I am dedicating this post to the memory of Martin “Marty” Gleich, a San Diego icon who founded American Housing Guild and Guild Mortgage.  Mr. Gleich passed away on September 25, 2011 at the age of 87.

Besides being know as a home builder and mortgage broker, Mr. Gleich was a generous philanthropist, giving anonymously to many causes including education, libraries, the environment and the arts.

Mr. Gleich built over 20,000 homes in Serra Mesa, Mission Village, Clairemont, Grossmont and San Carlos from the early 1950′s through the mid 1970′s.  In the late 60′s, a home remodeling division was started, and Murray Lampert was the general manager for many years before founding his own company, Murray Lampert Construction in 1975.

In 1960, Mr. Gleich started Guild Mortgage to help people finance there homes.  Guild Mortgage is still doing business today.

To this day, when you walk the streets of Serra Mesa – Mission Village, you will see the American Housing Guild logos stamped in driveways.  American Housing Guild homes were distinct with pitched ceilings inside, and siding on the exterior.

Martin Gleich will be remembered for how passionate he was about improving the lives of others and helping to make the world a better place.

Full Color Rendering

With Design/Build through a experienced home remodeler, the entire process is streamlined, and a plan will be developed that fits your budget.  Architectural design, structural engineering, permit processing, high quality construction, and an in house project manager, all under one roof, ensures great value, timely completion, and a successful, stress free home improvement.

State of the art computerized design system, fully detailed color renderings, and 3D walk throughs are what you should expect in a San Diego Design/Build Remodeling contractor, so you can see what your remodel will look like up front and avoid surprises.

Many San Diego Design/Build Remodeling  companies say they are design/build and outsource the drafting, losing control of design quality and costs.  You must insist on in an house design/ build team who delivers full service to you.

Make sure a comprehensive “Scope of Work” document is part of the design package too.  That way you can be certain everything is included.  You will want to go shopping to make sure the caliber of fixtures, appliances and finishes are covered.

Do not be enticed by companies who substantially undercut other bidders.  Later on, you will find out there are hidden costs, and items like cabinets, granite, finish work etc. are low quality and you are in store for major cost overruns.

A qualified San Diego Design/Build Remodeling firm will assist you in creating a shopping list and line you up with preferred vendors to save you money.  They will also help by value engineering to help you meet your desired remodeling investment.

It today’s economy, Design/Build is the most effective method to improve your home delivering more value to you..  With Design/Build you and the contractor have control of the design and construction details. What that means is you won’t end up with a plan that is cost prohibitive and you will get more for you money.

Before

We have been remodeling San Diego Homes since 1975.  In the 70′s, 80′s and even the 90′s, we completed mostly basic projects like room additions and basic kitchen remodels that didn’t require much in the way of design.

Over the past 8 years, we started focusing on San Diego Design Build Home Remodeling.  With our staff architect and design team, we offer custom designed home remodeling and construction.  Our design staff specializes in home remodeling and our plans are created with state of the art computerized software.  Architectural design, space planning, structural engineer, mechanical engineering, zoning research, building code, and permit processing is all part of our San Diego Design Build Home Remodeling service.

Our staff architect can create fully detailed 3D color renderings and virtual walk throughs so you can better visualize the design and space.

Front Elevation of Major Home Renovation

With the Murray Lampert Construction San Diego Design Build Home Remodeling service, you can rest assured your project will be professionally designed, priced accurately, supervised closely, built by expert craftspeople, with the highest quality materials, completed on time and backed by the best warranty in the business.

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Major Home Renovation After Murray Lampert Construction

Energy Efficient San Diego Homes

Here is access to a FREE service offered through SDG&E to check the efficiency of your heating/air conditioning and get a tune up including freon re-charge:

AC TIMe Program

http://www.actimeprogram.com/ProjectCenter/

Advanced Diagnostic Tune-ups are designed to optimize the efficiency of air conditioning systems through correction of airflow, adjustment to refrigerant charge and proper duct testing and sealing.  More information here:

http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/ccs/Pages/RCA.aspx

The qualifications are:

Must be a SDG&E customer on a residential electric rate . Residence must have been built before 2006 . Only single family homes qualify for Duct Test & Seal . Residence must have a central air conditioner or heat pump THAT IS FUNCTIONING.  IF YOUR AIR CONDITIONER IS NOT WORKING YOU MAY BE CHARGED FOR REPAIRS BY THE CONTRACTOR TO GET THE UNIT IN GOOD ENOUGH RUNNING CONDITION SO IT CAN BE TUNED FOR EFFICIENCY.

Single Family residential customers in climate zones 6 and 7 must receive both DTS and RCA services to qualify . Homes that have had work completed by federal, state, and/or utility-funded RCA incentive programs are ineligible for ten years from the date of the service . Homes that have had work completed by federal, state, and/or utility-funded DTS incentive programs are ineligible for eighteen years from the date of the service . Mobile Homes/Manufactured Homes are not eligible for RCA or DTS service in the AC TIMe Program.

This is a FREE service including inspection, sealing leaky ducts and re-charging freon.

I was proud to see this article in the San Diego Union newspaper on Saturday, May 30, 2011 featuring a home we remodeled in the 90′s:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/apr/22/point-loma-listing-has-ties-portuguese-pioneer/

We remodeled the exclusive 1934 Frank L. Hope Jr. home in 1995.

815 Armada Terrace

Photos courtesy of Pauline Lim-Endresen.

The Scope of work included restoring exiting kitchen cabinets, new counter tops and back splashes, structural interior reconfiguration, expanding balconies, building out a wine storage room and other general remodeling.  At the time, it was one of our largest projects.