Category: Newsletter

Remodeling contractors specialize in making substantial improvements, alterations, or additions to the interiors or exteriors of existing buildings. Unlike general contractors who oversee entire construction projects, remodeling contractors typically concentrate on specific areas or tasks, such as kitchens, bathrooms, room layout changes, home additions, or deck and patio construction. While they occasionally handle commercial real estate projects, the majority of their work is on owner-occupied residential properties. According to Washingtonian, although many industries experienced economic hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic, some sectors thrived. For remodeling contractors, the unique dynamics of…

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The City of Oakland has revamped its permitting process by introducing ten new “rapid permits” through the Online Permit Center. This initiative aims to simplify and accelerate permit issuance, granting applicants immediate approval once they complete the application and pay the required fee. According to California Construction, these additions complement existing lead-based paint (LPB) and solar permits. Re-Roofing permits and insulation certificates for insulation installation will also be added this quarter. Other additions will include roll out of a new Building Combination permit (B) for apartment unit remodels and minor…

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Berkeley-based architect, founder of Rangr Studio, and a lecturer in architecture at the UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design, Jasmit Singh Rangr is one piece to the team that built his family’s stylish, minimal, cost-conscious home near the Grizzly Peak summit in the Berkeley Hills. His wife, Abigail Dillen, president of Earthjustice, a nonprofit, public interest environmental law firm, is the one who truly made it possible. According to Sunet, The challenge began in 2014 when the couple and their young son, Sher, moved from Manhattan to the Bay Area after…

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Many adult ages 50 and above would prefer to stay in their current home as long as possible according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll. Some baby boomers and older members of Generation X are locked into low mortgage rates too good to give up, thus meaning the choice of moving has been relinquished. Skyrocketing housing prices fueled by lean supply further complicate the calculations of moving house. According to Daily Herald, Despite feeling tied down, a subset of these older adults have enough extra cash to splurge on upgrades…

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After a flooded basement plagued her house South Dakota homeowner Maria Schaffhauser approached interior designer Patricia Thoms and began talking about long term plans. “I was just there looking for flooring, but I said eventually I want to do a home remodel,” Schaffhauser said. “She didn’t know where to start,” Thoms said. “So I said, we have a free consultation, and I can go to your house and measure and make a project for you, and she thought that was great. So I went to Aberdeen and measured and took…

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Online self-storage finder SpareFoot, analyzed 50 different search terms related to remodels, such as ‘bathroom remodel’ and ‘kitchen remodel’ over the last 12 months revealing the states most eager to fix up their homes. It was found that Georgia residents are most likely to remodel their homes. The state’s average searches were 31% higher than the national average, making Georgians searching 401 times per 100,000 people each month as compared to 306 searches per 100,000 residents when searching terms such as ‘bathroom remodel’ and ‘kitchen remodel’ over the last 12…

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Home renovation activity may have slowed down from its pandemic-era peak, but homeowners continue to invest in their spaces, especially as the spring housing market heats up. According to CNBC, and when it comes to the return on investment, some projects now offer the highest return values in history — with a few home upgrades averaging returns of nearly 200% for the first time ever — according to the 2024 Cost vs. Value report from Zonda Media, a housing market research and analytics firm. Garage door replacements offered the highest…

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In recent years, homeowners have been investing more in renovations, as high interest rates and persistent inflation have driven up the costs of everything from flooring to refrigerators. The home improvement surge intensified early in the pandemic, with Americans enhancing their homes to better accommodate remote work and learning. However, this renovation frenzy now seems to be cooling down. According to the Associated Press, Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies’ latest leading indicator of remodeling activity, or LIRA, suggests homeowner spending on renovations and repairs will fall to $449…

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Entering this remodeled home on Rockford Road feels like embarking on a journey through time, where the past’s memories blend seamlessly with the modern tastes and needs of its current owners. The Rockford house was once the childhood home of one of its present owners. Even after he grew up and moved out, his parents continued to live there for a total of 50 years. According to Tulsa People, for the homeowners, Barnes was the obvious choice for an interior designer. She previously worked with the family on their old…

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Remodeling Market Sentiment Remains in Positive Territory in First Quarter The National Association of Home Builders released its NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index for the first quarter of 2024, posting a reading of 66, down one point compared to the previous quarter. Read More NAHB https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/press-releases/2024/04/remodeling-market-sentiment-remains-in-positive-territory-in-first-quarter

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