Initially the client feels more comfortable that his objectives will be achieved in the built product because his team is the same person from start to finish. Plus there are fee cost savings through less rigorous construction documents and through not doubling up on construction administration duties.

Personally I've found an even bigger benefit; when I build my designs I get to complete the process. When I am not the builder my designs are just paper architecture; even when I walk through it when it's done I don't feel it in my bones. Doing my own engineering is similar, when you know the bones of the building, you feel the building more.

I've been fortunate to not only build my designs but to also live in them. There's another level of satisfaction through using the design and experiencing whether it works or not; haven't gotten it completely right yet but I'll keep trying.