furniture, and an open layout flowing into a minimalist kitchen, showcasing Heart Construction’s intentional coastal design.]()
MALIBU PIER
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![Pacific Palisades ocean-view backyard with custom pool, palm trees, lounge seating, and manicured lawn overlooking the Pacific coastline.]()
MALIBU
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![Marina del Rey home interior with warm modern design featuring a natural wood dining table, sculptural pendant lighting, plaster walls, and an open kitchen with custom cabinetry, showcasing Heart Construction’s intentional coastal craftsmanship.]()
MARINA DEL REY
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![Open-concept living room in a Hollywood Hills home remodel with folding glass walls, custom built-ins, soft neutral furnishings, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow overlooking canyon views, showcasing Heart Construction’s warm modern design.]()
HOLLYWOOD HILLS
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![Pacific Palisades luxury bathroom with freestanding soaking tub, marble walk-in shower, herringbone tile walls, and sculptural glass chandelier framed by natural light and greenery views.]()
BRENTWOOD
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![Pacific Palisades modern custom home with smooth stucco façade, black-framed windows, vertical wood garage door, and drought-tolerant landscaping.]()
MAR VISTA
OUR REMODELING SERVICES
At Heart Construction, we specialize in creating thoughtfully designed homes that reflect the way you live. From custom ground-up builds to full-scale renovations and refined living spaces, we guide every project with craftsmanship, clarity and care for homeowners in Glendora, East Whittier, Hacienda Heights and beyond.
OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY EL MONTE PROCESS
PLAN
First a Strategic Visioning Session: A conversation about your goals, budget and timeline, and a frank read on what your site will allow. Complimentary.
TEAM
Second we assemble the architect, structural and geotechnical engineers, civil engineer, biologist and designers your project needs — matched to your style and site's constraints.
CALL
Third a Professional Services Agreement and a small retainer begin feasibility, permitting strategy, design coordination and line-by-line budgeting.
PERMITS
We assemble and file the complete CDP and building-permit package, coordinate Fire and Environmental Health reviews, and lock scope, finishes and schedule before groundbreaking.
CONSTRUCTION
Milestone-based build. Change orders are priced and approved in writing before work begins. You get a weekly update every week — progress, decisions needed, what's next.
CLOSEOUT
Finally Walkthrough with Final inspections, punch list, documentation and warranty handover. Payments are tied to completed milestones, never arbitrary percentages.
After you contact us, Within one business day, Asaf will call to understand your property and goals. If it's a fit, we schedule a site visit. There's no obligation and no pressure — just a clear picture of what's possible.
What to Know Before
You Build in El Monte
The City of El Monte plan check sets the pace here, and for ADUs the city acts within a 60-day clock once your application is complete. Routine permits take 3–6 months; complex projects, such as a second story that needs design review, take 6–12 months. Construction of a custom home runs 10–16 months. The one lever that protects your schedule is a complete submittal: full site plans and existing conditions, with records checked before we file.
What It Costs
Costs here reflect older homes that often need system upgrades, plus a median home value above $640K. Custom homes typically run $500–$750+ per sq ft; whole-home renovations $325–$600+ per sq ft; detached ADUs $250,000–$450,000+; pools $120,000–$300,000+. Soft costs — design, surveys, utility and electrical load studies, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Permits & Local Rules
The City of El Monte Building and Safety Division reviews your plans. Single-family zones R-1A, R-1B and R-1C govern height, and second stories in the latter two may need discretionary review. Detached ADUs face state-law height and setback limits, but the city reviews them ministerially on a 60-day clock. A required inspection on sale can surface unpermitted work. We start with a feasibility review and records check, so design decisions are made with these constraints known.
Where We Build in El Monte
We build in Hayes, Five Points, Maxson, Arbor Oaks and Tanglewood Estates, across flat San Gabriel Valley streets. Five Points mixes condos and apartments with houses, while Arbor Oaks is suburban single-family, so lot size, shared walls and the likely scope differ between them. Not sure which rules apply to your parcel? A feasibility review answers that in two to four weeks.
Meet the Builders Behind Your Project
Asaf Bar-Hen — Co-Founder & Developer Asaf leads design and development from concept to completion.z His background spans 15 years in hospitality design, seven years in renewable energy and energy-efficient building, and real-estate work across the U.S., Asia and Central America. He leads every first call and brings a sustainability lens to each project, from energy-efficient design to fire-resilient construction.
Jason Aizenberg — Co-Founder Jason runs the operational side of every project — permits, design meetings, scheduling, subcontractor coordination and site logistics. Clients describe him as the person who "managed everything so we could focus on our family.”
California Contractors State License Board #1146456 — Class B General Building Contractor. Verify on CSLB ↗
25+ years of combined experience across high-end residential construction in Los Angeles
Frequently Asked Questions
About Renovation in El Monte
Do I need a permit for an ADU?
Yes. Garage conversions and ADUs both need a permit from the City of El Monte Building and Safety Division. Detached ADUs are limited to 16 ft in height with 4 ft side and rear setbacks, and the city is to act within 60 days of a complete application. We prepare the full site plan before filing.
How long does ADU permitting take?
Routine permits take 3–6 months and complex projects 6–12 months, depending on the City of El Monte plan check. For ADUs, the city is to act within 60 days of a complete application, so complete plans matter most. See our ADU construction timeline guide for the phases.
Cost to build a home in El Monte?
Custom homes typically run $500–$750+ per sq ft. Older lots needing system upgrades, utility work or complex design review push toward the upper end. Soft costs — design, surveys, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
What is the sale inspection?
El Monte requires a real property inspection when a home is sold or transferred, under Chapter 15.09 of the municipal code. It can surface unpermitted additions or garage conversions in older homes. We run a records check early, so legalizing or correcting that work is sequenced into your permit plan.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Heart Construction holds California Contractors State License Board license #1146456 and is bonded and insured for large-scale residential construction, major remodels and structural work. You can verify the license on the CSLB website.
Guides for El Monte homeowners:
- ADU Los Angeles: Is It Right for Your Property?
- Custom Home vs Remodel vs Rebuild in Los Angeles
- Second Story vs Home Addition in Los Angeles: What Actually Works
Nearby areas we serve: Glendora · East Whittier · Hacienda Heights · East San Gabriel · Irwindale · East Pasadena
Region: All San Gabriel Valley communities we serve · Everywhere we build