D & S Kuhn, Inc.

Before You Start: A Checklist for Home Builders

October 28th, 2011

Are you planning on building a home or starting a remodel? If so, we’ve got some important information to share with you. As owners’ representatives, we have a lot of experience in the construction industry, both with those who create the structures and those who have the dream—a.k.a. the homeowner. We’ve actually been those dreamers, too!

We know all about the excitement of planning a project, of seeing the finished home in your mind, about soaking in that beautiful tub you saw in House Beautiful, about the wonderful staircase made of reclaimed wood. But to make sure all of those details are in the finished home, we recommend that you put the dream aside for a moment and consider some practical details.

We’ve put together a list of items to ask yourself as you start the project, which will help you stay on budget and get the house you’ve imagined, down to the last feature: Readmore…

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How To Negotiate a General Contractor’s Contract

October 12th, 2011

If you see this headline and wonder why you would need a contract for your general contractor, you are definitely in need of one. During a home remodel or building project, your relationship with your general contractor is the most important one in the process. Yes, perhaps even more important than the one with your spouse. And the best way to start this relationship is with a solid contract that sets out the expectations on both sides.

As with any contract, reading the fine print is essential, and this one is no different. Remember: mistakes in this arena will only cause you headaches and hardship, both literally and financially, down the line, so make sure you’re covered in all aspects of the projects. Here are some of our top tips for you to follow: Readmore…

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The Perfect Time to Install a Whole House Water Filtration and Conditioning System: During your Remodel Project

September 27th, 2011

How much is your family's health worth? If you're already doing a remodel, install a whole-home water filtration system.

If you are planning to remodel, or are in the process of a remodeling project, the time is right to insure a healthier and more convenient lifestyle. One of the most important aspects of day-to-day living is the quality of the water used for everything throughout your home.

With remodel projects on the rise, people are staying in their current home and updating it with today’s latest amenities. With this comes a desire to take control of internal environmental issues, not least of which is the quality of water. Water touches us in numerous ways in our home every day, from consumption and cooking to cleaning and washing.

D & S Kuhn, Inc. has helped discerning clients incorporate whole house filtration systems that address a myriad of water quality issues. The latest state of the art systems are custom-built and installed by Pure Elements, Inc. of Newport Beach, California. Many of today’s leading healthcare and longevity experts are referring clients to Pure Elements because high-quality, chemical-free water in the bath and shower as well as for drinking is critical in the search for optimal health. Readmore…

Insider Tips, Remodeling | No Comments

How to Select the Best General Contractor for Your Construction Project

September 14th, 2011

Years of experience allow Shelia Kuhn to share her tips on choosing a contractor.

First of all, what IS a general contractor? A general contractor is a person who hires contractors for building and construction, and manages their work during the project. “You must select a contractor who is not just qualified, but that’s licensed by the state,” Shelia Kuhn says. “I cannot emphasize enough the importance of making this choice, and making it right.”

Make sure your contractor’s license is verified through the California State Licensing Board, which can be done easily online at www.cslb.ca.gov if you have their contractor’s license number. Beware any contractor who refuses to give you their license number, or doesn’t prominently display it on business cards, their truck or their estimate! Readmore…

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The Importance of Reviewing Contracts — Even Architects

August 30th, 2011

Do you know how much you should pay, or NOT pay, for architect's plans?

A small mistake early on in a construction project can costs thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, sadly. Take, for instance, clients who purchased a property in San Juan Capistrano; this property overlooks the ocean and was intended to be their dream home to retire in.

They hired a very well-known contemporary architect to design the home, because they loved that style and thought it would be a match made in heaven. Because the architect was so well known, the clients didn’t comb the contract as closely as they would have with an architect of lesser reputation. They certainly didn’t understand how clever the architect was at drafting a contract that would allow him free reign to charge as many hours as he wanted. And unfortunately, although they did gloss over the contract, they didn’t get either a lawyer or an owner’s representative to look it over for the fine print.

As the project begins, red flags start to pop up, the first being that the architect is not designing the home to the clients’ specifications, but rather designing a home that fits into his oeuvre of past work; in other words, it will be another example in his portfolio of masterpieces. Readmore…

Insider Tips, Remodeling | No Comments

Remodel for Increased Home Value

August 17th, 2011

Everyone knows that making improvements on your home can affect the selling price and, let’s face it, in this crazy, mixed-up economy, we need all the help we can get. People are concerned about if the housing market will improve (and when), if this is a “double-dip” recession, and whether or not their savings will survive the stock market’s volatility.

Since it will take a while for the housing market to recover from the last few years, it’s time to get back to doing what our parents did when they owned a home, before this trend of “flipping” started: remodel.

But where do you start? What should you do first? Everyone has a budget, large or small, and it pays to plan how that money should be spent. There’s no point in starting a project, then running out of funds before it’s completed. Readmore…

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Staying Flexible for the Client’s Best Interest

July 29th, 2011

Many people haven’t heard of an Owner’s Representative before, and even if they have, they probably aren’t exactly sure what they actually do. We thought we’d take this opportunity to clear up any confusion that the public may have.

Does your remodeling or construction project seem out of your control?

The core of our services focuses on helping homeowners keep their projects on task and to take care of the general contractor negotiations, mainly by helping owners navigate through the challenges of the construction process, and therefore helping them save money.

The best part of what we do is offer flexibility to our clients, and the ability to adapt to whatever needs they have.  In fact, the most crucial part of our job is the consultation period with our clients.  After we personally assess the project, we sit down with the clients and talk them through the logistics of their project.  Readmore…

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Remodeling Outdoor Spaces

June 29th, 2011

With the current stagnant housing market, the trend of remodeling homes is continuing to increase in popularity.  For homeowners who are not looking to relocate in the next several years, taking on some home remodeling can be a great project.  Remodeling allows homeowners to further personalize and customize their homes, and will also add to the value of the property.  D&S Kuhn, Inc. has already discussed the reasons we favor remodeling versus buying a new property in this day and age, and today we will instead discuss a commonly overlooked portion of the home that could always use a little facelift: the outdoor areas.

Readmore…

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Helping Clients in Preliminary Stages

June 13th, 2011

James St. James, a Laguna Beach real estate agent we’re now working with, recently referred one of his clients to D&S Kuhn, Inc. We’re currently helping them through a critical process of determining the value and viability of their desired property.  This is an important preliminary stage, especially given the conditions of the property, which, to even seasoned homebuyers, can be tricky to navigate.

One of the problems deals with the foundation of the home. The Laguna Beach property on a full acre of land has been sitting in the framing stage for the last four years.  The clients hired us to help them determine whether or not the rest of the house could be built over the existing foundation, and Kuhn has been researching and connecting with her network of contractors to find out whether or not the foundation is sound enough for building.

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Shelia Kuhn Featured in Coastal Real Estate Guide

May 26th, 2011

When embarking on building a custom home project from the ground up or simply remodeling a residence, many homeowners quickly find themselves losing track of their initial goals. They become frustrated when the project begins costing more and taking longer than originally planned.  It is also common for owners to end up in litigation over costly mistakes due to unfamiliarity with all the complexities of a residential construction project and not communicating clearly with the parties who are involved.

It doesn’t have to be that way, says Shelia Kuhn, founder and president of D&S Kuhn, Inc. Construction Coordinating and Consulting of Newport Beach, California.  To help people avoid all of the home construction mishaps, Kuhn provides a specialized service called owner’s representation.

Readmore…

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