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Monthly Archives: February 2012

Permit Fee Waiver for Mission Viejo Remodeling

Free Home Improvement Permits

The City of Mission Viejo created a program called “Improve Don’t Move” giving homeowners incentive to remodel their homes.  Effective through July 4, 2012, the program allows for home improvement permits to be issued FREE of charge until funding limits are reached. Now is the time to add a room addition, spruce up the kitchen or design a custom bathroom instead of moving.   Although some homeowners and contractors skip the permitting process, permits offer valuable protections and peace of mind for any remodeling project.

Don’t Cut Corners

Each city is different, but if you’re caught by the city without a permit for your Orange County home addition or remodel you could be charged up to 10 times what the original permit fee would have been.  In addition, the city could force you to remove and re-do any work that is not in compliance with the appropriate codes.  For example, if the original permit would have cost you $500, the city’s fine could easily rack up to $5,000 in addition to hundreds or thousands of dollars in replacement and repair costs.  You should also be aware that any work done without a permit will need to be disclosed when selling your home which can, and will, significantly decrease its value.  Have your contractor or a design + build firm, such as Sea Pointe Construction handle the permitting process for you.  Having relationships with the building departments in cities throughout Orange County is also an added bonus which makes the permitting process painless with little inconvenience for the homeowner.

Special Mother’s Day Recipe – Pink Champagne Cupcakes!

What could be more perfect for Mother’s Day than Pink Champagne Cupcakes!  We found this great recipe that we are baking in our newly remodeled kitchens to celebrate all the Moms we have here at Sea Pointe Construction: Monica Olson, Monica Fuerst, Sally Shore, Veronika Kuznetsova and Jenny Bias!  Thanks for all your hard work ladies!  Check out more fabulous recipes on our Pinterest page - http://pinterest.com/seapointeconst.

Champagne Cupcakes

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® white cake mix

1 ¼ cups champagne

1/3 cup vegetable oil

3 egg whites

4 to 5 drops red food color

Champagne Frosting

½ cup butter or margarine, softened

4 cups powdered sugar

¼ cup champagne

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 to 5 drops red food color

Garnishes

Betty Crocker® pink decorating sugar

Edible pink pearls

Get Baking!

Step 1:   Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.

Step 2:  In large bowl, mix dry cake mix and champagne. Add oil, egg whites and food color. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.

Step 3:   Bake 17 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Step 4:   In medium bowl, beat frosting ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Frost cupcakes. Sprinkle with garnishes. Store loosely covered.

Bang For Your Buck: Kitchen Remodels That Add Value

Upgrade Your Countertops

Granite is still the most popular “in trend” product to use when replacing your boring, white tile counters, but you should also consider other stones products that are just as beautiful, if not more.  Granite is popular because it is extremely durable and requires little maintenance, in addition to adding elegance to any kitchen remodel.  You might consider a quartz surface such as Cambria and Silestone which is quickly becoming more popular.  Because it’s man-made, it always has even color distribution throughout the slab and is less porous than granite, so it will never need to be re-sealed after installation.

 

Create a Great Room

Many home buyers are in the market for an open kitchen/great room space.  If you have a wall separating your kitchen from your living space, consider removing it and adding an island instead.  Make sure to remember to check with your home remodeling company to make sure it is not a structural wall supporting your roof (uou don’t want the second story crashing down on your family pizza night). This is a great way to add value to your family’s home for the future, while creating a fun, entertaining environment for next weekend’s game night.

 

Replace Old Appliances

If your appliances are more than 10 years old, consider buying new ones that use less energy.  The energy efficient appliances cost a little more upfront, but the money you save on energy bills in the long run more than makes up for the initial price difference.  Likewise, environment-friendly water heaters and furnaces pay back the cost after a few years of service and will continue to be good for your pocketbook for years to come.

 

 

Change the Backsplash

Look at this picture.  What stands out the most to you?  The counter or the backsplash?  Add personality to your kitchen remodel with a new backsplash.  These days the choices are limitless for knockout decorative pieces in glass or metal, or install a crisp subway ceramic tile pattern if you’re on a budget.  Try to select backsplash materials that compliment your kitchen cabinetry.

 

 

It’s the Little Things

If you’re not quite ready to do a full kitchen remodel, start with updating small items that pack a big punch.  Modernize the hardware on your kitchen cabinets.  This can immediately spruce up dull kitchen cabinets that you aren’t ready to part with.  Another option is to switch out old light fixtures.  This can instantly brighten up the room, but remember to consider if the fixture is shedding light up or down.  You need bright ceilings in order for the up lighting to reflect back down on your workspace.

Handyman Services as a Mother’s Day Gift? Yes, Please!

Moms are always the last ones to get spoiled in the family.  Show her your appreciation this Mother’s Day and get her a Professional Handyman Services gift certificate.  Flowers and candy only last a few days – but she’ll really be thrilled to have her small honey-do home repair list completed! 

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12!

Our gift to you is a $50 credit towards any gift certificate of three hours or more.  And it’s easy, call (949) 861-3400 or email clientservices@seapointe.com today and secure your Mom’s handyman gift certificate.  We’ll email you the gift certificate and a card that you can print at home and you’re done!  A thoughtful, hassle-free Mother’s Day gift!

Cambria Proves Popular With Remodeling Homeowners

Kitchen & Bath Designer Charlie Mather shares his experience with remodeling homeowners

During the last Sea Pointe Design Workshop at the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach, a packed room of homeowners interested in remodeling crowded the Cambria Quartz display table.

Cambria rep James Andersen at the Spring Remodeling Design Workshop

Hosted by rep James Andersen, the Cambria display had people 2-3 deep at times trying to catch a glimpse of the fashionable new colors for 2012. A favorite of Sea Pointe Construction designers – the beloved quartz countertop material stands out from its competitors for more than just the fact that it is the only product of its kind made in the USA – it is the most beautiful!

Cambria is hands-down the favorite quartz material available through Sea Pointe. Our design showroom features large, easy to visualize 12” X 12” finish samples and a full Cambria-clad kitchen display which makes it easy for our design consultants to help remodeling homeowners picture the perfect countertop for their projects like kitchen countertops, vanities, fireplace surrounds, wet bars, etc.

TOP 5 REASONS WE LOVE CAMBRIA:
BEAUTY – Cambria is available in more than 100 designs that fit any clients target aesthetic.
STRONG – Diamond-like hardness with superior strength. Cambria is stronger than granite.
MAINTENANCE-FREE – No sealing or polishing required.  Simply wash it with warm water and mild soap.
FOOD SAFE – Cambria is nonporous and is NSF 51 certified for food and splash zone use.
STAIN RESISTANT – Cambria will resist stains from common household items such as coffee, tea and wine.
GUARANTEED – Cambria also offers a Lifetime Limited Warranty with easy on-line registration.

Buckingham Canbria

Sea Pointe Construction and Cambria share a philosophy to build lasting relationships with a select group of partners whom are dedicated to quality and customer service and whom who meet premium service and installation standards. Stop by Sea Pointe’s Irvine Spectrum area showroom and discover the beautiful collection of materials that Cambria offers.