Your Remodeling Questions, Answered by San Diego's Design-Build Experts Since 1975

We specialize in residential remodeling projects including kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, room additions, second stories, ADU construction, home offices, complete whole-home renovations, and ground-up construction. We work exclusively on residential projects throughout San Diego County, and our in-house team of architectural designers and interior designers handles every project from concept through completion.

The initial consultation, detailed project recap, and budget range estimate are all complimentary. If you decide to move forward, we enter a paid design development phase. The design agreement covers the creation of your architectural drawings, 3D renderings, virtual walkthroughs, detailed scope of work, and fixed pricing.

As San Diego's preferred design-build contractor since 1975, we have full-time architectural designers and interior designers on our staff. We also process and track all permits internally and not through a third party — our reputation and relationships with city officials pays off. Our team includes credentialed professionals such as Jensen Prout, who holds NCIDQ certification, ASID membership, and CKBD and NKBA credentials. Our designers work with you from initial concept through material selections and final finishes, all under one roof, which eliminates the coordination gaps common when architect and contractor are separate. We also facilitate purchases and pass our trade discounts through to clients.

Each project has a dedicated Project Manager assigned from day one. Your Project Manager is your single point of contact throughout construction — coordinating all trades and inspections and providing regular progress updates. This accountability structure is one reason our projects stay on schedule and our clients consistently report high satisfaction throughout the build.

No. We install a lock box on site so our crew can access the home safely and efficiently while you go about your day. We do ask that you remain available by phone for any quick decisions that come up, but there is no need to rearrange your schedule around our work hours.

We do not take down payments on our home improvement contract. Per California law, we may collect a deposit of up to $1,000 or 10% of the contract price (whichever is less) after signing. Beyond that, payments are structured as progress draws tied to construction milestones — so you pay as work is completed, not in advance.

We serve homeowners throughout San Diego County, including coastal communities such as La Jolla, Point Loma, Pacific Beach, and Del Mar; inland areas including Mission Hills, North Park, Kensington, and Clairemont; and communities to the north such as Carmel Valley, Rancho Santa Fe, Encinitas, and Carlsbad. If you are unsure whether we serve your neighborhood, give us a call — we are happy to let you know.

Each project is unique, but here are typical timelines in working days: Kitchen Remodels — 60 to 90 days; Bathroom Remodels — 45 to 60 days; Room Additions — 80 to 120 days; Second Stories — 120 days or more; Total Home Renovations — 125 to 200 days; ADU Construction — varies based on size and scope. These timelines begin once permits are issued. Your Project Manager will provide a more specific schedule based on your project details.

We provide an exclusive 3-year written warranty on workmanship and materials — three times the industry standard. If anything related to our workmanship needs attention in the first three years, we come back and make it right at no cost to you. We also pass through all applicable manufacturer warranties on products and materials used in your project.

Our pricing is fixed and thoroughly detailed. Because of the depth of our discovery and design development process, the likelihood of change orders within the agreed-upon scope is extremely low. If you choose to add or change something mid-project, we price it out for your approval before proceeding — no surprises. Contracts include labor, materials, and permit fees. We are not the lowest-price option in San Diego, and we are transparent about that. Our clients choose us because they want the project done right the first time, without budget overruns.

It starts with a no-cost consultation to understand your goals, timeline, and budget range. From there, we enter a paid design agreement: our architectural designers and interior designers develop your plans, 3D renderings, virtual walkthroughs, and specifications. Once you approve the design and finalize pricing, we pull permits and schedule construction. Your dedicated Project Manager oversees the entire build, keeping you informed at every stage. After construction, we do a walkthrough, address any punch list items, and hand you a finished home along with your warranty documentation.

Murray Lampert holds California Contractors License #458038 and has maintained an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau continuously since 1976 — and is a two-time BBB Torch Award Winner for Marketplace Ethics. Our in-house team includes credentialed architectural designers and interior designers who are full-time staff, not third-party consultants. Among our designers is Jensen Prout, who holds NCIDQ certification, ASID membership, and both CKBD and NKBA credentials. Company principal Rachel Cantor-Walker was named to Pro Remodeler's 40 Under 40 in 2025. All project managers and field leads are experienced professionals, and all trade partners we work with are licensed and insured.

Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel was founded in 1975 in San Diego. What began as a small remodeling operation has grown into one of San Diego's most established residential design-build firms, with the Cantor family maintaining hands-on leadership across generations. Rachel Cantor-Walker continues to play an active role in the company and was named to Pro Remodeler's 40 Under 40 in 2025. President and CEO Gregg Cantor has led day-to-day operations since 1990. Over five decades later, the core values — quality, honesty, and putting the client first — remain unchanged.

We work with San Diego homeowners who are serious about improving their homes and who value quality and accountability over the lowest possible price. Our clients range from first-time remodelers tackling a single bathroom to longtime homeowners undertaking whole-home renovations, ADU additions, and universal design upgrades. What they share is a desire to get the project done right, with a team they can trust, and without the budget surprises and scheduling chaos that come with less organized contractors.

One project we are proud of is a custom home and attached ADU on Del Mar Avenue in Point Loma. The scope included a full tear-down and rebuild of the primary residence alongside a separately permitted ADU, all designed in-house by our architectural and interior design team. The project ran approximately 12 months from groundbreaking to final walkthrough, delivering a modern, energy-efficient home that reflects the client's lifestyle while adding a long-term rental income opportunity on the same parcel.

Verify the contractor's license with the California Contractors State License Board and request proof of insurance before signing anything. Check their BBB rating and read recent reviews on Google and Houzz — look for patterns, not just individual scores, and be cautious of review volume from companies with little track record. Ask specifically how they handle budget overruns and change orders before you sign, not after. Pay attention to listening skills and the depth of detail in the scope of work — compare contracts as carefully as you compare price. A vague scope is where cost surprises are born.

You do not need to have everything figured out before you reach out. We regularly work with clients who have no idea where to start, and helping you define your vision is part of what we do in the early discovery phase. That said, it helps to have a general sense of what is bothering you about your current space, a rough budget range (even if flexible), and a sense of your timeline. If you have photos of spaces you love, bring them. If you have no idea what you want, we can work with that too.