HOMEOWNER INFO
July 7, 2009
ACB project featured in California Home and Design Magazine
ACB is excited to announce that their recently completed Kitchen and Family Room Addition/Remodel was chosen as one of four kitchens throughout California to be featured in California Home and Design Magazine’s July 2009 issue. The feature begins on page 133, and our project article is found on pages 138 and 139. Our project is also featured on Precision Cabinets and Trim's full page advertisment on page 51.
May 5, 2009
“Checklist for Prescreening Contractors”
The California State License Board offers a checklist for consumers as a guide while researching and interviewing various contractors. The checklist is available at: “http://www.cslb.ca.gov/Resources/GuidesAndPamphlets/ChecklistForPrescreeningContractors.pdf”.
ACB recommends that clients follow the checklist, and hire only licensed, bonded, and insured contractors for their protection and peace of mind.
February 8, 2009
“Remodels hold value better than home prices”
Remodeling Magazine’s 2008-2009 Cost vs. Value Report(http://www.remodeling.hw.net), produced each year in conjunction with Realtor Magazine, contains good news about the value of remodeling projects.
The recent Cost vs. Value Report showed that renovations on a nationwide basis held their value better than home prices did in 2008. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), home prices declined 7 percent in 2008, while the value of homeowners’ investments in remodeling dropped only 2.8 percent in 2008. ….
….One benefit of remodeling sooner rather than just before selling is that the homeowner is able to enjoy the improvements before moving on. …
….In the Pacific region (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington), a major kitchen remodel returned 95.5 percent. In San Francisco, a major kitchen remodel returned 131.5 percent of the investment at sale. Despite higher labor and material costs, the Pacific Coast average cost recouped at sale was 14.8 percent higher than in the rest of the country….
Excerpted from Dian Hymer, a nationally syndicated real estate columnist and author of “House Hunting, The Take Along Workbook for Home Buyers” and “Starting Out, The Complete Home Buyer’s Guide,” Chronicle Books. Emphasis added.