Build your own backyard. Keep the contractor's margin.
We design and engineer your outdoor project, guide you through every step, and give you a platform plus vetted trade professionals — so you save thousands and never make the mistakes that wreck a build.
Illustrative savings on a $200,000 backyard
Example only. Actual savings depend on scope, region, site conditions, and the vendors you choose.
Problem
What happens on most backyard projects today
Most homeowners don't know how to build it, so they hire someone they can't fully verify and hope for the best. Here's what that usually costs.
Overpaying 20–40%
Bids get priced to what you look like you can pay, not to the actual work.
Vague scopes
Exclusions buried in a one-page proposal become your problem later.
Change orders
The number you signed is rarely the number you end up paying.
No control of the schedule
Crews show up when it suits them, and weeks disappear with no explanation.
Costly mistakes
Drainage, elevations and failed inspections get caught after the concrete is poured.
Abandoned projects
Half-built yards happen when nobody truly owns the job.
Solution
How we help you do it right
We don't replace your contractors. We give you the plan, the team, and the oversight so you hire and manage them like a pro.
Design & engineer
We turn your photos and ideas into a buildable plan set with realistic materials, elevations, and structural notes.
Plan & price
We build a line-item budget, identify permit needs, and give you a trade sequence so nothing is out of order.
Vetted pros on call
Tap into our network of licensed, insured trades and material suppliers for every phase of the project.
Platform keeps you on track
Your Project Command Center shows budget, schedule, open items, and every review — so you never lose the thread.
What this is
Two ways to build
Both paths end with a finished backyard. They differ in who carries the schedule, the vendors, and the margin.
Hire a general contractor
They build it. You pay the premium.
- You pay a large premium for expertise you can't verify
- One price, with the margin baked into every line
- Limited visibility into scope, schedule and vendor costs
- Change orders arrive after the work is already moving
Moda It Yourself
You build it. We guide it.
- You hire and pay trades directly at their rates
- We review bids, scopes, plans and workmanship
- General contractor margin stays in your pocket
- Available nationwide, remotely
Where your budget goes
Where a $200,000 backyard actually goes
Illustrative allocation for a mid-size pool, hardscape and shade project. Percentages vary widely by market and scope.
How it works
The Moda Method
Four stages. You do the doing. We make sure each stage is right before the next one starts.
01Design & EngineerTurn your ideas into a plan set trades can actually bid.
- —Define how the yard has to work day to day, not just how it looks.
- —Set a realistic budget band before anyone draws anything.
- —Review the concept for constructability, elevations, drainage and setbacks.
- —Lock materials before they hit the plans.
02Plan & PricePermits, sequencing, and a number you can trust.
- —Identify which permits your jurisdiction requires and set inspection milestones.
- —Build the trade sequence so nobody is waiting on nobody.
- —Line-item budget by trade, in your market.
- —Spot the exclusions that turn into change orders, and set contingency honestly.
03Hire & SourceVet the trades and buy materials at the right time.
- —License, insurance and bond verification checklist.
- —Bid comparison side by side on identical scope.
- —Contract and payment schedule review.
- —Supplier introductions, lead-time planning, and no over-ordering.
04Build & Close OutOversight while crews work, and a clean finish.
- —Scheduled check-ins at each critical milestone, with fast answers for the field.
- —Change-order review before you approve anything.
- —Photo and video reviews before concrete, before backfill, before tile.
- —Final walk, punch list, warranty, lien releases and final payment guidance.
What we help you build
Every part of the yard
Pools & spas
Pool remodels
Pergolas & shade
Outdoor kitchens
Pavers & hardscape
Decks & railings
Fences & gates
Landscape & turf
Outdoor lighting
Fire features
Retaining walls
Full backyard buildsThe platform
Everything tracked in one place
You don't need to be a project manager. Your Command Center tells you where you are, what's next, and what needs a pro review before it's too late.
Project Command Center
One place for your budget, trade list, documents, schedule and every review we've done.
Illustrative dashboard preview.
Remote project reviews
Send photos and video at the stages that can't be undone. You get a clear call, in writing.
Steel placement and bond beam look correct.
Confirm plumbing line depth with your trade before backfill.
Retaining wall height exceeds the plan — engineer sign-off required.
Risk
Problems we help you prevent
Overpaying 20–40%
Bids get priced to what you look like you can pay, not to the actual work.
Vague scopes
Exclusions buried in a one-page proposal become your problem later.
Change orders
The number you signed is rarely the number you end up paying.
No control of the schedule
Crews show up when it suits them, and weeks disappear with no explanation.
Costly mistakes
Drainage, elevations and failed inspections get caught after the concrete is poured.
Abandoned projects
Half-built yards happen when nobody truly owns the job.
Why Moda
Guidance from people who actually build
Moda Outdoor Living is a licensed design-build contractor. The same team that runs our own pool, hardscape and shade projects is the team reviewing yours — not a course, not a call center.
- Licensed California contractor (CSLB)
- Hundreds of completed outdoor projects
- Real field experience with pools, structures and hardscape
- Written, documented reviews you can hand to your trades
Pricing
Choose your level of support
Flat fees. No percentage of your build.
Project Blueprint
Know what you're actually building before you spend.
$395
one-time
- 90-minute strategy session with a licensed builder
- Line-item budget range for your scope and market
- Trade sequence and permit roadmap
- Bid comparison template and vetting checklist
- Written summary you keep
Guided Build
Oversight through the whole build.
$5,995
per project
- Everything in Project Blueprint
- Plan and specification review
- Bid review for every trade
- Milestone check-ins through construction
- Remote photo/video inspections at critical stages
- Change-order review before you approve
- Project Command Center access
Owner-Builder Concierge
Maximum support, still your project.
$9,995
per project
- Everything in Guided Build
- Priority response times
- Supplier introductions and procurement support
- Weekly scheduled calls
- Contract and payment schedule review
- Final walk and punch list management
What could you keep?
Enter what you've been quoted. We'll show an illustrative owner-managed range.
Estimates are illustrative only and are not a quote, bid, or guarantee of savings. Actual costs depend on scope, market, site conditions and the vendors you select.
Get started
Tell us about your project
Seven quick questions. A licensed builder reviews every submission.
Step 1 of 7 · Scope
What are you building?
Moda It Yourself is a consulting and advisory division of Moda Outdoor Living. It is not a general contracting service. Moda It Yourself does not perform construction, hold your construction contracts, hire or supervise your trades, or provide legal, engineering, or design-professional services. All estimates, ranges, and savings figures shown are illustrative only, are not a bid or quote, and create no commitment or liability. Pricing, availability, and scheduling are subject to Moda's discretion and product availability. Owner-builders remain responsible for permits, code compliance, insurance, and the selection and supervision of licensed trades in their jurisdiction.
FAQs
Straight answers
Build It Yourself. Never Build Alone.
Expert guidance from licensed builders who have delivered hundreds of outdoor projects — so you can manage your own build with professional oversight at every stage.