Renovation Realty hired to upgrade homes before market, increasing property values

By Anthony King | SDUN Editor

Renovations on a classic Mission Hills home owned by renowned local architect Mildred Love are near completion, with plans to place the million-dollar home on the market immediately following. Dubbed the “Alamo Bungalow,” the home was once featured in San Diego Home/Garden magazine as a “historical gem.”

San Diego-based Renovation Realty is overseeing the renovations, with in-house designer Michelle Sanchez taking the lead to “capture the home’s 1913 essence,” a press release said.

“When Renovation Realty was contacted to renovate and sell the original Klauber House, ‘Alamo Bungalow’ at 931 Hunter St. in Mission Hills, the team knew that it was imperative to restore the home to its original 1913 time period, while adding a modern-day twist that would appeal to buyers,” Renovation Realty representatives said in the release.

At 2,313 square feet, the property touts four bedrooms and three baths, and Sanchez and her team remained focus on making sure the character and architectural aspects were well maintained, they said. Using detailed research, the company worked on the exterior, master and main bathrooms, bedrooms, and main living area. They also paid particular attention to the kitchen.

“The kitchen and existing cabinets have been painted white, and new, polished silver knobs have been installed, along with all new stainless steel appliances, except for the original 1913 stove,” they said.

Love’s Alamo Bungalow is not the first home in Mission Hills the residential contractor and real estate brokerage company has renovated, nor the first in Uptown. Focusing on older properties to help homeowners sell at a higher price, Renovation Realty uses its own capital to renovate properties before placing them on the market. With no out-of-pocket construction costs, owners pay for the work after the home’s sale, via escrow.

In April, the company completed renovations at a four-unit building on Reynard Way in Mission Hills before putting it on the market. Before renovations, the property’s sale price was estimated to be between $665,000 and $685,000. After approximately $123,000 in renovations, the property was listed at $959,000 and has already sold.

“Originally built in 1986, the four-unit property on Reynard Way needed cosmetic upgrades before going on the market,” a separate release said. “Renovation Realty completely renovated the four units to feature new dual-pane vinyl windows and sliders, upgraded kitchens and appliances, new fixtures and fresh interior [and] exterior paint.”

A home on Whitman Street in Mission Hills went through kitchen and master-bathroom upgrades in early May. With views of both Mission and San Diego bays, renovations took approximately 25 days to complete and the home sold shortly after construction was complete.

“Mission Hills homeowners are turning to a new solution to increase the value of their homes before selling, to make a larger profit,” representatives said. “During 2012, sellers who worked with Renovation Realty had an average net gain of 25 percent on the sale of their homes.”

Additional Uptown properties have been sold in University Heights, Golden Hill and Normal Heights, as well as throughout San Diego County.

The company has been renovating homes in San Diego since 2008, and President Cannon Christian found partnering with homeowners to help increase property values before going on the market a help in selling the homes for maximum value. Among other accolades, Renovation Realty was honored as a 2013 “Most Admired Company” by San Diego Metropolitan magazine.

For more information visit renovationrealty.net or call 619-741-3936.