By Caron Golden
On a mid-August evening, about 30 people lingered over charcuterie trays, crackers and dips, and fruit and chocolate chip cookies, sipping glasses of wine and soft drinks in a well-appointed display kitchen in the industrial area of Kearny Mesa.
It wasn’t a cocktail party. It was the meet and greet ahead of a monthly home remodeling and design seminar at Jackson Design & Remodeling.
The seminars, which the design-build firm has held regularly for about 20 years, are geared toward homeowners who are looking into remodeling their property, whether it’s for themselves, for a rental, or even ahead of selling. Yes, these seminars, which are also held by other design firms in town, are most definitely a marketing tool — and you’ll get a gentle pitch — but ideally they can be a useful form of education for people who have big ideas but not a clue as to what’s involved in the remodeling process.
Workshop attendees browse kitchen appliances set up at the Jackson Design & Remodeling showroom. They can get an idea of available renovation options. (Brittany Cruz-Fejeran / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Remodeling is big business. According to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity, homeowners spent $463 billion on renovations in the first quarter of 2024. A Houzz study showed that the median amount spent on home renovations was $24,000, although homeowners in the top 90th percentile spent a median of $150,000.
Renovation is essentially an umbrella term for all kinds of home design activity, including remodeling. But at its most basic, a renovation could be anything from refinishing hardwood floors to repainting bedrooms. You’re updating an existing structure cosmetically. Remodeling, though, involves changing a home or room’s structure — moving walls, moving plumbing and electrical systems, changing the location of fixtures in a room. And that means remodeling can be extremely complicated.
That’s why it’s so important to get as good an education as possible, and these workshops and seminars can create the opportunity to learn some of the nitty-gritty as well as meet potential vendors before you start spending money.
A workshop attendee’s notes remain on their chair at the Jackson Design & Remodeling showroom in Kearny Mesa. The free events help answer questions before spending begins. (Brittany Cruz-Fejeran / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
“Having a workshop enables us to give to the community information, advice and insight free of charge,” explained Lynn Siemer, director of design at Blythe Interiors. “Then they can decide, ‘Do I want to hire a designer’; ‘Do I want to try and do it on my own?’
“We have handouts with information so that if somebody doesn’t have the budget to hire a designer, they can learn how they can make the most of their project on their own. We want to help people to think holistically about a project rather than just ‘I want wood cabinets.’”
Blythe Interiors, also located in Kearny Mesa, recently opened a design studio and launched their Project Dream Home Workshops. The last one was held in January with close to 40 attendees, but they have another one coming up from noon to 2 p.m. on Sept. 14, with lunch included. The firm also holds regular Sip & Shop events, a more casual open-houselike gathering that allows clients or potential clients and friends to come in, shop for home furnishings at their store, and take a look at their displays of flooring, tile, pulls and cabinetry, but also be able to ask questions of the designers.
“We felt that when people come in, they’re always so excited and intrigued and motivated, inspired,” Siemer said. “So we thought, let’s get people in here and talk about remodeling. As you know, it’s a huge investment, not only financially but emotionally and timewise, so let’s get people in here so they understand our process, how we work. The workshop is a way for people to understand holistically how a designer can help you with your project.”
Project director Jim Groen, left, addresses questions from seminar attendees at the Jackson Design & Remodeling showroom in Kearny Mesa. Groen, who is also an architect, explains what homeowners should know about hiring and working with a general contractor, including red flags to watch for. (Brittany Cruz-Fejeran / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
At the Jackson Design & Remodeling seminar, longtime project director and architect Jim Groen spoke for about an hour following a short promotional video of the firm. After that was a short break before two colleagues continued with a show-and-tell of the firm’s projects — before and after.
Groen used his presentation to offer some nuts and bolts about the various issues involved in remodeling.
“It’s not just what you want to do, but why are you doing it,” he began. “You have to define your project, budget, research builder candidates. How are you going to pay your builder during construction? How do you prepare yourself and your home for construction? What are the different business models available to you?”
Groen explained the importance of having conversations with potential clients about whether their circumstances — young family, empty nester, senior — call for making a move or investing in changes to the home. What works for them in their home, what isn’t working? Is outdoor living part of a project and what could that involve?
And, of course, how can this be accomplished within a given budget?
One of the critical issues Groen addressed was what homeowners should know about hiring and working with a general contractor. Point one: Don’t be taken in by a smooth presentation.
“Slow down a little bit and do your research,” he said. “A general contractor should have a B license. It allows that contractor to oversee five-plus trades. If it’s a C license, it allows them to do drywall or concrete framing, but it’s specific to that trade only.
