Home
About Alice
- Media
- Speaking
Work with Me
Home Blog
Pers Blog
Contact

Alice T Chan | Learn how to Renovate with Confidence

Home Renovation Specialist | Home Renovation Tools and Resources

Work with Me

The Alice T Chan Experience

The Renovators’ Roadmap

The Renovation Planner

Home
Meet Alice
Contact
Disclaimer

Instagram post 2156947887913048655_195187926

Met with a new contractor in Napa this morning and he invited me to see a house he recently remodeled and currently selling. It has a huge lot. Can you imagine not having a view to the spectacular yard? Those windows did not exist before him. I also love how he turned a 1950s bomb shelter into a rustic but charming multi-purpose space. This house can be an entertainer’s playground. Add a pool and turn the old carports into a pool house. So many possibilities! #realhousesofthebayarea

Instagram post 2150626895548840973_195187926

A #tanklesswaterheater is the way to go all day every day. The price point is the same as a regular #waterheater but the amount of space you save is worth every penny and c’mon, they’re way more chic! 🙌🏼 If you find yourself in need of a replacement, go tankless!!

Instagram post 2149809810945924740_195187926

What do you do when the spare bedroom is the #craftroom but the closet is the catchall for extra clothes, shoes, and everything else? No matter what, the swing door took up valuable real estate and it limited access to all the closet space. The solution: remove the door altogether and widen the opening then install a carefully designed #closetorganizer to maximize the space you have. The pull out shelves will hold shoes, the drawers will hold various papers and other supplies, and we have pulled electrical for an outlet to allow for the printer to fit on the shelf above the drawers. The amount of space hasn’t changed but everything has changed because now you can see and access the space you have. #homeorganization at its finest!!! #gamechanger

Instagram post 2141586343943666574_195187926

So now that I got your attention 🤪, #grabbars are a real thing. Not only for the aging but for anyone who could use a little extra security - expectant mothers, injured athletes or regular folks, or maybe you worked out extra hard and your body is mad at you. Consider installing a grab bar in the shower and by the toilet. It’s a wise investment!!

Instagram post 2135789170949746002_195187926

About last night... prior owners/squatters removed from a property. We just spent 2 weeks last month removing at least 4 large dumpster loads of their hoarder trash from the interior and towed away over a dozen dead motor vehicles. They came back, changed the locks on the house and removed our lockbox so we had to get the police involved. We replaced all the locks again and installed a security gate. They brought food inside and managed to create garbage again in a matter of days. It’s incredible how much energy they will put into this but to actually channel that energy to do something good escapes them. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Never a dull day!!

Instagram post 2130257087607129547_195187926

Is anyone watching #averybradyrenovation ? Probably the coolest show #HGTV has put out in a very long time. This is my childhood. I watched #theBradyBunch every day after school. Really fun to see them re-create what was only a soundstage into a real house. #averybradyreno

Instagram post 2129521811897310114_195187926

How do you address an oversized slider with an amazing view? Floor to ceiling, almost wall to wall custom ripple fold drapery with sheers to filter the light but allow you to enjoy the view. Gorgeous, just gorgeous!! #realhousesofthebayarea

Instagram post 2126328513930115313_195187926

That feeling when you PASS FINAL INSPECTION!! 😅🎉 Especially when you woke up in a panic because your alarm didn’t go off and then you realize later in the afternoon it was because you accidentally set it for 5:30PM instead of 5:30AM. Mind you, the inspection was scheduled for 8-10 AM and the property was a 2 hour drive away. Yea... #realhousesofthebayarea #homerenovation #homeremodel #inspectionday

Instagram post 2121980764187106736_195187926

Expectation v. reality when you’re told the outlet is in the way of the backsplash. We did not have the time to move the outlet. Needless to say I will NOT be using this new to me (hand me down) vendor again. 🤦🏻‍♀️🙅🏻‍♀️ #realhousesofthebayarea #expectationvsreality #bathroomrenovation #countertops #countertopfabrication

Instagram post 2118385438826017932_195187926

Been working on a property that’s been occupied illegally by the previous owners. After weeks of dealing with multiple police interactions, phone calls, unsubstantiated threats, the house has been cleared of all the hoarder crap. In the process, my vendor felt like someone was watching him and found a camera hidden behind this mask on the wall. 😧 The things people do still amaze me. #realhousesofthebayarea #bankownedproperty #weirdshit #homerenovation #renovationrealities #hiddencamera

Instagram post 2111081382814404979_195187926

Not all city building departments are the same. Depending on what city you live in, it could take several hours to pull an over the counter permit or you could be in and out in 60-90 minutes. Inspection availability can also vary greatly. Some cities are available next day while in busier cities, appointments could be 3 weeks out. Bottom line...check with your local building department and plan accordingly to avoid delays on your #homerenovation project. #homerenovationtips #buildingpermits #therenovationplanner

Instagram post 2091189285177182189_195187926

Visited a few empty properties today and saw some “interesting” design elements. One house was actually a luxury property once upon a time... #realhousesofthebayarea

Copyright © 2019 · Alice T Chan | Learn how to Renovate with Confidence · Hello You Designs