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.

When it comes to building or renovating your home, you won’t get very far without the correct permits in place. It is essential that you acquire the right ones, not only under city law, but also for you and your family’s safety. (Image Source)

The city of San Diego regulates construction for the safety of all residents, as well as for the preservation of certain areas of this great county. Visit the City of San Diego website for more detailed information and guidelines on how to obtain the appropriate permits, or contact them at dsdweb@sandiego.gov.

What types of permits are there?

There are several different types of permits, based on the type of construction: structural, plumbing, mechanical, electrical and combination, which are generally obtained for single-family homes and other small projects. Most residential projects require a combination permit.

What types of construction require a permit?

Complete demolition, relocation of buildings, and new construction always require a permit, and they generally require a combination permit that covers the structural, plumbing, mechanical and electrical components of your project.  Certain types of renovations require permits.

What home improvements don’t require a permit?

Any superficial changes to your home do not require permits. If you are merely painting, or redecorating, permits are generally unnecessary. Fences up to six feet high, as well as platforms, decks, and walkways up to thirty inches high do not require permits. General plumbing, electrical, or mechanical repair work such as adjusting or replacing faucets, switches, and linings does not require a permit.

Minor work permits:

There are types of minor home improvements that only require permits, but can be issued easily through the Inspection Services Office. If you need to move an electrical outlet, or install a water heater, this is the type of permit for you. Contact the city’s Inspection Services Office at (858) 492-5070.

If you are planning to pursue a home improvement project, be sure to have a licensed design build contractor, architect or designer draft the plans for your project first.   With properly drafted and engineered plans the necessary permits can be obtained easily.  Your contractor should be responsible to call and pass all the required inspections.

Scam artists are always thinking of new ways to squeeze more money out of honest people and run away without doing any work. Being the victim of such a crime is a horrible experience and you can prevent an incident by knowing in advance what the current home renovation scams are and avoid them all together. Here are eight well known scams that you should watch out for. (Image Source)

Payment First, Work Later: A true sign of a scam is when the contractor asks for payment upfront before he has done any of the work. Although it sounds like an obvious rip-off, many people are caught up in the heat of the moment and will end up agreeing to pay in full for the job before construction has begun. There is a very high chance that the person will take the money and run. Unless you know the guy personally, close the door on them and find a reputable contractor to bid on the job.

One Time Only Sale: The oldest trick in the book for a business is to offer someone a, “one-time only” special that will never be available again. The tactic puts a lot of pressure on the customer to make an immediate decision, which usually ends up being a bad one. Trust your instincts and realize that there will always be another sale. Instead of making a decision, let the contractor know you will wait until you receive other bids for the job. The person might seem angry at the time, but if they really want your business they will come back again with another sale.

No Credentials: The best way to pick out a scam artist from the crowd is by checking their credentials. Even if you trust the person, always ask for a reference and possibly take a look at their previous work. Make sure they are an actual licensed and insured contractor before ever getting started. You can contact the local license board and Better Business Bureau for trustworthy information about any contractor’s credentials.

Loan Financing Assistance: One of the scariest scams happening to normal people looking for a home renovation is when the contractor helps them set up a loan that is actually a cover for stealing your money, securing kickbacks, or even transferring the deed on your house. They will be enticing with their offer, like an extremely low interest rate for a large loan, but do not ever go through your contractor for a loan. Always use your personal bank for a home renovation loan, refinancing, etc. If you think your contractor is legitimate, at least have a lawyer look over the paperwork to be sure you are not being duped.

“Take my word for it”: When you are ready to undergo an expensive home renovation, never trust someone’s “word.” Always triple check the paperwork and make sure that everything that was verbally agreed upon is actually written down, legally binding the contractor to the promised work. You will be very disappointed if you depended on simple trust in the beginning and in the end the renovation was only half complete with the contractor nowhere to be found.

Leftover Supplies or Working Nearby: Scam artists know that people trust their neighbors and will play on that weakness to get you to use them for a renovation job. The person will simply walk up and knock on your door, offering to give you a steep discount on the leftover supplies from their job down the street or a slick deal since they are already working in the neighborhood. The offers might sound great, but tell the guy you will take a look at their work and solicit other bids for your project before committing to his offer. Generally speaking, contractors doing cold calls to your door like this are never reputable contractors to begin with. An honest company waits for customers to seek them out through trustworthy channels.

Fake Contractor: If a contractor shows up to bid on your job and has an unmarked truck, an out-of-state license plate, or doesn’t even have proper tools, be sure to check their credentials before you ever let them inside your home. The person can be a robber trying to get inside your house to see what valuables they can steal. A few common offers (from an unknown contractor) that are known to be scams include driveway sealant, chimney repair, hot tar roofing, and duct cleaning. If you need these services, call a reputable source to bid on the job.

