Mark grew up in New England and after graduating high school there he went straight into the United States Army. In the U.S. Army he trained in mechanical-related fields, traveled Europe and obtained a Military Advanced Lifesaving certification.

After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army he began working in the construction industry in Texas and framed apartment complexes. Mark’s passion for construction grew after he moved to California where he gained experience in custom home construction and obtained his general contractor license. Mark has extensive experience in masonry, electrical, plumbing and in running large construction crews.

Mark has two adult daughters who reside in Southern California, and siblings on both the East and West coast. He enjoys swimming, cycling, cooking, video games, movies, and visits with his daughters.

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Frequently people think that buying construction material themselves will save them money. This is false. As a general contractor, we get trade pricing, so the majority of the time we will save you money just in our preferred pricing. When a home owner buys material, like tile, we lose part of the management control of the project and often have added costs to an order. We have relationships with our vendors so that we can coordinate shipment times and quantities. The coordination of a project is vital. If materials are incorrect, then it throws off the entire project. Most importantly, we will warranty all labor and material if we purchase the products.

One other issue that we encounter on major remodels is when our clients want to continue to live in their home while remodeling. Living in a construction area is not fun; it is dirty, noisy, and extremely disruptive to a homeowner’s daily routine. As a contractor, it is more work for us when someone continues to live in their home. Scheduling around a homeowner’s family can be challenging,  and at the end of each day everything needs to be put back together into a livable home. Many of our homeowners chose to move into a short term rental, to avoid the stress of construction and to help us be more efficient.

What I love about residential home remodeling is every project is unique. I always have a detailed plan, and that is why it is so important to be aware of all the details from the beginning to the end.

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Homeowners can easily have their entire home connected with technology, including everything from phones, HVAC, appliances, lighting, shades, and security. Fifteen years ago these items had to be hardwired and built-in at the beginning of new construction, which could be an expensive undertaking and sometimes after a few years many technology systems became outdated. Today, almost everything is wireless, making for easy installation and up-grades.

Now there are an endless amount of fun and innovative smart products for the home from refrigerators that let you know you are out of milk to smart toilets that are self cleaning and deodorizing. Many people really like the power tracking thermostats and automated light controls that help save energy and work from your phone. The future of home technology is enormous and is becoming a convenience that is expected.

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Kitchen and bathroom remodels are the most common projects and can bring a great payoff at resale time. On larger projects, it is important to keep in mind how much you spend; your budget should be relative to your home’s value.  If you have a leaky roof or faulty electric, then addressing those issues should be first, and then move forward with the other projects.

An amusing statistic is that replacing the front door brings the most added value. On average 90% of the amount you spend on a new door adds to your home. Replacing windows, doors, and adding insulation can add value plus make your home more energy efficient.

It is also necessary to think about design. If you add unusual design features, then it might not be a good selling point. It is always a good idea to keep in mind how your project will be received by a potential buyer.

Most importantly, if you are not moving soon, then you can enjoy your remodel and get the added pleasure of the improvements.

The post Renovating – Build Smart! appeared first on PHD Homes.

Because of the damage caused by hurricanes, many skilled construction workers are leaving Arizona in search of higher wages being paid in Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean. The labor shortage compounded with the need for more materials like lumber and drywall is forcing distributors to increase their prices. These factors are creating higher prices and delayed building times.

The lack of qualified labor has been a growing issue in the construction industry for some time because fewer young people are choosing construction as a trade. The younger generation has been pushed to attend college and they are reluctant to work in a construction career because it seems difficult. To address this problem, trades schools are combining their efforts with local contractors to try to attract young workers. Trade schools are also trying to recruit more women, which would be a very positive demographic for the construction workforce.

The construction industry will continue to thrive regardless of the labor or material shortages, but the question is– at what cost?  Please let me know if you are considering building or remodeling so we can plan ahead to avoid unnecessary price increases. I hope the New Year continues to show economic growth and that everyone has a healthy and prosperous 2018!

The post Let’s Make a Plan appeared first on PHD Homes.

Opinions vary on the positive impact of teardowns. Demolishing an existing home makes a lot of sense when it is of poor construction and  in a great location. Where teardowns are getting a bad name is when the newly built house changes the character of the neighborhood, for example they are different architecturally or oversized for the lot.

