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San Jose Eichler Neighborhood Recognized

Eichler is added to historic register

Congratulations to the residents of the Fairglen Additions neighborhood of San Jose who led a successful campaign to have the tree-lined district — distinguished by its 218 Eichler homes — added to the National Register of Historic Places this year. The neighborhood near Curtner and Booksin avenues is San Jose’s largest enclave of Eichler homes, built between 1959 and 1961 and known for their distinctive flat or lowsloped roofs, open floor plans and tall windows. And three of the homes, all within walking distance of each other on Fairwood Avenue, will be featured in a Preservation Action Council tour on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

At the same time, there also will be a Mid-Century Pop-Up Shop — with vendors selling period memorabilia, decor and furniture — on Fairwood Avenue, which will be closed to traffic for the event. Sally Zarnowitz, cochair of the Fairglen Additions Preservation Committee, will talk about the significance of the housing tract at 11:30 a.m., and author and historian Heather David will sign copies of her book, “Motel California,” and the San Jose Signs Guide at noon.

Tickets are available for $20 in advance at preservation.org or by calling 408-998-8105, or $25 on the day of the event at the pop-up shop on Fairwood Avenue.

Originally written by Sal Pizarro, Columnist, The Mercury News on Thursday August 15, 2019.

Six Tips to Select Custom Home Builder

Qualities to Look for in a Custom Home Builder

How to Separate the Best from the Rest

When you’re looking for a custom home builder for your new construction, there are thousands of contractors to choose from in San Jose and Palo Alto. How will you narrow down your options? The experienced team at Flegel’s Construction Co. offers six points to look for in a custom home builder. These factors will help you identify the best match for your new home construction project.

Tips to Select the Ideal Custom Home Builder

  1. Local knowledge and experience: Building a home in California can be both tricky and expensive. Hence, it is important to find a contractor who has expertise in managing local requirements, such as:
    • Land acquisition costs, taxation, building permits and government fees
      Structure and construction materials that are best suited to Californian weather conditions and the topography of your building site
      Compliance with local construction codes and standards
      Sourcing quality materials, arranging timely and cost-efficient labor and obtaining the required building permits
  2. Design ideas: Check out the range of design ideas in the contractor’s completed projects. Are their plans in keeping with the general look and feel of the area? Do they maximize the benefits of the natural surroundings? Have they used custom products and fittings that cater to the owners’ lifestyle requirements?
  3. Project track record: Assess the reliability of potential builders by evaluating their track record. Did they deliver past projects on time and within the agreed budget? Did they make detailed plans and organize the labor and materials in a timely manner? Have they built quality homes that offer design as well as functionality?
  4. Service quality: When you are researching potential builders, look for aspects related to service quality. Do they present detailed construction plans? Are they transparent in their dealings? Do they offer diligent, periodic project status with detailed explanation of any delays or cost increases? Are they prompt in responding to your queries and open to undertaking modifications during the course of the project?
  5. Warranties: Most reputed custom home builders are confident of the quality of their work and offer upfront warranties to protect your investment. For example, many contractors offer ten years of structural coverage on the foundation of your home, load bearing walls, beams, girders and such.
  6. Communication: When you interact with potential builders, think about ongoing interaction. After all, you will be working closely with them for the period of your project. Based on the way they communicate with you from the start, you will know which contractors you feel comfortable working with.

While looking for a custom home builder that best meets your requirements, don’t skimp on the research.

  • Read their online testimonials, and speak to friends, relatives or local real estate agents for recommendations.
  • Interview potential builders to your satisfaction. Request them to organize site walk-throughs and interaction with past clients.
  • While visiting their completed projects, pay attention to construction features and the quality of materials and finish.
  • While talking to past clients, don’t hesitate to ask them about problem areas to watch out for.

Hire a Reliable Custom Home Builder for a Stress-Free Experience

Building a custom home can be stressful on your wallet and your emotions. At Flegel’s Construction Co., we help you to truly enjoy the process of new home construction. Whether you are planning to rebuild an existing home, extend the current structure, or start a completely new construction, we offer consultation on a range of new-build projects. Our skilled team will design the home of your dreams and impeccably execute the job, in-time and on-budget.

Check out what our past clients have to say about our many successful projects in and around the Bay Area.

For reliable, stress-free new home construction, count on the experts at Flegel’s. Contact us online.

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TESTIMONIALS

  • Video Testimonial

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  • I would hire Scott again in a heartbeat

    I would hire Scott again in a heartbeat. He did our Eichler total remodel from roof to radiant. The workmanship is 5-star. Scott understands the uniqueness of Eichlers and modern design.

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  • I am confident that your expectations will be far exceeded…

    “Our home in Palo Alto was in need of help. Built in the early 1950s and barely updated since, there was a lot to do. Over 12 months and two phases, our home was transformed into the perfect mid-century modern oasis for our

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  • As easy for as us as possible…

    “We interviewed at least 7 contractors for our Eichler remodel and decided on Flegel’s construction and I am so glad we did! Working with Scott and his crew was such an pleasant experience. We had heard so many horror stories

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  • Stands by his work…

    “I cannot say enough about Scott Flegel. He is on the ball. He works on the project with his employees. He has very high standards and his employees follow his example. Our architect has come back to look at the project

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