Judy Olson

In spite of the struggling economy, I see a strong level of interest in home renovation projects right now. What I’m finding though is that people are growing aware of the rising cost of labor and materials, and are trying to find shortcuts, or less expensive ways of doing what they want to do. Price shopping is nothing new, but this is a different sort of maneuver. This is trying to pursue luxury results with a bare-bones budget. And it’s impossible. Even a contractor who is struggling to...

1. Educate yourself on realistic costs It’s embarrassingly easy to blow your budget when the budget you started with wasn’t anywhere close to realistic. That is the situation many homeowners are finding themselves in, especially with the cost of living and transportation of goods substantially higher now than just a few years ago. Here’s a quick dose of reality for where things are currently in the Tri Valley area: Kitchen remodels $200k+ Primary Baths $100k+ Guest Baths $50k+...

The work I do every day is dependent on having a solid contractor to rely on. But it took years to find one who not only produces quality work, but is also consistent, dependable, with good subs, well organized, and a good value. Over the years my encounters with different types of contractors have given me a stronger sense of which are likely to deliver, and which are more trouble than they’re worth. In this article I will break down 3 types and what I tend to expect from each. This is an...