As the housing market continues to grow more competitive, there will be more discussion on teardowns. Some cities are increasing taxes for teardown permits and are adding fees to remove trees to discourage teardowns. This may slow down the teardown process but will not change homebuyers wanting modern amenities, energy efficiency and nice lot locations.  We are hopeful there can be a balance, so we can have new homes without losing the character and history of our communities.

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The lumber used in framing affects all aspects of the home-building industry including builders of track homes, remodelers, and luxury home-builders. Such a sharp increase in material throws off projections for on-going projects. There is a great deal of uncertainty in the market, which can make companies vulnerable if unprepared. We hope to see this issue resolved in the lumber industry soon!

Precision Home Development always strives to give our clients the best possible pricing by contacting multiple sources for our materials. We also pride ourselves in utilizing smart planning and using alternative materials when possible. PhD Homes is here to help you with any design or construction questions, so feel free to call. Thank you for your continued support.

The post 2017 Lumber Forecast appeared first on PHD Homes.

Over the past year our clients have been investing in their homes by making improvements. Home values have been increasing rapidly in the Phoenix area, so this is a smart investment.

One type of home improvement that we provide is converting interior and exterior lights to LED. Recently the affordability and diversity of LED lights has improved. There are numerous advantages to LED lights, for example the bulbs have a longer life span and are more energy efficient. The LED lights are dimmable and have a large range of colors which can be adapted for any mood. An additional benefit to LED lighting is that it can be programmed to work from a smartphone, directing lighting to specific locations and changing colors.

We have completed numerous recessed can LED retrofits with fantastic results. One issue with retrofits, however sometimes, is that existing dimmers are not compatible with the new LED lights. The additional dimmers result in an extra expense for the homeowner.

Please let us know if you would like more detailed information on how to add LED lighting to your home.

Keep Building!

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When I was at the Builder’s Show in Las Vegas last month, I ran across a unique product that reinvents remodeling by solving one of the top concerns for homeowners – the mess! I purchased a machine called the BuildClean Dust Control System that we will capture and remove up to 90 percent of airborne dust that accumulates during your remodeling project.

Not only does this product increase your livability during the span of a remodeling project, it also helps your family’s health. Dust isn’t just a nuisance. Remodeling and demolition dust can trigger asthma attacks, allergic reactions and problems for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

As a clean contractor we take pride in limiting the biggest threat to livability during a remodeling project: Dust. That’s why we invested in the newest dust control technology to incorporate into our dust control plan and best practices.

With the BuildClean Dust Control System, we can collect dust at the point of generation and while it is still airborne, which is the most effective way to capture and virtually eliminate all types of worksite dust.

You are not just investing in a job well done, you also would like to maintain a great home life during the project as well. PhD Homes cares about that experience as well as the overall project. That is why we invested in the product BuildClean. It’s remodeling reinvented! Thank you for your continued support and feel free to call me with any questions you may have!

Keep Building!

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Spring is in the air, and summer is almost here for all of us who live in Arizona. Lately we have had many requests from our clients to assist them in expanding and remodeling their backyard living areas. In the Phoenix area, we use our backyards all year round. It’s all about the pool in the summer, and patio heaters in the winter!

One product that we have installed at many different houses is the Infratech heating systems, which are mounted in the ceiling of the patio or pergola. These unique systems are nice because they can integrate right into an existing structure or space. In addition, they are made from recyclable materials and operate with zero greenhouse emissions, odors or ultraviolet light.

Infrared or radiant energy is the most practical way to add warmth to spaces like patios, terraces, verandas, enclosed areas, or any indoor or outdoor setting where heated air cannot easily be contained and re-circulated. Another option is fire pits and woks, which add charm and character to a backyard setting as well as warmth. For example in the picture below, we added ambiance to a pool area located in Paradise Valley with the simple insertion of fire woks. Such a difference!

The technology behind the infrared heat is unique because not only is the emission safe and clean, it is designed to be absorbed by only solid objects rather than the air.  So, infrared heat does not simply “blow away” in the outdoors. It’s attracted to your guests!

As always, you want form and function to be aesthetically pleasing, safe, and work into your existing design. Thank you for your continued support and feel free to call me with any questions you may have!

Keep Building!

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