General Contracting

Extreme Makeovers

Why let the buyer get the easy equity?

Nick has had his general contractor's license for over a decade, enabling him to leverage direct relationships with the trades to get your home professionally prepared for the best price in the shortest amount of time so we can get to market.

Nick delivers a stress-free sales process designed to maximize your home's potential.

Don't know where to start?
Anxious about who will manage a remodel?
Unsure about how to minimize your tax liability?
Unclear where to move?
No cash to execute a plan?

Call Nick for a strategy session and he will create your individualized plan.

I work diligently to ensure each client's home reaches its maximum potential whether selling or buying.

~ Nicholas French

Nick's Extreme Makeovers: Preparing a move-in ready house instead of a tear-down Sneak peak into one of my upcoming Los Altos listings and the prep work going on right now. My goal for this one is to maximize our buyer pool with specific strategic updates. I've had my GC license for over a decade, enabling me to leverage direct relationships with...

Nick's Extreme Makeovers: Creating an open floorplan My clients and I worked together to buy their house 10 years ago and they are ready to remodel for an open floorplan. Because I have my GC license, I'm able to leverage direct relationships with trades and offer these services to my real estate clients.

In The Field - Checking On My Remodel Projects Ride along with me as I check out one of my remodel projects. Because I have my GC license, I'm able to help my clients with their remodel needs pre sale and post purchase.

Case Studies

Andre Avenue, Mountain View

In this case, I managed 100% of the process from purchase to finish including:

Found a great off-market opportunity for my client
Helped them visualize what it COULD be like
Engaged architect directly/completed plans
Got permits through city process
Managed construction, trades and selected finishes
Handed over keys to a finished product

The Punch List:

Gutted interior
removed fireplace
reworked internal walls including moving structural support beams
new concrete footings for new support wall at kitchen
all new plumbing and electrical
new flooring, windows, doors, millwork
New mudroom with custom built-ins
Added a new 3rd bathroom/2nd suite
retextured all walls for modern finish
created a primary walk-in closet
relocated HVAC and air-conditioning
New landscaping

We have worked with Nick for 2 decades and he always shows us the best opportunities. Most recently he found an off-market, dilapidated 3 bed/2 bath house that he saw had amazing potential, helped us visualize what it could be like, and his work didn't stop after we purchased. After his extensive work he handed over the keys of a practically brand new 4 bed/3 bath finished home. Nick managed 100% of the project, allowing us to have zero stress through the whole process. There simply isn't another Realtor that can do all that.

Gloria, Los Altos

Monterey Avenue, Menlo Park

My client's parents had lived in this house for 50 years. It was important that we made this house show as well as possible AND that we got to market before the summer cycle hit. So in 45 days I:

Removed all my client's mom's belongings
Demo'd the house
Pulled permits
Managed construction, trades and selected finishes
Listed and held open this property
Got 20% more for my client

The Punch List:

Reframed 1st floor to enlarge 2nd bedroom, create primary suite with walk-in closet and new spacious bathroom (all within the exterior footprint)
Enlarged hallway bathroom, relocated laundry from garage to new hallway laundry closet
New interior paint, doors, closets and hardware
Extended and stained/refinished hardwood flooring
Modified kitchen floor plan, new cabinets, appliances, hardware and countertops
All new water fixtures, copper water lines and waste drain lines
New crown moldings and baseboards
New recessed lighting and flush mount lighting
New HVAC system and relocated ducting
New garage epoxy flooring, driveway pavers and flatwork

I was amazed at Nick's understanding of what buyers want in this market and his vision and ability to make it a reality. He transformed my parents' home in a very short amount of time and got me top market price.

Brian H., Menlo Park

Donald Drive, Palo Alto

In this case, my buyer had a “done” house on their wish list. But, a “done” house wasn't in their budget. I helped them visualize that they can get what they want by buying a fixer-upper and I could help. I managed 100% of the process from purchase to finish including:

Found the perfect fixer-upper for my client - a dilapidated original-condition 1950s house
Helped them visualize what it COULD be like
Engaged architect directly/completed plans
Got permits through city process
Managed construction, trades and selected finishes
Handed over keys to a finished product

The Punch List:

New windows
Enlarged sliding door system
Removed fireplace
Minor reframing to open doorways/make areas more spacious
Re-textured walls to modern, smooth finish
Modified master bathroom to make it larger
New kitchen and bathrooms
New roof
Worked with utility company and the city to upgrade electrical panel
New HVAC system and relocated it into attic to free up hallway closet
Custom mill work around exterior, redid interior casings and baseboards

We smile because we ended up in the house that he said we'd end up in two and a half years ago, and 2 years ago we finally realized he was right. We all joke about that to this day. Nick has so much experience and held our hands through our entire process, and I can say to friends that I care dearly about, you can do this with Nick.

Rob & Amy

Mora Drive, Los Altos

For this hoarder's den, we wanted to get to market when the market was hot. Other agents had told them to do nothing and just sell as a tear-down. I thought we could have a wider buyer pool if we made this home something people could move in right away. It enlarged our buyer pool by doing this work vs. just pigeonholing to a one-buyer demographic (an all-cash buyer who would just tear down).

Removed 4 dumpsters-worth of belongings
Got permits through city process
Managed construction, trades and selected finishes
Listed and held open this property
Invested $106K, made $500K additional

The Punch List:

Reworked suboptimal floorplan
Appliances
Yard cleanup
Painting
Drywall work
Extended hardwood floors through whole house
New countertops
New recessed lighting and exterior lighting
Repaired damaged glass
New fixtures/hardware

Nick single handedly made this journey stress-free and easy for me! From clearing out 60 years of personal belongings, to managing the remodel and throughout the sales process, Nick was a pure joy to work with.

Ruth S.