Category Archives: Home Remodeling

As San Diego home prices rise, home remodeling becomes more affordable

As we near the end of 2010, there are still many questions with the economy, particularly the housing market. This is not surprising given that the lending industry was at the heart of the financial collapse that lead to this past (and current) recession. However, there is some good news for San Diego residents. Despite dips in housing prices, San Diego was one of only four cities nationwide to record increasing home prices between October 2009 and October 2010, according to Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller Home Price Index.

This is great news for San Diego home owners. Obviously, if your home’s value continues to drop remodeling becomes more and more unfeasible. If your home’s value increases then remodeling is something to consider. Before you even consider remodeling, you should take notes and ask yourself (and your spouse) several important questions:

Do we want to remodel or add on to our house?
If add on, do we have the space? How will this change our yard and property?
If remodel, what is the top priority? How essential is this upgrade?
Do we have the budget?
How much value will this remodel bring to our house?

Chances are, you’ll need some help answering at least one of these questions. That’s where Greyhound General can help. If you’re looking to remodel your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, or add on to any portion of your house, contact San Diego Home Remodeling Contractor Greyhound General today, or call them directly at 800-568-7108.

Adding an attic bedroom to your home

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So you have some extra money to invest in your home and you’re wondering which part of it to upgrade? Well, according to Remodeling magazine’s most recent survey, renovating your attic into a bedroom or spare room packs a bigger resale payback than any other room remodel. This may come as news to some, but the resale payback for an attic remodel is 83%, compared to 71% for a mid-range bathroom remodel and 72% for a major kitchen remodel.

With interest rates at an all time low, refinancing your loan can save you thousands monthly, which can ultimately be reinvested in your home. The attic is a great room to remodel, not simply because of its return value. It allows you to add an extra room to the house without having to add on to the structure (which can cost significantly more). Also, if you’ve been storing Christmas decorations, old children’s toys, and other “storage” items in your attic, remodeling can help you get rid of junk and organize items that you want to hold on to.

If you’d like to learn more about renovating your attic then contact Greyhound General today for a free consultation. Greyhound will thoroughly discuss all your options. Feel free to call us today at 800-568-7108.

Tips for adding a second story to your San Diego home

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So you’ve determined that it is better for you to remodel your home vs. move. Maybe you have an elder loved one moving in, a son or daughter moving back in or you just want to upgrade your master bedroom or add a hobby/rumpus room. Whatever the case, there are a few things to consider before you make any decision.
1) Make sure you have the space: Map out in your head, or on paper, roughly the area that you’d like to expand on. You’ll surely go into much more detail later with the help of an architect, but you can at least make sure that the project is feasible.
2) Get approval from local authorities: In most places, a permit is required to add a second story to your home. You’ll have to submit a design plan, so you might want to swap step 2 and 3 if you don’t have a detailed plan in place.
3) Find a general contractor: A very important step. Consider general contractors with architects and plenty of references. They will be able to tell you right away if the project is doable, and then help you get the permit if you haven’t already done so.
4) Structural considerations: Your general contractor will need to assess the foundation of the house to verify if it can hold a second story.
5) Creating a detailed design: This is where an architect is essential. They will need to consider everything from the stairway to the plumbing, electrical wiring, and heater/AC duct placement.
6) Choose the materials you’d like to use: This is where you determine all the costs for everything, including new slab, flooring, roofing, plumbing, and everything else.
7) Pick a date and get started: You’ll want to pick a time frame where there’s little to no chance of rain because the roof will be the first thing removed from the home. You may want to consider relocating during construction, depending on the size of the project.

The steps mentioned above can be switched around a bit, depending on your home and the scope of your project. The important thing to remember is that you will need to budget for this, you’ll need a permit, you’ll need a detailed blueprint of the project, and you’ll need a highly qualified general contractor with an architect.

If you’re in the San Diego or Orange county area and considering a second story addition, contact Greyhound General to learn more about your options. Or call 800-568-7108.

Remodel your home vs. moving

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If you’re looking to upgrade your home you have two options, remodel or move. It’s no surprise that in a down economy most people are opting to remodel rather than move. Even if the price tag on a home that would be considered an upgrade over you existing home has dropped, there are usually a lot more costs involved in moving (not to mention time and stress). There are many reasons why remodeling is a better idea than moving:

You can customize your home to your exact needs and wants. If if you find a great deal on another home, it will likely have several elements that you wish were different. When you remodel you have the final say.
Moving is a stressful experience. While a home remodel can takes months and cause some stress, moving involves packing everything, renting a truck, hiring movers and much more. All of this is added stress. This is only amplified if you have children who are along for the ride.
Moving requires you to leave your neighborhood.
If you have children, moving may require them to switch school districts. This may not always be the case, but the idea of switching schools can be stressful for both the parents and the children.
Remodeling is a better use of your money. Even if you find that sweet deal on a home you’re likely to spend somewhere between 8-10% of your home’s value when you sell it on moving expenses, broker fees and closing costs. If you sell your home for $500,000 and $50,000 is allocated to these fees, that’s $50,000 that could have completely remodeled your kitchen!
Remodeling allows you to take advantage of tax incentives. The Obama first time home buyer tax credit has come and gone, but there are still tax deductible remodeling expenses that you can take advantage of. Adding solar panels, a solar water heater, or geothermal heat pumps are all things that are tax deductible.

