It’s all about getting the most Wow for the lowest cost. For some reason the stainless look with knobs on front is appealing to buyers vs countertop cooktop with knobs on the side. Most flippers would put in a 36 or 48 pro range for a high end flip but I tend to err on the side of good functionality. Would rather have electric ovens at a comfortable height. I hope I can find a good deal on a rangetop somewhere!
Fire Sprinkler Estimate
Since fire sprinklers are a whole new ball game for me, I have been contacting a lot of fire sprinkler companies to discuss requirements and get estimates. Two companies turned me down on the phone. One company that was recommended by another contractor told me to send in my plans, but they keep asking for detailed ceiling plans that we don’t even have. Then they said they are backlogged 9 weeks before they can get a design permitted. Then another 2 weeks to schedule installation. They are politely trying to say ‘No Thanks’
By a fluke, I called a local number and it patched through to an independent fire designer. He has been really nice and worked up a rough estimate. $6,100 for sprinkler design, permit submittal and installation. But I also have to pay $500 for City permit fees. I expect that estimate to go up since i will want to upgrade to the flat discs in the main rooms. Probably about $7,000 when all done.
I think $7K is a good price! I was thinking it was going to be much more expensive.
Yes, but $0 would be a lot better 
I told the City Engineer that I was willing to compromise with sprinklers in the new addition area only if I had to. I would be OK with sprinklers in garages, basement, laundry room and kitchen. I think those areas are the usual suspects.
This is an expense that was never in the budget and my agent tells me that we can’t exactly ask $10,000 more for the house due to the sprinklers. Buyers don’t look for them in their ‘must have’ list and they don’t put an extra value on them.
I have been doing some research on the general cost effectiveness of fire sprinklers in a home
Insurance companies offer a homeowner insurance discount on an average of 5% for Class B sprinkler systems.
Let’s say annual insurance premium is $1,600. That is a savings of $80/year
Let’s say a homeowner had to pay a $10,000 premium and/or builder cost was $10,000. Let’s assume that the buyer included that amount in their home financing. at 5% interest rate, they are going to pay $500 more a year in mortgage costs.
^ But as you said, buyers don’t put any extra value on them. So in an efficient market, the builder is eating the cost of this. Government regulations strike again!
Where is an annual insurance premium only $1600 for a house of this price? I would expect it to be 10x higher.
You’re probably right. Just guessed on premium. Premiums are not really high here because earthquake coverage is excluded by all the insurance companies. You have to purchase it separate.
my home in menlopark costs me only $1400/ yr.
2400 sq ft, 3bd 3ba , many upgrades
thank you AAA
no earthquake coverage.
but i did buy it 33 years ago.
I picked up the final review by Zoning Dept at City today. They threw the book at draftsman with a ton of issues. The same issues I was upset about regarding clearly showing elevations and new building height. They are also concerned about whether bathroom in basement was ever in original build, but there are no records available from 1937 to prove anything. We know it is original to house because old cast iron is running through foundation, but good luck trying to prove anything without any proof on paper. They are insisting on measurements to prove basement is under ground/really a basement. This has to do with whether they call it 2nd story addition or 3rd story addition. Bunch of rules for 3rd story addition but we are under all those thresholds anyway.
But the worst part is they are refusing to allow a ‘recheck’ appointment and want the entire set of plans resubmitted. This starts their clock running again for another 20 days. I’m going to have to go back into City and plead for a quick desk turnaround.
"But the worst part is they are refusing to allow a ‘recheck’ appointment and want the entire set of plans resubmitted. "
aaargh!!! ~X( >:P :-L
Oh gosh, cb, I am sorry you’re having to struggle so mightily to get through all of the red tape.
Oh brother. I would hope that the idiot drafts person/engineers would get this done ASAP and free because THEY should have known these guidelines.
I have an old brass chandelier that a friend, who is a lighting person, fixed up for me. He cleaned the metal as best s he could, but rather than spend a fortune buffing away every dark spot and stain, he smeared it with some gold paint that is meant to cover metal and that brightened it up quite a bit and left a great high/low contrast in the more textured areas.
Could you use something like that on your door hardware? If so, I can go search out the product name at the hardware store.
Door hardware is already installed back onto the front door and it would be really difficult to keep trying to clean it after installation. My motto at this point “It is What It Is”. My other new motto is 'It’s all part of the character"
I loaded some photos of clearing out the whole back of the house. We cleared the garage, tore off ceiling and walls and tore off the giant barn doors. The barn doors are going to be used to stack building materials up off the ground. Then we had to mount a security door in back of garage to basement to store stuff safely. Back stairs torn off, back fence torn down and another 8 tons of debris went off in the third dumpster.
Concrete demolition starts Tuesday!
Today I searched for appliances on clearance, returned, etc. Struck out finding a good rangetop and/or wall oven combo. These are the only two items that I really need to purchase now because I h ave to make sure the kitchen cabinetry fits correctly with the wall ovens. And whether I can find a rangetop at a good price, otherwise it has to be a cooktop and that cabinet needs to work correctly with the stove
I did find a 48" Dacor range top… way too big. Can’t buy it because I have a fancy vent thing that works with 36" cooktop. I found a gorgeous Kitchenaid full pro style range with oven below at a great price $3,200. Looked gorgeous, but I refrained from buying it because I think wall ovens are better for this house.
But, I found a very interesting LG refrigerator at Sears Outlet with a special ice maker slim design that allows for water/ice in door, but doesn’t take up hardly any space in refrigerator area. Also, had a separate produce drawer thing with independent temp settings. And it had that ‘glass door’ thing that lets you open only the front portion of refrigerator. Lots of bells and whistles, big 28 cu ft, at a great $1,400 price. I examined every inch of the front stainless on the unit and I could only find a set of smudge scratches in the plastic area when you opened up the produce drawer. I took some pictures of it. I could use some opinions on whether you guys think that would be a turnoff for buyers. Not gouges, not ‘scratches’, but more like a couple of deep rubs on the internal plastic.
I loaded some pics to see what you all think
There is a new Outlet Mall just built in San Clemente, CA. It’s an ‘upscale’ outlet mall. Normally, I wouldn’t care but my sister has been calling me and insisting that I have to go to the mall and check out the public restroom in the mall. It is one of the most gorgeous restrooms she has ever seen. So… driving south from Orange County today I decide I need to check this out.
You walk into the public restroom and you go ‘Wow’. The tile design is incredible, eye candy everywhere. Very well done, very high end. Crazy for a mall restroom. You would expect the quality and style in a fancy hotel or something. I took a bunch of pictures because it is going to be my master bath inspiration.
Loaded them to flickr
You are so right - that bathroom brings the “wow!” Can’t wait to see how you translate the inspiration into your master bath!
That bathroom is not just wow its WOW!
GREAT inspiration for the MRB.
as for the LG fridge- sorry but yuck. Looks like it belongs in a rental condo.
I would never put in a cheap looking ice maker in door fridge in a brand new kitchen. Brings it down too many knotches.