The Greenest of Conservation Solutions

HISTORIC PRESERVATION By Alana Coons, SOHO San Diego pre•ser•va•tion – The activity of protecting something from loss or danger, an occurrence of improvement by virtue of preventing loss or injury or other change con•ser•va•tion – Preservation or restoration from loss, damage, or neglect sus•tain – To keep in existence; maintain The words preservation and conservation […]

Understanding Your Contractor

By: ClientDirect On average, a homeowner in the U.S. spends $5,000 annually on home improvement projects. That’s a lot of contractors and conversations that could go the wrong way if you don’t understand “contractor lingo.” Here are tips to help you be successful with your next renovation project. When He Says Nothing At All Like […]

If these walls could talk…. (updated)

Now that the dust has settled with the house and the Mills Act contract has been approved, it is time to start prioritizing other projects- the sidewalk, curb, and driveway apron need to be replaced, the lot needs to be landscaped, the patio needs to be tiled, the permitted structure in the back needs to […]

If These Walls Could Talk … Updated

A new owner adds their personal touches, San Diego makes it through the 60’s and some guidance on how to select a contractor. . . In 1960 the family I purchased the house from bought the property and added their personal touches to it with a foyer, additional square footage creating an eat-in kitchen […]

If These Walls Could Talk – Updated

After completing the house and moving in I am finally catching up on my final “If These Walls Could Talk blog posts”- so sorry for the delay! Let’s go back to the period of 1944 – 1960 when the Gentilella family took the reigns of the house and then transferred it to the […]

The Old House Fair 2013 San Diego

The Old House Fair is a FREE day-long festival on June 15, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Bring friends and family to enjoy festivities galore. Tours include free walking tours, a 1-hour Trolley Tour ($5), and the popular Historic Home Tour ($25). Find ticket information here. The Old House Fair is at 30th […]

10 Questions to Ask Home Inspectors

Before you make your final buying or selling decision, you should have the home inspected by a professional. An inspection can alert you to potential problems with a property and allow you to make an informed decision. Ask these questions to prospective home inspectors: Will your inspection meet recognized standards? Ask whether the inspection and the […]

What makes a property historically significant

In the course of serving my clients who show interest in older San Diego communities, we often talk about historic preservation, the Mills Act, renovation costs and other related issues to consider when investing in older properties. The issue became more personal to me in the last year when I purchased a home […]

If These Walls Could Talk…

The house welcomed new owners in 1926. The Taylors would keep it in the family until 1944. One of these days I will do some research on this family and share tidbits of their history with you. Work is coming along nicely, we are about six weeks out from final sign-off by the City! Notice the new […]

If These Walls Could Talk..

This little house would change hands quite a bit early in its life. The plot thickens sometime in 1924 when the Whitney’s, likely falling on hard times, transfer ownership to Helyn Trumer Young and then in 1926 she transfers title to Matthews E. Trumer and Myrtle Trumer. Unfortunately, preliminary research into Helyn’s past leads us to more questions than answers. It does appears […]