“You want to make sure that there’s workman’s comp, that their licenses are up to date,” he added. “You want to look them up with the Contractors State License Board [www.cslb.ca.gov] to find out if the contractor has any violations or complaints. Another great way to check on a general contractor is the Better Business Bureau. You can see their ratings and reviews. And not only should you get references from previous clients, but you should also talk to clients that are in progress, to take the temperature of the performance of that firm. You’re talking to the clients during an intense time in their lives, right in the middle of a remodel. So, they’re going to be feeling the emotions, whether they’re highs or lows.”
And, he went on, how do you pay a contractor? What should the initial deposit be? What milestones do you agree on?
He had a warning: Don’t go with a contractor who will offer a discount for cash payment.
Project director and architect Jim Groen, in dark sportcoat, discusses kitchen displays with attendees before the seminar begins. (Brittany Cruz-Fejeran / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
“That is not a good thing. No. 1, you need a way to track your payments. And if a contractor is asking for cash, then it looks like they’re trying to cheat the government and trying not to pay their fair share of taxes. It’s a very good indicator of the ethics that are involved with that firm, because if they’re willing to compromise on something as important as sticking true to the government, how are they paying their employees? Are they paying their subs on time or their suppliers on time? Are these more of a hand to mouth type of thing? So, stay away from anyone that’s suggesting that you pay cash, and you’ll get a discount.”
Groen went on to discuss other aspects of remodeling, such as whether the homeowners should stay in the home during construction or move into a rental. If you stay, how does that work — and how much tolerance do you have for dust?
Because Jackson is a design-build business, they have an all-in-one approach to running remodeling projects. And the seminar obviously reflects their preference for their business model. That’s fair; the seminars are, indeed, a marketing event designed to generate business. But they can also yield very helpful information.
George Lofland, project director of Jackson Design & Remodeling, goes over a slideshow of homes with workshop attendees. (Brittany Cruz-Fejeran / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Like Groen, Siemer likes to emphasize the realities of a remodel.
“You can have the best plan, but there’s always going to be unexpected things,” she said. “There are glitches all the time and we can prepare, but we also have to be able to troubleshoot any surprises.
“We also want people to understand how designers can serve clients,” Siemer added. “We can serve you much more than just picking out pretty material. We all have technical and construction experience. People need someone to navigate the design by thinking through everything and we bring that home to them during the workshop. We also explain that selecting everything from appliances to materials can be complex. You need to know the differences between materials like certified quartz and knockoffs that may be cheaper but can stain. That there’s a certain amount of space you need around refrigerators so you can fully open the doors. Most homeowners don’t have that expertise.”
Photos of home renovation projects by Jackson Design & Remodeling are displayed in its showroom in Kearny Mesa. (Brittany Cruz-Fejeran / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
“Remodeling is very complicated procedure, and people don’t know how to prepare for it and to really to put themselves in a position of equity with the builder, versus being subservient,” said Groen. “Another thing is that there’s a lot of preparation they can do to empower themselves and to get themselves set up for success, like proper research, and thinking, really thinking about their project.”
“I think for all of us here, the true belief is the home you live in affects the way you live and think,” Siemer said. “The magic of living in a space that you love is transformational.”
Tips for understanding home remodeling
• Go into your remodel with the right mindset, said Lynn Siemer of Blythe Interiors. Surprises are inevitable, but that doesn’t mean things are going wrong or that your remodel is a disaster; it just means you’re remodeling. Even with the best plans, there’s always a surprise, but there’s also always a solution.
• It’s tempting to want to get bids right away, but a realistic contractor quote isn’t possible until design development is complete, and materials selections have been made, according to Blythe Interiors. The layout, types of materials and how they’re installed are just a few details that greatly affect a contractor’s bid, so nail that down first.
Groen explained what homeowners should know before embarking on renovations, including how to define the project and budget, and vetting a contractor. (Brittany Cruz-Fejeran / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
• To avoid delays, ensure that all finishes and materials are on-site or purchased and available for pickup before demo/construction kickoff, noted Siemer.
• Have your contractor spec packet and floor plans ready and on-site (i.e., lighting and electrical plans, plumbing, etc.). “We like to tape printouts on the walls of all relevant areas on jobsites,” said Siemer.“Take the time to ask why you want to do a specific project; it covers the motivation and pain points in your existing situation but also addresses your dreams and aspirations,” said Groen.
• Don’t do any demolition before you plan your remodel, said Groen. It’s putting the cart before the horse. You need to have a full plan before any work is done.
• If you’ve found an architect you want to work with, make sure they have an established relationship with a contractor — a run of, say, eight-plus projects — because that partnership is what it’s all about. That’s what you’re looking for, said Groen.
• Look for a professional who has a history of doing projects your size. Some will not take small projects; others are too big. Ask what their strengths are. And you may want to consider combining projects — like a kitchen, bath, and outdoor remodel — to save money down the road, said Groen.
• Think through the advantage and disadvantages of staying in the home during remodeling versus moving into a temporary space. Groen believes that for all the inconveniences, staying provides extra eyes and ears on the project.
Originally Published: September 7, 2024 at 6:00 a.m.