To learn more about the different options that you have when remodeling your home contact Greyhound General today, or call 800-568-7108 for a free estimate.

2010 is a great time to remodel your San Diego home

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While the economy has shown some life in the first quarter of 2010, there is still a ton of room for recovery. Even the housing market, which in some areas of the country have improved, is still projected to bottom out over the next few years. While many speculate on when the economy will recover, one thing’s for sure, there are deals to be had if you’re looking to remodel your home.

In this economy, you can expect to find that most bids will be at least 10 percent lower than they were two years ago. It’s important to always get multiple bids when shopping for the right general contractor. If these are established companies, the bids should all fall between 5-10% of each other. Be wary of unproven or contractors who don’t have the following:

proof of contractor’s license
proof or insurance and workman’s compensation
a clean record with the Better Business Bureau
a clean history with sites like ripoffreport.com
testimonials with previous client’s phone numbers
photos, videos and addresses of previous work

2010 is a great time to remodel your home in San Diego. Contact Greyhound General today for a free estimate, or call 800-568-7108.

Importance of an architect when remodeling your home

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So you’ve decided that you need to remodel your home. You’ve received several detailed estimates and met with many contractors about the project. However, you might have a lingering question looming over your head…Do I need an architect for this? The answer more than likely is yes! There are several reasons why architects are important.

For starters, architects are experts in their field. The are licensed professionals who have been thoroughly trained in their field. Their work must be held to a high standard because they are responsible for the safety of any project they approve. Architects also can help provide clarity for the project as a whole. Unlike homeowners, who can sometimes get caught up in various details, architects take into account everything: the homeowner’s needs, their budget, their timeline for completion, necessary materials, necessary permits, and space requirements. An architect can help you define your goals with the project and outline all the necessary steps to go from start to finish with any project. They have the ability to combine both a structural mindset with an aesthetic mindset. Utilizing an architect will ensure all permits and documents are secured and on time. Most importantly, architects help ensure that your vision is transformed into a reality.

An architect can help a home remodeling project run much more smoothly. When considering which general contractor to use for the project you should look to one that has architects on its team. If you’re in the greater San Diego area and in need of a home remodeling contractor with an architect on its staff then look no further than Greyhound General. Contact Greyhound General today for a free estimate, or call 800-568-7108.

How to make your San Diego home green

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“Going green” has been the hottest trend for the past few years. We always hear about ways that we can “go green.” Whether it’s using paper instead of plastic at the grocery store, driving less, or simply recycling more, green is everywhere. For homeowners there are many opportunities to go green. Here are a few simple ideas to make your home greener:
1) Invest in CFLs: This is the first step in improving you carbon footprint, and reducing your energy bills. Switch out your light bulbs from standard incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Start by changing the most frequently used light bulbs and you’ll start to notice a difference in your energy bill within a year. They might be more costly than regular light bulbs, but they last longer and cut down on your energy bills.
2) Insulate your walls and attic: By preventing heat from leaving your house during the winter or entering your house during the summer you’ll use less energy to heat or coll the house. When considering installing insulation the installation itself is much more important that the material used. All types of insulation (fiberglass, cellulose and most foam) will reduce heat conduction of your walls, if installed properly.
3) Replace the windows: Old and leaky windows often allow heat to enter and escape, driving up energy bills. Consider installing new energy-efficient windows or at least upgrading your windows with weatherstripping.
4) Invest in energy-efficient appliances: Appliances count for a significant size of nearly every home’s energy bill. Consider replacing your old water heater, dishwasher and refrigerator. Older refrigerators are typically the least energy efficient appliance. Also, consider whether or not you need that second refrigerator.
5) Plant a tree (or two): Even if you have bad insulation, you can help save energy by planting trees in your yard. This will provide more shade and save energy. Consider using deciduous trees planted on the west side of the house.
6) Go solar…and get tax benefits: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides tax benefits for those who upgrade their home in 2010. The tax benefit can cover up to 30% of these home improvements. Consider a solar hot-water system, geothermal heat pumps, or solar panels to heat your pool.

While there are many simple things homeowners can do to go green, the process can be overwhelming. If you are considering remodeling a portion of your home and you are concerned about it being as energy efficient as possible then consider a San Diego green contractor, Greyhound General. Contact Greyhound General today for information about making your home green.

