LA Examiner

Author: Daniel Fusch

  • San Diego Homeowners Pursue High-Efficiency Home Upgrades

    San Diego Homeowners Pursue High-Efficiency Home Upgrades

    Image credit: Unsplash

    Real estate experts predict that home prices in Escondido and elsewhere in San Diego County will continue rising for a while. With the market in an upswing at the same time that energy prices are rising steeply, more homeowners are seeking out personalized, high-efficiency home upgrades to lower costs and increase home value. Homeowners want modern layouts and added space, and with the population rising, they are pursuing custom ADUs, adding attached residential units, and increasing their homes’ capacity.

    Home remodeling firms are evolving quickly in response, and more homeowners now can find a contractor to design and build as unified design-build services replace outdated contractor models. Whether homeowners plan for a full remodel or a custom addition, these firms combine design and construction in one seamless process.

    The Whole-House Remodel for Today’s Lifestyle

    What is driving the rise in house remodeling in Escondido? Some of it is lifestyle-driven, and some of it is homeowners working to get ahead of the rising local real estate market with whole-house renovations. Homeowners are adding multifunctional kitchens, open living areas, and energy-efficient upgrades, ranging from upgraded windows to water-efficient systems and solar panel installations. 

    A whole-house remodel can be a major undertaking, involving a cohesive transformation of the house from floorplan to finish, but all of these steps increase a home’s livability (especially in San Diego County’s hot, dry climate) and the home’s eventual resale value.

    The Unified Design-Build Process

    Many remodelers in Escondido are turning to firms that offer a unified design-build process. Working with a single team to do both helps simplify decisions for homeowners. The single point of accountability also streamlines the time to completion (because a delay in the first stage doesn’t create issues with the handoff to the second), reduces cost overruns, and prevents the gaps in communication that occur when a homeowner is dealing with multiple contractors. 

    Design-build firms bring architectural vision and construction under one roof, so that the architect has the end build in mind, and the construction team has contact with the architect. This approach makes the whole-house remodel both less expensive and more successful than in the past.

    ADUs: Smart Space for Extended Living or Rental Income

    Local home construction isn’t all whole-house remodeling, however.

    Los Angeles County has been making the news recently for its boom in backyard accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in the wake of recent fires. But ADUs are seeing growing popularity here in San Diego County, too. Families with aging parents or long-term guests turn to ADUs to expand their home’s capacity; others turn to ADUs to house tenants and bring in passive income.

    In either case, permitting, designing, and building an ADU requires specialized local knowledge, prompting a rise in local ADU specialist design. ADU specialists do more than just dot the I’s and cross the T’s for compliance; they also work to improve the unit’s function and align it aesthetically with the adjacent house.

    Choosing the Right Partner for Your Remodel or Build

    Whether what you have in mind is a whole-house overhaul or a compact ADU, all the usual advice about vetting your contractors applies. Escondido homeowners should look for firms with extensive local experience and a record of transparent communication with clients. Find out if the firm you are considering has in-house architects, and ask them about past projects with similar goals to your own.

    Finding the right professional team not only eliminates hassle in the short term but also yields long-term benefits. The right match can add value and functionality to your home while preserving your neighborhood’s aesthetics and your property’s curb appeal. A firm that uses smart layouts, eco-conscious materials, and installs efficient home systems can also go a long way toward future-proofing your house. Thoughtful, livable design improves your contentment and quality of life each day in your home.

    Written in partnership with Tom White

  • Black Maternal Health Week Highlights Health Disparities Among Black Women

    Black Maternal Health Week Highlights Health Disparities Among Black Women

    Image credits: Unsplash

    Black Maternal Health Week, recognized since 2021, occurs from April 11 to April 17 and highlights the statistics that Black women are more than three times more likely than White women to die from pregnancy-related causes in the United States, regardless of their income or education. Research has also shown that Black babies are twice as likely to die before their first birthday as White babies.

    The Staggering Statistics of Maternal Deaths

    The Centers for Disease Control has estimated that 84% of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable. However, the quality of care one receives can depend on many factors, including where you live and even your health insurance.

    In California, Black mothers make up just 5% of those who give birth, yet they account for 22% of pregnancy-related deaths. 

    April Valentine’s story is one of those that make up that statistic. In January 2023, April, a then-31-year-old healthy Black woman, went to an Inglewood hospital to give birth. When she was denied the presence of her doula (a person who is trained to provide emotional, physical, and educational support for an expecting mother), April was forced to endure multiple failed attempts to administer an epidural. During that time, her pain was ignored, and she died during childbirth as a result.

    Following a public outcry, the hospital that April visited was issued a $75,000 fine, a rare occurrence but not enough to create actual change. That hospital would eventually shut down its maternity ward, which would leave the disproportionately Black and Latino communities with fewer options for safe and respectful care. This hospital was one of 56 California maternity clinics that closed since 2012, 13 of which were for-profit companies in LA County.

    A Firm Rising to the Occasion

    Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) has since risen to the challenge of working closely with patients and closing the critical gaps in care and support that have affected the Black maternal health crisis. Their services are embedded in hospitals such as Olive View and LAC+USC through their Health Consumer Center and Medical Legal Partnerships.

    The NLSLA’s attorneys in the Health Consumer Center work with patients and providers to eliminate legal and systemic barriers to maternal health. They have helped clients access out-of-network specialists for high-risk pregnancies and secured newborn insurance coverage when red tape threatens to affect care. Their advocacy for better provider communication, patient rights against medical debt, and civil rights agencies shows that, when systems fall short, they ensure pregnant patients are not navigating their journeys alone. 

    While preventable deaths continue, Medical now covers doula care, as well as postpartum mental health care for those who experience depression after pregnancy.

    While the Black Maternal Health Crisis will not fix itself, urgent action from policymakers and healthcare providers, and communities must support the crisis and support the Black mothers who deserve more than awareness. 

    The Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County is committed to making the future of healthcare safer and more accessible for the Black community.