A few months ago, my friend (who I’ll call Clare for the sake of this true story) was in the position to choose a contractor for the small, charming century-old house she gutted and is bringing back to life. Clare got full bids from two contractors. Contractor Artisan’s bid was more expensive by 10s of…
GoAnimate.com: How NOT to Call a Contractor’s References by Kathy’s Remodeling Blog Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com.
So here's the story: Sarah is expecting a baby in a few months, and she and her husband just bought this home in Los Angeles. She wants some advice on fixing up the kitchen before they move in. Here are some things to know: • The home is in an expensive part of town, so…
Dear Kathy: My wife and I are planning several remodeling projects around the house, among them are the usual bathroom and kitchen projects. My wife would like to have a wall torn down (pending code approval of course). She also tends to do things without proper foresight, i.e., without thinking of the consequences. This is…
Here's some good advice on remodeling — from me — at the fixR blog.
Dear Kathy: I am planning a major remodeling in a 12-year-old house we just bought and I’ve been reading your blog articles for the past week. I found them very informative and inspiring. Most importantly, they are very practical and also very fun – a rare combination to find among remodeling articles nowadays! Now I…
Dear Kathy: I found your blog today and enjoyed reading it. Many of your links were helpful. Thanks for all your work! I am about to buy an old (1905) house in Pasadena. It needs a lot of work. The physical inspection identified some problem with the way the roof sits on the house…
Question: I am looking for a home and garden show in the Malibu area. Are you aware of annual shows there? -Reeve Answer: Not to my knowledge. I think Santa Monica would be the closest show of that type. Here’s what I have in my calendar for the rest of the year: JUNE 8: Rose…
Question: Hello there Kathy. You seem to be the source on all things remodeled, redecorated and staged, so I am writing to you to ask if you have any information about how to rent a staged home? My cousin read an article recently in the Los Angeles Times about owners of staged homes who want…
Question: My contractor just handed my contract to me, and I’m in shock! He wants 22% of the cost of materials, 22% over the cost of labor, 22% for subcontractors and 22% for labor management crew. I think this is way too much. First, the subcontractors are making a profit, and now the builder wants…