Sometimes pulling the trigger on that room addition or kitchen remodel can be a little tricky. One roadblock I’m seeing folks run into a lot is this-
The only way to get competitive apples to apples cost estimates from multiple contractors is to be able to provide plans and a detailed scope of work so everyone is clear on what the project involves.
The problem is that most homeowners don’t want to spend thousands of dollars for plans until they have a pretty good idea of what the cost will be. And rightfully so. Continue reading The Average Cost of Remodeling??
Category Archives: Construction in General
Our latest Master Suite Makeover
We’ve just completed another master suite makeover that we wanted to share with you.
The project scope of work included removing a wall between the dressing area and bathroom to make a larger Master Bath complete with new cabinets, plumbing fixtures, counter tops lighting and tile.
Removing the carpet in the bedroom area exposed a beautiful oak floor which was re-finished. We also added new lighting fixtures n the bedroom, baseboards and a fresh coat of paint.
Watch the video of the completed project here-
The Breaking Point
We all have those nagging little things about our homes that we would like to change and sooner or later we reach the breaking point where we just can’t take it anymore.
That’s the best part about my job. Being able to make those annoying little things go away.
How many of you have that odd shaped living room that, no matter how you move things around, you just can’t make it feel right. That disproportionate configuration or stepped down floor in just the wrong spot. Or that kitchen layout that you can’t imagine how anyone could screw up so badly.
This particular kitchen, which we are in the process of remodeling was just that. With dark cabinets and virtually no natural light, it was almost depressing to walk into.
The scope of work for this project included improving the lighting to allow for alternative lighting sources, providing natural lighting, and removing the wall to the left to open the kitchen up to the adjoining family room to provide a more socially friendly atmosphere.
The first step was enlarging the existing window to 8′ wide with a double casement that also provided improved ventilation.
Next we opened up the ceiling to provide a dormer with 3 new awning windows to bring in more natural light.
The original kitchen also had a very unusual traffic pattern and entrance configuration. That problem was solved by removing the wall and installing a new doorway between the entry and the living room.
This remodel is scheduled to be completed in the next couple weeks and we’ll follow up with photos of the completed project.
Stay tuned.
The Craftsman Style Home
In all the years I’ve been designing and building custom homes it has always been a desire of mine to see the return in popularity of the Craftsman Style Home.
I’m happy to say my dream has come true. The rising popularity was brought on in part by the trend to downsize homes from what we’ve been seeing over the last 15-20 years,
We’re seeing bungalows pop up all over the country. Continue reading The Craftsman Style Home
Remember Life Without 3d Design
Designing homes and remodels has made incredible progress since the 90’s . Back then the biggest challenge in working with clients Continue reading Remember Life Without 3d Design
How much cost can you expect to recover from your remodel?
I came across this survey by Hanley Wood’s Remodeling Magazine online and thought this would be a good followup piece to my earlier post “Is ROI the most important influencing factor for your prospective remodel”
As I stated in this post,
“It seems that the payback on most remodeling projects will not yield the returns of years past.”
For the most part the song remains the same. However there are specific types of remodels which will bring a much better return on investment.
This Survey, compliments of “Remodel Magazine,” provides a very comprehensive breakdown of the difference in returns based on the scope of the project. This particular page, (see below), happens to be based on my area, Sacramento Ca., but if you go to the main page of this survey you can select your area of choice.
See the link below for the main page of the survey.
This is an excellent tool for anyone who needs ballpark pricing on their prospective remodel. You can select your region and download the .pdf file. It also allows you to compare to the National Average.
This could be a great reality check for anyone who might be comparing their expectations to their friend or relative’s project in Houston or other areas where remodeling is relatively less expensive.
Click Here to view my earlier post on ROI.
Click here to view the main survey page.
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When and Why to use a Demolition and Discovery Agreement
In today’s market, determining if multiple construction project bids are truly apples to apples can be a daunting task.
There are contractors out there who will utilize every possible shortcut in order to come in as low bidder and you would never know it by examining their written estimates.
Often in remodel construction there are unknowns when determining what may or may not be hidden behind walls, buried in attics, or underneath slabs or landscape needing to be excavated and some contractors feel they are left with no choice but to bid the job as “worst case scenario” to avoid taking a loss. In effect, the contractor who is the highest bidder may be omitted from the selection even though he or she is the most qualified.
There is one alternative that can be advantageous to both the parties which is worthy of some serious consideration.
Here’s how a Demolition and Discovery Agreement works-
In order for the contractor to bring in his project bottom line at the lowest possible cost,
both parties can opt for an agreement to do enough minor demolition to reveal hidden conditions and to more precisely determine the actual scope of work needed to complete the project.
All work needed to assess these conditions would be done through a separate contract for an amount both parties agree to beforehand. As a condition of this agreement, the homeowner should not be obligated to award the job to the contractor performing the observation. This gives them the advantage of providing this information to other bidders in hopes of keeping the cost down. The contractor providing the assessment may opt to reimburse the expense to the homeowner if they are awarded the job. If the discovery determines that the job will be cost prohibitive, the contractor should be paid to repair all damages incurred from the demolition.
This also allows the contractor performing the work to be compensated for their services even if the job is awarded to someone else while at the same time providing the homeowner with some very useful information.
Decking Design Considerations
Hiline Builders Inc.
is proud to announce our recent certification as a “Timbertech” brand decking “Elite Contractor”
Having over 30 years in the construction industry has enabled us to become one of the areas premier design firms for all of your residential construction needs.
With spring almost here many of us are contemplating home improvements to enhance outdoor living capabilities.
With so many options to choose from, getting past the conceptual design phase can be a daunting task.
Taking a step by step approach helps to simplify the process. Continue reading Decking Design Considerations
Rebuilding Together Sacramento Rocks!
Rebuilding Together Sacramento’s “April Rebuilding Dreams” Day
We’re very happy to help out once again to provide some much needed home maintenance and home modifications for people in need. Continue reading Rebuilding Together Sacramento Rocks!
Lead Based Paint- To Test or Not To Test
I‘ve been hearing a lot of debate lately about whether it is in Contractor’s, and Homeowner’s, best interest to forego lead based paint testing when remodeling a home built prior to 1978.
For those of you not familiar with the EPA’s new lead based paint requirements here’s a brief summary-
As of October 2010, the EPA requires all contractors who work on homes built prior to 1978 to become certified lead based paint renovators. This requires them to enroll in an 8 hour course that teaches us how to contain all areas where demolition is being done and how to dispose of construction demolition materials. Following completion and passing of the course an application is sent in to the EPA for approval Continue reading Lead Based Paint- To Test or Not To Test