The housing shortage and cost of living in California have been in the headlines for some time. Not helping the matter are construction costs in Los Angeles. They were $35 more expensive per square foot compared to the rest of the state, according to a March 2020...
GreatBuildz Guide
Tips and advice for a successful renovation

How To Find The Best Home Contractor For Your Remodel
So, you’re thinking about remodeling your home or undertaking a construction project. You know this is a major endeavor that will require a lot of your time and money. But, you believe it’s the right thing to do to improve your home and make it a wonderful space for...
How to Choose a Contractor for a Bathroom Remodel
You’ve finally decided it’s time to remodel your bathroom. How you proceed now can mean the difference between a smooth process and agonizing regret. Home improvement contractors aren’t all made the same—some do a better job than others—but you have control over who...
What Will Your Home Insurance Policy Cover?
Your house is likely your biggest and most important asset. Considering all the hard work that you poured into the acquisition or construction of that building you now call your home, it’s only right to protect it with homeowners insurance. As long as you have an...
Garage Conversion and ADU Insurance Info for 2023
When it comes to building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) or even just a garage conversion, there are many details to consider and a lot to know. This blog is specifically about ADU insurance, but you can find more info on my other blogs about building an ADU or a...
How To Create a Dedicated Work From Home Office Space In Los Angeles
You’ve certainly heard about the significant change in our office habits - the trend of work from home (WFH) during COVID and indefinitely into the future. A recent study indicates approximately 50 percent of the labor force is now work from home. Plus, many large...
New ADU Laws Bring Opportunities To Multifamily Property Owners in 2023
ADUs have been a big topic of discussion due to the new laws recently passed, both at the California state level and put into effect in Los Angeles and other local citiy ordinances. I have written quite a few articles about how these new guidelines will affect...
Finding the Best Los Angeles Bathroom Remodelers
Tips on Finding Good Bathroom Remodelers in Los Angeles: Finding a good bathroom remodeler might seem easy since there are tons of online resources listing many ‘highly-rated’ contractors. However, you should know that in Los Angeles County alone, there are over...
How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost in Los Angeles?
The bathroom is arguably one of the most important rooms of your home. It certainly gets more regular use and has more moving parts than most other rooms. From dripping faucets to outdated fixtures & tile, to water-damaged vanities, you may find any number of...
The Average Cost of a Kitchen Remodel in Los Angeles
Kitchen remodels are some of the most common projects requiring a general contractor. While remodeling your kitchen can be a major project, a remodeled kitchen will reward you with a more stylish, personalized and functional area to perform some of the most routine...
Can Your Los Angeles Home Become a ‘Duplex’ Under The New ADU Regulations?
Soon You Can Own a 'Duplex/Triplex' In LA - Build an ADU On Your Single-Family Lot In previous posts, I’ve mentioned the recent California ADU (accessory dwelling unit) laws that make it easier to build an ADU or convert your garage into an ADU. In essence, they...
What is a Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit? Los Angeles JADU Guide for 2023
California has recently adopted some laws that have significantly changed the landscape for owners of both single-family homes and multifamily buildings. Specifically, under Assembly Bill No. 68 and No. 881, homeowners throughout the state are now allowed to build an...
Los Angeles ADU Rental Guide
Guide to Building an ADU Rental for Extra Income in Los Angeles As ADUs are becoming a major part of the real estate landscape in Los Angeles and Southern California, many homeowners believe building an ADU (ADU definition) is a good opportunity. There are many...
How to Properly Legalize an Unpermitted Los Angeles Garage Conversion/ADU
It should be no surprise there are tons of unpermitted Los Angeles garage conversions. With home prices so high, residents have been taking advantage of their extra garage space without getting the appropriate permits for quite some time. When we talk about Los...
8 Secrets About Working with Contractors – Bad Contractor Series Part 5
Our Best Advice For Working With Contractors For a Remodel Before diving in, it might be helpful to start with part 1 of our Bad Contractors series: How To Spot a Bad Contractor. Just like purchasing a home, undertaking a major home renovation and working with...
10 Key Points to a Construction Contract
Here at GreatBuildz, a free service that connects homeowners in Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura or San Diego with reliable general contractors, we know the importance of a good construction contract - that's why we asked two experienced attorneys to share their...
2023 Home Remodeling Design Trends in Los Angeles
When people think about remodeling, they usually get excited about envisioning the beautiful new space they want to create. Most people want to update their homes in order to get rid of old, worn, and outdated elements and replace them with new finishes that reflect...
How To Deal With Contractors Overcharging You – Bad Contractor Series Part 4
How To Handle Contractors Overcharging You If you haven't already, start with part 1 of our Bad Contractors series: How To Spot a Bad Contractor. Most people will end up renovating a home at least a few times in their lives and sometimes that experience can turn into...
Contractor’s Poor Workmanship: How You Can Deal With It – Bad Contractor Series Part 3
How to Deal With a Contractor’s Poor Workmanship Before we jump in, don't miss out on part 1 of our Bad Contractor series: How to spot a Bad Contractor. Most of us have known people who endured renovation nightmares after hiring a bad contractor who performed shoddy...
Can’t Sell Your House? 6 Mistakes You Might Be Making
Here at GreatBuildz, a free service that connects homeowners in Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura or San Diego with reliable general contractors, we know the importance of selling a home quickly and at a good price – that’s why we invited Julia Weaver from Redfin...
Our free service personally matches you with the best pre-screened pros, ensuring you’ll find a great contractor and enjoy a stress-free remodel.