New Problem During Work: A scam that often goes unnoticed is when a contractor will be half way through the job and notice that there is a major problem that needs to be fixed before continuing the work. They will give you a new quote for payment and materials to do the extra work and if you don’t know exactly what to look for, you will simply agree to fix the new “problem.” Often, there is no real problem and the person is simply trying to scam you for more money. During tough economic times, some companies will add even small problems to the bill that you usually wouldn’t look too much into. Don’t be fooled, ask an unbiased third party to take a look and offer their advice on the issue. Even if you do end up needing the work done, at least you know for sure you are not being ripped off.

Buying your first home is an exciting and complicated process. New home buyers are usually the ones that make the biggest mistakes and get in over their heads. But, with good research and trustworthy advice, you can be confident during this life changing decision. Here are 10 tips that you can use when buying your first home. (Image Source)

1. Learn From Experience: Go out and talk to other people who recently purchased a home for the first time. They now have hindsight on what they did right, could have done better, and shouldn’t have done. They might not be a professional, but at least they went through a very similar experience recently, which is especially important during these difficult economic times.
2. Attend a Home Buyer Seminar: There is a seminar for everything in today’s world, including a first time home buying seminar, probably close to where you live. You can normally find a free seminar put on by a local non-profit or your city that will help you learn what is involved in buying a home and what mistakes to watch out for. You are much more likely to find that perfect home if you are an educated buyer, so study hard.
3. Making a Budget: You probably have already done a basic review of your finances if you are thinking of buying a home, but you really need to be honest with yourself when it comes to what type of house you can actually afford. Try and get pre-qualified for a home loan from your bank so you know in advance what type of money you can spend on a home. Don’t forget to take into consideration a 20% down payment and the monthly mortgage payment before you make any offers. There are several other costs of owning a home besides the monthly mortgage payment. Plan into your budget expenses such as utilities, heat, property taxes, repairs, insurance, landscaping, etc. A good way to judge the overall costs is by examining the previous owner’s actual monthly expenses. You don’t want to realize after the fact that you can’t afford the home you are living in.
4. Additional Costs: Most home buyers forget about the extra costs involved in searching for and buying a house. Aside from the down payment, you will probably encounter costs such as a home inspection fee, loan origination fee, prepaid interest, application fees, appraisal fee, survey, title search and title insurance, first months homeowner’s insurance, recording fees, and attorney fees. Depending on the city, you may also need to pay transfer taxes. It is a good idea to count on fees adding an additional 3 to 8 percent to the total purchase price.
5. Keep Your Options Open: It can be extremely beneficial to buy a home that is in your budget, but not ideal because you can find remodelers to do the work for you! If you are willing to wait a little longer for your perfect home, you can save a bundle by buying small and renovating big. In the end, you’ll get exactly the home you were hoping for, it just might take a little bit longer!
6. Pick the right city: A lot of people forget to think about the advantages of owning in one city over another. Almost every city is in a financial crisis right now, but several show promise in the long term that will pay off for homeowners. Several cities that look good for first time home buyers right now are Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver, Boston, and Phoenix.
7. Choose a Neighborhood: Simply picking a good city doesn’t help narrow down exactly where you want to live. Each of those cities above has bad neighborhoods that you want to steer clear of. When deciding on what is important to you in a community, take into consideration crime rates, taxes, mass transportation or access to freeways, schools, and local zoning laws.
8. Hire a Real Estate Agent: First time home buyers often are confused with the entire process and don’t know where to start. When you hire a professional, you will have someone to not only hold your hand along the way but that will help you find homes that fit your preferences. You can spend hours scouring the web for homes by yourself, or let the agent send you a list of homes that are close to what you are looking for. Another benefit of hiring an agent is that they usually will have access to homes that have not yet hit the market. In the end, hiring an agent will save you time, money, and your sanity.
9. Finding a Home: Choosing the right city, neighborhood, and then a home is a long process that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Either work on your own or with a realtor and tour several homes at a time. You will start to figure out what is important to you, what you like in a home, and the neighborhood that works best for you. Once people have made a decision to buy a home, they usually spend 8 weeks looking around and doing research to find where they want to live and what they are looking for. Then after they have narrowed it down, it usually only takes a few home tours before they find that perfect first home.
10. First Time Home Buyer Assistance Programs: The weak economy is helped every time someone purchases their first home. Many local and national programs are available to help and motivate people into taking that step. As long as you qualify, you may be offered lower interest rate loans, low down payment options, and down payment assistance. Even people without perfect credit still have access to the Federal Housing Administration’s loan program that offers lower down payments.