How to create the ultimate garage

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Garages are often the most cluttered and underused areas of your house. In fact, it is very common to see garages that are used more as storage units than anything else. While the garage is a great place to store things, many people take this concept to the extreme and pile junk to the ceilings of their garages. Obviously the first step to ameliorating the situation is parting ways with some of this clutter. This means getting rid of (throwing away) unused items. You’ll have to pull out everything from the garage to get this done.

If you’ve made it this far then you’ve accomplished a lot. Unfortunately, once your garage is empty you may look at it and wonder, “do I still really like my garage?” Better yet, “How can I create the ultimate garage?” You know, the one where everything is neatly put away, the floor is shiny and nice, the work bench is organized.

Start by categorizing all of your “stuff”: sports equipment, camping gear, Christmas decorations, etc. Then find appropriate boxes for them. Before you put anything into the garage you should consider painting the interior walls and installing insulation (if there is none yet installed). Improving the lighting is another option to consider in the beginning. Finally, installing new flooring is always a good idea. You’ll need to consider the activities that you’ll be using the garage for. If all you’re doing is storing cars, bikes and other accessories, then you can go cheap. If you plan on doing a lot of work then you’ll want something a bit more heavy duty. Many people opt for epoxies; however mats and tiles hold up well, and you’ll likely have more color and style options.

Finally, you’ll need to find the ideal place for all your “stuff”. By now you’ve got organized boxes, so you just need a place to put them. Consider using storage shelves that hang from the ceiling. You’ll be able to easy pull up and down the shelf, when necessary, to get to your belongings, but they’ll be completely out of your way when you’re not using them. There should be ample cabinet space for storing tools and other accessories that need to be accessed quickly.

Transforming your garage can be quite a chore. Often times you may want to consider a professional organizer. However, you may be considering remodeling your entire garage or adding a detached garage. Whether you need more storage, you’d like to spruce up your existing garage or you’re simply looking to build the garage of your dreams, San Diego home remodeler Greyhound General can help. Contact Greyhound General today for a free garage remodeling estimate.

How to find the right general contractor in San Diego

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When you decide to remodel any aspect of your home, whether it be your bathroom, kitchen or multiple rooms, you are likely to be faced with the tedious chore of choosing a contractor. To start you need to be sure that any contractor you’re considering has a valid contractor’s license, valid workman’s compensation and valid liability insurance. In order to verify this you need proof from the contractor. Furthermore, you’ll want to get as many references from the contractor as possible.

There are many important questions to ask these references. Here are just a few important questions to ask:

Did you have an opportunity to see and approve the plans prior to the start of the job?

Did the job start on time?

Did they clean the work area before leaving for the day?

Did the quality of the work live up to your expectations and what they promised?

Did the job get completed on time?

VERY IMPORTANT: Did they ever ask for money before the phase of work was completed and before they were entitled to be paid? Did workers or sub contractors make asides or complain they were not being paid on time or were worried about getting their money at all? This is a huge red flag.

For your next home remodeling project consider a well respected San Diego general contractor with an impeccable record.

San Diego home construction ideas

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The first step any homeowner should take before remodeling their home is determining what their budget is. It’s a good idea to have a rough budget in mind before bringing out a contractor to give you an estimate. Often times a contractor may come out multiple times in order to fully understand the scope of the work. In fact, this is essential for almost any project. For many remodeling projects blueprints and permits are required. Once you do get an estimate from a contracting company make sure that they give you a fixed price and they take the time to clearly go through the scope of the work.

The next step after determining your budget is to analyze exactly what you want upgraded. If you’re hoping to remodel your kitchen and you’ve determined your budget then you can think about the layout that you’d like, the materials that you want and appliances that you’d like. For counter tops you’ll want to consider granite, stainless steel, marble or engineered stone if you have a bigger budget or if counter tops are high on your list of upgrades. Even more inexpensive alternatives such as laminates, wood and tile can get pricey if they are customized. For any material used it is important to understand the pros and cons for its potential to chip, stain, scratch, or dent, as well as how much maintenance they require. The same thought process should be applied to the appliances that you choose. Make sure your contractor offers you a variety of choices of materials and appliances, and is well versed in the pros and cons of each.

If you’re opting to remodeling your entire home or add on to it then you have many more options. One option to consider is whether or not to go solar. Any new room or addition will likely require a new roof. Placing solar panels on your roof will cost more up front, but will save you a lot of money in the long run. Another idea to consider if you’re remodeling your home is repainting the entire house. Often times construction companies will simply paint the newly built area, but neglect the rest of the house. However, there may be problem areas with paint chipping or peeling, stucco cracking or worse, wood rotting. Even if the last paint job was within 5 years you may want to consider adding another coat of 100% acrylic paint for wood or elastomeric paint for stucco.

No matter how big or small your project, you’ll want input from the contractor you choose. If you are in need of a contractor who can help you through this process then look no further than Greyhound General. Contact
Greyhound today for a free estimate.