Author: admin

Top Ways to Give Your Home a High Tech Makeover

high tech home remodelLet’s immediately put a myth to rest: high tech homes are not just for the wealthy.

An efficient and automated home is far more affordable and achievable than ever before.

Isn’t it time to spoil yourself with a high tech home remodel? Especially when upgrades can save you money while making life so much more convenient.

For Starters… Integration

Smartphones, tablets, and touch panels that are either handheld or built in can be used to operate so many things: lighting, home security systems, heating and air conditioning, home theater,

Protect your Home from Southern California’s Mudslides

Mudslide Protection CaliforniaA record El Niño phenomenon is likely to bring wet and potentially treacherous weather to Southern California this winter. Meteorologists are predicting record warm temperatures off the Pacific Ocean, which is a recipe for huge storms. And we have seen every time that El Nino + California = mudslides.

Mudslide protection in California is serious. It’s not too late. Get prepared. Contact home design and remodeling experts to implement some mudslide protection measures.

The Perfect Storm

Heavy downpours in SoCal are usually accompanied by dangerous mudslides. This year the experts are predicting massive mudslides as a consequence of extraordinary weather, the long drought, and a bad wildfire

Tips for Maintaining Your SoCal Short-Term Rental Investment Property

Maintain Investment PropertyJoining the short-term property rental market can be highly lucrative, especially in Southern California. People flock here year round for vacations and for business, and many are sick of the impersonal nature of hotels. Therefore, renting out a property through agencies like Airbnb is big, big business.

Your place will not look after itself. To maximize your tenancies and financial returns, follow these tips for maintaining an investment property. You may even be looking at remodeling or renovating in order to boost revenue potential.

Think Beyond Esthetics and Ambience

You can add all the special touches you like for your casual renters – flowers, chocolates, fancy linen, etc – but even more important is how well you maintain your investment place.  Even a slight “relaxation” in maintenance can

Ask the Experts: I Might Sell Soon – Is it a Good Time to Remodel?

remodel to sell your homeOwning a home is a wonderful thing. Selling it, however, can be stressful. Should you remodel to sell your home? Remodeling can either net you a decent return or it can mean cash out of your pocket.

This is your home and you want to get the most out of the sale, so the idea of remodeling is about earning a larger return. But is it a good time? Is it worth the cost?

What Are the Comps?

Before you remodel to sell your home, look into the comparative listings (sold and for sale) in your neighborhood. Compare homes of similar age and size. Study what each have in common and what’s different. From here, you’ll get your first idea of what specific home remodeling projects will produce return on investment (ROI).

Big Projects vs Small

When you remodel to sell your home, you need to think about a realistic return. At a time like this, a major remodeling

Three Tips for Creating an Indoor Outdoor Living Space in SoCal

Indoor Outdoor Living Space Socal Southern California’s climate is perfect for bringing the outdoors in and the indoors out. There’s nothing better than dining outdoors surrounded by the hills, or watching a movie in the yard, or just using the patio as an outdoor living room. You need a stylish outdoor space for year-round use. So, get on it. This is one home remodeling idea that involves minimal disruption to the inside of your house and your daily life, and it’s guaranteed to add value to your home. So let’s look at a few ideas for creating your amazing indoor-outdoor living space here in SoCal.

Blend Indoor and Outdoor Kitchens – and Then Some

An outdoor kitchen can provide that perfect hosting area for dinner parties with friends. But for you to maximize the value and utility of your outdoor kitchen, you should blend that space with your

L.A. Home Improvement Rebates Through LADWP and SoCalGas

Home Improvement Rebates Los AngelesDo you own a home in Southern California? Are you aware of the excellent rebates out there for making your home more efficient with its energy and water consumption? Because these rebates spell savings for any homeowner thinking of doing some remodeling. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and SoCalGas can make your remodeling costs lower. Check out some of the home improvement rebates in Los Angeles and across SoCal.

ENERGY STAR Windows and Cool Roof Rebates

LADWP offers homeowners rebates on installing ENERGY STAR

Copper is the ‘It’ Metal for Home Restoration in 2015

antique copper hanging light fixture shot from the ground looking upMove over granite, stainless steel, tiles, aluminum, and brushed nickel. 2015’s ‘it’ material for home restoration is copper!

Copper is amazing for so many things in home remodeling and restoration. Use it to make your home look awesome and increase its value at the same time.

Remember: copper is 100% recyclable!

Durable, Low Maintenance Copper

First, copper is so durable. It’s great for areas that are exposed to the elements, like gutters, flashing and downspouts. They look incredible, won’t sag or weaken, and can handle any weather condition. On top of that, they are very low maintenance.

Over time, copper develops what’s called a patina (the green look), which even reforms

Three Things to Consider When Taking Out a Home Construction Loan

home construction loan When building a new home, or upgrading an existing one, the financial aspect is the most basic, right? Without money, nothing gets built. Unless you’re very fortunate, you’ll need a loan to finance the project. So, what kind of home construction loan do you need? What are the benefits and potential pitfalls of such a loan? The success or failure of your project can depend entirely on you getting the right kind of financial help and knowing exactly what you’re getting into.

  1. Ensure You Have a Detailed Contract

All business transactions require comprehensive documentation, especially for long-term and expensive processes – like building your home. It’s essential that all project costs be documented, as well as

Ask the Experts – What’s Needed When Building a Home Recording Studio?

home recording studio remodelHome recording studios have taken off in Southern California. So many music professionals, recording engineers, bands, instrumentalists, singers, and even voiceover actors have decided to eliminate hours of highway traveling to other studios and have their own studio at home. That, of course, meant they had to do some home remodeling. So, let’s talk about the requirements for a little (or large) home recording studio remodel job.

Choosing a Room

First, you need a room. Sometimes this isn’t as easy as first thought. Maybe a spare bedroom is

Call for a Free Quote