Real estate: Spring signals home improvement season
It has been a little over a week since we all drove fresh powder, but how quickly winter has passed (maybe temporarily) and with the onset of spring, thoughts of home improvement projects start to arise.
The winter of 2020–21 has so far been rather harmless compared to the typical Sierra climate. We had much less snow and precipitation this season and only a few significant wind events and temperatures that were above or above average for most of the time.
Sabrina Belleci
While most properties were in relatively good shape through the winter season, there is still the usual wear and tear to fix. And large projects like roof replacements, deck repairs, and remodeling require a lot of thought and planning before starting work.
There are quite a few specific rules, regulations, and restrictions out there when it comes to upgrading your Lake Tahoe property, whether you own a home or a condo. It could be as dark as a ban on using hardwood or tile floors if you live in an apartment above your neighbor. Or something more common like needing to get a permit when building your siding, roof, fence, or making one of several significant improvements to your property.
Many homeowners and potential buyers are considering the option of fencing in some of their property. In general, there is a 6 foot height restriction between adjacent lots, 4 feet if you’re on a corner lot, and there may well be kickback requirements that will affect where you can position a fence on your property.
You also need to consider if there is any relief with snow removal as you don’t want to build a fence exactly where the county’s snow thrower generally piles snow in winter. The requirements for getting permission to build a fence are not overly complicated. However, you need to provide a site plan, view the location of the fence and any structures on the property, and ensure that your fence is constructed in accordance with current building codes.
Usually, this is also the time of year when contractors, craftsmen, and craftsmen of all kinds see their calendars fill up. In our low inventory real estate market, potential sellers have chosen to stay in their current homes and remodel versus up or down trading. Construction professionals in Lake Tahoe are fully booked for 6 to 24 months, and it has become extremely difficult to find a qualified team to complete a project or even get quotes for smaller projects like a bathroom or kitchen renovation – let alone re-ordering and waiting time for new equipment and materials due to COVID.
The fine weather makes it a lot easier to carry out all kinds of projects, especially those that involve outdoor improvements and repairs. You may not be able to get all of the supplies and supplies you need in a short period of time. So make sure you have enough time to get everything needed for your project well in advance of the start of work so that there are no delays. When ordering items online, inspect each package upon receipt and immediately notify the shipper of any damage or missing parts so that you can get a replacement without undue difficulty. Using a credit card for these purchases makes recourse much easier in the event of a dispute.
Remodeling and upgrading your property is exciting. So take the time to get estimates, acquire samples of various materials, compare prices, and carefully plan each project from start to finish. You’ll save time, money, and hassle, and you’ll get the look you want, whether it’s a beautifully landscaped garden or the new kitchen you’ve been saving for.
We are fortunate to have professionals who live and work on site and provide high quality services in almost all industries and trades – even if the project is postponed 6 to 12 months. Your real estate agent can likely refer you to people they’ve worked with in the past so you can see their quality and finish before hiring their services, and let you know which projects will give you the greatest return on your remodeling investment achieve.
Sabrina Belleci is the Agent and Owner of ReMax North Lake.